Hinton Instruments News

Reslo RB/M Repair and Conversion

Hinton Instruments — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:36:18 +0000

Reslo microphones used a proprietary connector that is now completely unobtainable and these microphones are often bought without the cable. Fortunately the connector is rather similar to an Amphenol MC3 used on some vintage US microphones (like the Shure 55S) which is merely almost unobtainable. The insert may be swapped so that the microphone may be used with an MC3M to XLR cable. A customer recently sent us a Reslo RB for conversion and, as often happens, once you get a working cable other problems with the microphone become apparent…

Connector changed to MC3F, original Reslo insert on right

The sound from the microphone was intermittent as it was moved so there was probably a loose wire inside. On opening the microphone cage one of the cover screens was broken too.

Front view with nylon screen removed

The wiring proved intact, but removing the stainless steel mesh covering the ribbon revealed a fracture in the ribbon itself.

Fracture in ribbon along one of the corrugations

Removing the ribbon frame shows the break more clearly.

It is a wonder that it worked at all

The ribbon itself had integral solder tags which appeared to be welded to it:

Broken ribbon removed from frame

Nothing else for it, but to make a new ribbon:

Replacement ribbon reassembled

Just the screen tab to repair:

Rear internal view

One working Reslo RB/M with Amphenol cable:

Good for a few more years

For further information or to discuss other microphone repairs please contact us.

Introducing SwitchMix™

Hinton Instruments — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:48:37 +0000

See the SwitchMix page for ordering information:
http://www.hinton-instruments.co.uk/switchmix

A compact switched routing matrix for both audio and dc coupled control voltages. All the advantages of pin matrices without the problems.

SwitchMix may have balanced or unbalanced compatible inputs and outputs, extending its use beyond synthesizer patching to other audio routing applications including multitrack and effects routing and headphone mixes. The balanced inputs make it suitable for interfacing DAW sound cards into a synthesizer for Silent Way and Volta users.

SwitchMix SMX8EJ

Two Eurorack versions of the SMX8 are available, with or without front panel jacks. Rear connections are via DB25 sockets conforming to the Tascam balanced analogue pinout. The SMX8EJ (shown) has front panel 3.5mm unbalanced jacks for synthesizer connections and occupies 42HP of Eurorack space. The SMX8EB has balanced Bantam/TT jacks. Other combinations and custom normalling are possible.

We can custom build different sized SwitchMix systems with different features, but have engineered an 8×8 matrix to fit within the popular Eurorack format. Larger systems can be made in Eurocard Rack format, incorporating our Eurocard interfacing modules, or on custom 19″ or other sized panels. Prices start from £399, EC orders received before 1st January 2010 will be charged with 15% VAT (don’t forget it increases to 17.5% after that).

More details…

For further information or to discuss custom orders please contact us.

AKG C414 comb Conversion

Hinton Instruments — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:13:13 +0000

We were recently brought a pair of AKG C414s, the original 1971 version with C12 capsules, but missing their stand adapters. The connector on the actual microphone was an obsolete Cannon part which is now unobtainable and had issues anyway which forced AKG to develop the C414EB as a replacement.

AKG C414 comb showing original Cannon connector

After discussing the options with the customer we tested the microphones and checked that they were actually working. This was done by soldering wires to the rear of the Cannon connector to a free XLR plug. Both 414s were in perfect working order so we then made metal plates to support “Klein Tuchel” plugs and mounted them in the frame filling the hole left from the Cannon connector.

Modified C414 with Tuchel Plug

The smaller Tuchel plug protrudes from the microphone a lot less than an XLR stub plus XLR cable connector.

C414 with Tuchel to XLR cable

This left the problem of how to mount the microphones on a stand. The 30 x 40 mm base rectangle and sloping sides made the use of available shockmounts difficult so we designed and built a pair of adjustable stand adapters.

Custom C414 Stand Adapters in use as Faulkner Phased Array

The only permanent alterations made to the microphones were filing the two small lugs off the bases and filing the frame to clear two M3 fixing screws. By removing the Cannon connectors the mysterious rattle also disappeared and this was found to be due to loose unused contacts.

Custom EAB V65C Valve Mixer Conversion

Hinton Instruments — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:14:43 +0000

EAB V65C 6 into 1 valve mixer

Hinton Instruments recently converted a vintage EAB valve 6:1 mixer into six separate microphone preamplifier channels with full facilities.

The mixer was modified to bring all the channel outputs to a 7 pin XLR. A multicore cable connects it to a 3U Eurocard rack containing six high specification line driver modules. The valve amplifiers could produce 50Vp-p signals, but at high impedance, so it was necessary to pad and buffer without loading the valves. Almost the same requirements as buffering a high impedance pickup, so a customisation of our new ILD Instrument Line Driver solved the problem. The rack has XLR outputs at standard line level for connection to a DAW.

The custom modules provide a -20dB pad, phase inversion, mute and output level control and feature Graham Hinton’s CLEAR™ LED meter design covering a 42dB range. This metering system will be used on a lot of new products to be released in the near future.

Eurocard Rack line driver modules.

Hinton Instruments supplies Maximo Park with custom MIDI Controller

Hinton Instruments — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:54:50 +0000

Maximo Park at Glastonbury 2009

Hinton Instruments have supplied Lukas Wooller of Maximo Park with a custom MIDI Controller rugged and reliable enough for live use.

The MK8 has eight conductive plastic pots dedicated to MIDI Continuous Controllers specified by Lukas and a vandal proof keypad for Program selection. Hinton Instruments’ sophisticated knob scanning software provides absolutely smooth operation at full resolution–not normally found with other controllers. No setups, no options, no modes, just turn on and it works every gig. The MK8 is mounted on top of Lukas’ main keyboard which is not always played horizontally…

Ain't Velcro wonderful?

The unit was finished less than 24 hours before Maximo Park opened Glastonbury 2009 and has been in use ever since.

MK8 Custom MIDI Controller

Hinton Instruments can provide custom control surfaces for many applications. For further information please use the Enquiry Form.

Hinton Instruments supplies MIDI Long Haul Converters for Peter Gabriel’s summer tour

Hinton Instruments — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:24:27 +0000

Hinton Instruments has supplied Real World Tours with 13 of our Z1, Z2 and the new Z4 MIDI Long Haul Converters for use on Peter Gabriel’s Summer 2007 Tours. Standard and customised versions were supplied within one week’s notice to meet the tour schedule. Peter Gabriel used our MIDIZ converters on his last tour, but this time all but one musician was using MIDI live, a total of 16 Long Haul links from stage to side stage and FOH. Our Z series converters were chosen for their ultra high reliability, build quality and field serviceability. Anything less could ruin a performance. The Warm Up Tour started with a series of open air concerts across Europe, most under bad weather conditions. Check the Locarno pictures!

LINKS:
http://petergabriel.com/live/tourdiary/

Hinton Instruments supplies Shaw Studios with MIDI Long Haul Converters

Hinton Instruments — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:17:15 +0000

Hinton Instruments has supplied the new Shaw Brothers film production and digital post production facility in Hong Kong with 26 of our Z1 and Z2 MIDI Long Haul Converters.