diy ssl bus compressor

alan kelly

Hi guys....
Read a post online that people have been making their own versions of the classic ssl bus comp working off schematic diagrams.

Would love to give a project like this a try. Have heard its quite easy but i might be out of my depth... Wondering if any of you guys had done anything similar ?

madtheory

How's your soldering? Do you know how to use an oscilloscope? Do you own a multimeter? Make your own cables? Guitar pedals?

alan kelly

I hope your not being negative madtheory... . Soldering wouldnt be a problem. The pcb board would need to be soldered to the electronic components.. Was hoping someone out there had done this already..

madtheory

Sorry for not being clear, wasn't trying to be negative. But I've no idea what your skills are, would need to know that before your question could be answered. Reason I asked is because to do this you would need to be able to do stuff like read off resistor values, solder in a chip without burning it, have a working knowledge of grounding issues, know how to use a multimeter etc. etc. It's a big project and shouldn't be attempted if you haven't made a few things already, such as pedals etc.

alan kelly wrote: »

The pcb board would need to be soldered to the electronic components

It's the other way around...

What do you mean by "working off schematics" exactly? And any links?

studiorat

Try a few smaller kits first. Soldering to a PCB is a different kettle of fish to fixing an XLR or something.

To make this thing will you need to make your own PCB?

http://www.fivefishstudios.com/diy-kits

http://www.jlmaudio.com/kits.htm

ive been seriously considering doing one of these for like about a year..any day now..

PaulBrewer

The Gyraf one is a common one I hear mentioned - I bought one before as a kit just to see what it was like and it was ok .

I think the quality of results depends on quality of components. It's quite a simple circuitry.

Apparently the VCAs in the original SSL Bus comps are no longer being made and as I recall, a similar chip is now made by THAT.

I'm open to correction here.

I have the SSL X-Rack version, which I think is great, set at Chris Lord Alge's setting !;)

studiorat

I thought they actually used DBX vcas myself.

The THAT vca's are still available though. http://www.profusionplc.com/pro/gex/prodGen.html?prdtyp=voltage%20controlled%20amplifier

I'm nearly sure that's them:cool:

PaulBrewer

Apparently the originals did - but that chip is discontinued.
I remember reading this on the Gyraf site as I recall.

alan kelly

Here is a thread that i found if anyone is interested...
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=40755.0

digitaldeath

If I were to build any comp, it'd be an 1176 clone!
Then maybe some API and Neve preamp clones!

PaulBrewer

I think the popularity of the SSL clones is the simplicity of the design.

1176s are very dependent on the transformers for it's sound.

digitaldeath

PaulBrewer wrote: »

I think the popularity of the SSL clones is the simplicity of the design.

1176s are very dependent on the transformers for it's sound.

True, Hairball Audio have some great FET comp kits though, although they seem to be out of enclosures at the moment.
Seventh Circle Audio will sort you out if you're looking to build pres.

Also, I hear that http://www.prime-analog.com offer prebuilt SSL and 1176 clones with great service and support.