Help me see design difference between 2 channelstrips

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Hello friends!
I wonder if anyone can spot component differencies for me between two channelstrips by Raindirk.

I have no knowledge about electronics other than some DIY modular soldering.
So please bare with me.
Im about to buy a vintage Raindirk mini mixer from 1974.
I was hoping that it would share the same design and sound as a bigger Raindirk mixer called ”Series 3” that was released around the same time.

Today I received a pic of the channelstrip from the mini mixer Im about to buy and in my world the design and components look very different from the ”series 3”

Is someone able to have a peek at the photos and tell me if they are far apart in design?
Do you think the Mini mixer is a downgrade in quality and expensive components compared to the ”series 3”?
What are the big chunks on mini mixer and what replaces the big chunks on the other one??

The mini mixer seem to have so much less components inside.. is that a bad thing?

Please note that the Series 3 has selective freqs on bass & treble while mini mixer has one fixed. It has more auxes aswell and 2 ch more of bus routing.

I wrote wich one is wich with red markings.

Very very thankfull for any help I can get!

The Series 3 mixer as a lot of history, recording most of Queens song, led zeppelin, hey jude by Beatles etc etc..

My best.
//Ted

 

[jazbo8]

The mini mixer seem to have so much less components inside.. is that a bad thing?

Please note that the Series 3 has selective freqs on bass & treble while mini mixer has one fixed. It has more auxes aswell and 2 ch more of bus routing.

Less components = less that can go wrong, so not really a bad thing. Also bear in mind that the Mini was intended for the TV broadcast and radio market, whereas the Series was for the recording studios. So the Mini was simpler... but since both models were designed around the same time ('74), so I'm guessing that most of the parts/IC's/transistors used would be about the same.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Less components = ... but since both models were designed around the same time ('74), so I'm guessing that most of the parts/IC's/transistors used would be about the same.

Thank you for your answer!
So, if we only talk sound and Dont mind the parts needed for features such as more auxes sends more frequency choises etcetc.. would you guess that the parts for actual sound processing/eq/amplifyieng etc is very alike?

Thank you for your time!
//Ted

 

[jazbo8]

Yes, except for the EQ section, obviously.

 

[dotneck335]

Just cursorily gazing at the two, the Series 3 appears to be MUCH more professionally built; also has nice socketed ICs which which would allow upgrading.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Yes, except for the EQ section, obviously.

Thanks. You mean except the Eq section since its lacking freq choices in Bass and treble or are you saying there is something sifferent in the signal path for eq section?

What I wish for is to have the same sound/result when i boost lets say 5 db on the same freq on both mixers and that the mini mixer sounds like the Series 3. I understand they may sound different as its old components but you get what I mean.
Thanks again!

 

[jazbo8]

Right, it's just as you said, the Mini does not have the selectable Hi and Lo like the Series 3. And I suspect that the "sound signature" will be very much alike.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Just cursorily gazing at the two, the Series 3 appears to be MUCH more professionally built; also has nice socketed ICs which which would allow upgrading.

Do you mean more proffesionally built in that the a components are of better quality or rather just constructed in a better way?

Also, ICs is that something you would change from something built in 74?

Thanks!!

 

[jazbo8]

Sure, you can swap out the IC’s for something more modern or with better spec’s, if you want.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Sure, you can swap out the IC’s for something more modern or with better spec’s, if you want.

What would I gain from swapping IC to new one? What are their function?
Thank you jasbo8!

 

[jazbo8]

Lowering the noise floor for example is usually one of the reasons, or someone may have a preference for certain IC, etc.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Ok thank you!

So, last question. Then I will leave you in peace!

In general, what are your thoughts on the design/components on the mini mixer?
I mean my only preferences of cahnnelstrips that I have worked with for many years are Neve 1073s / Api eq/pres as well as old 60’s Siemens stuff and all of them (maybe except Api’s), are totally crammed with components trannys etc..
is this a poor design in comparison?

Many thank you’s for your time!

 

[jazbo8]

It can’t be a poor design, as some world famous studios and musicians used the Series 3 to make great albums, even though the Mini was not intended for the studios per se, the standard was still quite high, because BBC and the radio stations weren’t the easiest people to please.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

I told you I wouldnt bother you anymore but i lied..
Just out of quriosity. Since I want to get more into DIY electronics anyway.
What are the components and their function that I have marked with red on the new photo?
These are all components that the Mini mixer does not have.

Especially the silver/chrome small ones to the right. I remember I peeked into a Purple Eq once (attached aswell) and the guy knowing theese things pointed at the chromed small parts like the once marked and said that those had a very important impact on the sound.
but I that was years ago and I cant remember what it did.
Any idea of what those are?

Thanks a million again!

 

[jazbo8]

What are the components and their function that I have marked with red on the new photo?

The round cans are metal-can IC's. The little square one on the left is a relay.

These are all components that the Mini mixer does not have.

I guess they skipped the relay in the Mini, but the Mini does use IC's as well, just not in the metal-can packages.

Especially the silver/chrome small ones to the right.

Those are the capacitors for the EQ section, and yes, they do alter the sound as a part of the filter circuit just they do in the Purple EQ.

 

[Ted Krotkiewski]

Those are the capacitors for the EQ section, and yes, they do alter the sound as a part of the filter circuit just they do in the Purple EQ.

Ahhh bummer.. so there is a difference in the audio chain then

I wonder what effect it has on the sound with the Mini mixer not having those?

 

[jazbo8]

Not really, the Mini just uses a different type of capacitor, you can replace them with the "silver/chrome" ones (likely polypropylene or polystyrene) if you like.

The location of the filter network capacitors in the Mini (likely polyester) are shown in the box below:

 

[JohnDH]

I was peering at the pictures to try to read the opamp IC specs, but not quite sharp enough. Replacing them would be a great idea if possible, and easy if they are socketted. All the design theory and form-factor pin-outs etc are still the same for many modern ones, but pin-compatible newer designs are much lower noise.

I have an ancient 12 channel mixer from 1979, a really solid piece of gear from that time using 741 opamps. But my 15 year old Soundcraft is way quieter. Also, I built a stereo amp in 1979, and upgrading the chips 10 years later was a big improvement.