"Explain Like I'm 5": Balanced vs. Unbalanced Connections

D'autres épisodes de "DIY Recording Equipment Podcast"

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  Designing Legendary Gear with Paul Wolff

  25/06/2017

  Paul Wolff has designed more legendary pieces of gear than most of us have used. In his years with API alone, Paul designed the 550B EQ, 512 and 3124 mic preamps, Legacy console, and 2500 compressor. He was recently honored by NAMM TEC hall of fame for inventing the Lunchbox and 500-series format, which he helped turned into a cottage industry. I was honored to have Paul on the podcast to discuss console design and how he's seen the industry change in the last 40 years. Just a few of the things we discussed: The origins of the 500-series How Steve Perry became the first customer of the Lunchbox The uphill battle to make gear that’s authentic to the API sound What happened in 1978 to change the sound of most audio equipment Paul's opinion that cloners "should be burned to death” Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes Some Notes on API Jargon As much as I try to keep our podcasts fairly jargon-free, I was guilty of using a lot of API model numbers without explanation this episode. These are: 550A: Late 60's, 3-band EQ 2520: The discrete operational amplifier (DOA, or "opamp") that's at the heart of most API designs 2488: Early 70's console 512: 500-series mic preamp designed by Paul 312: 60's mic preamp 3124: A 4-channel 312 designed by Paul 2503: The output transformer in most API gear 2500: Bus compressor designed by Paul  
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  Analog Synth DIY with Abby Echiverri

  27/04/2017

  I've often fantasized about building a huge analog synth. But besides the obstacles of cost and not having a spare room in my house for it, I've always found the DIY synth world to be a bit intimidating. In this podcast, synth wizard Abby Echiverri walks me through the basics, such as: Is it feasible to build your own synth? How much should I budget? What are the basic modules I need to build? Abby is a composer, DJ, DIYer, and audio gear designer. I caught up with her when she was on the road as the synth/keyboard tech for Soulwax. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes
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  Is Open Source the Way Forward for DIY Audio?

  27/04/2017

  DIY audio folks like to share--that's what makes us a community. My kits and the DIY Project Directory are possible because others have shared their research, schematics, designs, etc. without any legal limitations. In turn, I document my projects so that anyone who cares to can learn from, tweak, or improve upon them. So, while the greater audio world remains largely closed, with patents, secrecy, and lawyers protecting intellectual property, our little DIY corner is very much an "open source" environment. But unlike explicitly open-source communities such as Wikipedia or GitHub, our openness is not formalized into licenses or explicitly agreed upon. In podcast #5 I talk Eric Jennings of Pinocc.io, an open-source, wireless hardware platform, about how an open source approach might look for the DIY audio community. Topics discussed include: Is openness a viable way forward for the DIY audio world? What exactly does open source mean for a hardware-based industry? Does open source encourage cloners and copycats? How can audio designers protect their work without patents? Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes.
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  "Explain Like I'm 5": Impedance

  27/04/2017

  When I sent out the newsletter announcing the last "Explain Like I'm 5 Podcast," I asked which audio topics you wanted to hear explained to a 5-year-old. As as result I now have a list of over 25 topics for future shows! But the response I got the most was "impedance." One reader even taunted me: "Haha, explain impedance like I'm five..good luck with that ;)" Challenge accepted, buddy! Impedance is one of those audio concepts that comes up at almost every recording session or live sound gig, even if you're not aware of it. Grasping the basics of input and output impedance can make you aware of potential problems before they happen, and help you problem solve more quickly and confidently. And the truth is that the fundamentals of impedance are simple enough that you can learn them from a 15-minute podcast. In today's ELI5 podcast, I begin with a discussion of acoustics before moving to electronics to show you that you already know more about impedance than you probably think. I go on to cover exactly what input/output impedance specs mean, illustrate the concept of impedance with examples from the studio, and explain what impedance mis-matches can do to your sound. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes. Subscribe to the DIYRE podcast Do you understand impedance now? How easy was the podcast to understand? Is there any other topic you'd like to hear explained as if to a 5-year-old? I welcome your feedback in the comments.
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  "Explain Like I'm 5": Balanced vs. Unbalanced Connections

  27/04/2017

  This podcast marks the first of a new series in which I attempt to explain complex audio subjects so that a 5-year-old could understand them. In this first "Explain Like I'm 5" podcast, I tackle the important subject of balancing. What is the difference between balanced and unbalanced connections? How does balancing work? Why do we need balanced connections? In less than 15 minutes, I answer these questions the way I wish someone had for me: assuming no electronics knowledge, sticking to the basics, and using only terminology that a musician would understand. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes In order, I discuss: What are balanced and unbalanced connections? How can I identify the difference? Why are there these two types of connections in the studio? How does balancing reduce noise? What is Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR)? If balanced connections are so great, why isn't everything balanced?
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  “Explain Like I’m 5″: Audio Levels

  27/04/2017

  What's the difference between "pro" and "consumer" line levels? Is it ok to plug an instrument into a line level input? What's the difference between peak and RMS levels? In the long-awaited return of our "Explain Like I'm 5" podcast series, Peterson and new DIYRE team member, Chris, explain the basics of audio levels. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes Topics discussed: Can you damage equipment by plugging the wrong thing in? In analog audio Volume = Voltage The difference between peak and RMS volume RMS is a way of measuring AC as if it were DC The most common levels you'll encounter in the studio: +4dBu, pro line level (1.22V) -10dBV, consumer line level (.316V) Mic level Instrument level Tangent: why are microphone output levels so low? Subscribe to the DIYRE podcast
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  "Explain Like I'm 5": Why Is Pro Audio Gear So Expensive?

  27/04/2017

  Sticker shock is a common malady in the recording world. It takes a lot of money to outfit and maintain a studio. But why? What are the factors that drive the price of professional recording gear? Why does gear cost so much more than the sum of its components? Are the prices justified, or is someone getting ripped off? In this month's podcast, Peterson and Chris discuss what goes into the cost of a piece of gear, and how you can short-circuit some of these costs by doing it yourself. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes
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  "Explain Like I'm 5": Filters

  27/04/2017

  How do filters work? As audio engineers, we use filters every day. We're all intimately familiar with high-pass, low-pass, band-pass, shelf, etc. filters. But how do they actually work in analog gear? The basic operating principles of analog filters are actually very simple. In this quick (10 minute) podcast, Peterson and Chris explain the very basics of high-pass and low-pass filters so that any 5-year-old could understand. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes View the circuits we discussed in the podcast on Upverter:
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  Chassis Design with Jon Erickson

  16/02/2017

  We audio nerds love to talk about particular parts and circuitry—transformers, op-amps, discrete vs integrated, passive vs active, etc—but we rarely discuss the biggest part and the one we actually interface with the most: the chassis. In this episode of our resurrected podcast, I talk to Jon Erickson about the ins and outs of chassis design and manufacturing. Jon Erickson has been involved with some of the most delicious-looking audio gear on the market: the A-Designs Pacifica preamp, JHS Pedals' line of 500-series modules, and his flagship Tonecraft 363 DI/preamp. Download the mp3 or subscribe via iTunes
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  "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Audio Electronics" Answers Podcast! (pt. 1)

  16/02/2017

  Last week, I put out the call for you to ask "Everything you always wanted to know about audio electronics, but were afraid to ask." The response was awesome, and a tad overwhelming: almost 50 questions! I want to sincerely thank all of you who posed questions, we got some great stuff. On Saturday our volunteer expert, Duncan Gray, joined me to answer your questions podcast style. Download the MP3 file or subscribe via iTunes Here's what we covered in chronological order: How Duncan got into audio electronics (as usual, it involved breaking something) Circuit talk: What does class-A mean? Why is it desirable? How do I measure the total current draw of modules in a 51x rack? How do I choose the right power supply for a given DIY project? What's the difference between an LC and RC filter? What happens to the Q, or bandwidth, in a swinging input EQ topology? What's the simplest way electronically to make a noise? Why do parts of a circuit go to ground? How should I ground inside the box? What is star grounding? Coloration talk: Is there really a difference between NOS and new transistors? How do you know if a device needs recapping? Discrete vs. monolithic opamps? How close can we get to replicating vintage gear? What does a good preamp do that I can't just do in post production? How do I get my foot in the door doing audio design? The incredible learning resources at HyperPhysics Again, many thanks to Duncan and those who asked questions. Stay tuned for pt. 2, when we'll talk about troubleshooting, safety, reference levels, and impedance.