www.vintageaudio.org
Old technology - New thinking!
Vintage design high voltage audio preamps for recording studios and live performance.

To contact me, please email donn@vintageaudio.org

1960's Roberts tube mic preamplifier modifications

"LIFETIME" ORIGINAL OWNER UPGRADE POLICY!
 
Production Notice: Please click on the link in the next line for updates.
 
Check out the preamps by clicking here >> Roberts Tube Mic Preamps
 
New Audio Sample Added July 17/05: Tenor guitar, drums, bass, and vocal, all using the Roberts as a preamp. Mics used include RCA 77DX ribbon and Apex 450 Condensor.
Listen now! (click here for mp3 file)
======== NEW COMMENTS AND AUDIO SAMPLES FROM USERS ========
From Art in jersey city NJ:
Thanks for the great unit, it's been put to great use. I'll be sure to send you a link to our music once we're done with the final mix and I'm looking forward to recieving the new face. Actually the piece that I'm most interested in that you spoke of on your site is the extention piece with a patch bay to fit into a protective rack with more mobility. Thanks again, Art
NOTE from Donn: New rack ears coming as of November 8th!
 
From McKay Garner in California:
(regarding audio sample) His name is Cortes Alexander and the album the sample is from is called "Swell." His website info is: http://www.cortesalexander.com
The sample was actually a recording we made of Cortes singing one of the tunes from the record just to test out the preamp. I used the mic that just happened to be up on the stand at the time (a $200 Studio Projects C1) which is a useful mic at times but not the one I would have necessarily picked for this tune (this mic doesnt really have the midrange I would want for this type of tune). The preamp sounds great with it, though! This combo would possibly be great for a pop/rock song! I'm having a great time with the pre... Keep me posted when any updates are available. Thanks, buddy!
McKay Garner
Bounce Inventive Audio
Audio sample - "Love Will Do Just That"
 
From Tony in Australia:
...just a short note to say thanks ,the pre amp on bass sounds big smmooooth and fat ,it beats all my other gear hands down , being a bass player this is the perfect tool...
 
From Kris in Duncan, BC:
I used the preamp on a few scratch tracks tonight...that thing is just FAT! Big bass sounds (even with lackluster strings), and there was one configuration where the drums were just huge - almost even too big for a regular mix!
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Roberts Akai tape recorder parts available: I have quite an extensive supply of parts for the Akai M7, M8 and Roberts 720, 770, 770X, and 790 tape decks. Please email me with what you're looking for and I can quote a price. This includes external cosmetic as well as transport parts.
Other Current Projects on line
These are some other projects that I'm working on in my "lab". Some I will use in my own production studio and are offered here for inspiration or interest. Some are experiments that will hopefully result in advancing the useability of an older piece of gear, to be a better fit in the digital world. I will include information on what is done in the process, as well as provide photos and audio samples of the various devices in real world application.
Vintage Broadcast/Recording Console Project The GE Console will get brand new 6267 based preamps and program amps soon. This is a change in plans... Last updated: July 25, 2005

(GE console project)

Electro-voice V1 and V2 Ribbon microphone refurb This project is on indefinite hold until I have enough time to tackle prepping the ribbon... Last updated: June 21, 2005

(EVRibbonProject)

Miscellaneous tube preamp projects I've collected numerous schematics for mic preamps and will attempt my own versions of many of them. Last updated: coming soon

(link will be here)

Gates "The Yard" tube mixing console project The Gates mixer will live on! Wiring is almost done... Photos to follow. Last updated: July 25, 2005

Gates "The Yard" Console

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