The 1972 issue 1 of The Audio Amateur marks a bold step forward in precision DIY audio, offering high-performance equalization and studio-grade recording tools. Here are the highlights to entice your inner audio enthusiast:
- The Audio Amateur's Octalizer: Move beyond standard tone controls that only provide a "blanket" boost. Reginald Williamson introduces a professional-grade octave equalizer using active circuitry to fix specific room resonances or cartridge frequency aberrations, providing the transparency your system deserves.
- The American Prototype: Take the guesswork out of your build. The TAA staff provides a detailed construction log for an American version of the Octalizer, featuring tips on mounting slide pots and optimizing power supply arrangements for the lowest possible noise floor.
- A Simple Shock Mount for your Microphone: Stop letting "thumping" footsteps ruin your quiet musical passages. Roger Sanders shares a DIY guide to building an inexpensive, low-profile shock mount from hobby shop materials to isolate your sensitive microphone for studio-clean recordings.
- A Super Op-Amp Preamp: Elevate your signal chain. This design by Daniel Meyer leverages high-performance ICs to overcome the limitations of standard preamps, achieving exceptional linearity and ultra-low distortion even at extreme low frequencies.
- Tapeniques: Record Compensation: Master the art of the perfect tape. Learn how to use versatile pre-amp controls to intelligently compensate for vocal tracks and mix narration with music for professional-sounding home recordings.
- Kit Report: Phase Corporation ASG-200: Say goodbye to the "tedium" of point-by-point graphing. This report evaluates an inexpensive sweep/function generator that allows you to visualize frequency response curves instantly on an oscilloscope.
- Tips & Technique: Gain a competitive edge in the workshop with clever reader-submitted hacks, including a way to improve DIY circuit board etching and critical thermal stability fixes for "Tiger" power amplifiers.
- Showcase: Superior Audio Craftsmanship: Get inspired by Alan Watling’s "20/20" integrated unit, a masterwork of engineering that combines a preamp, power amp, and Octalizer into one stunningly crafted custom package.
- Learning to Use Transistors: Build your engineering foundation. This installment breaks down the common-emitter amplifier, teaching you how to manage input resistance and gain for distortion-free signal amplification.
- Ear Demolition: Protect your most valuable audio asset. This startling research report examines how high-intensity music is causing permanent hearing loss in young people and provides essential guidelines for safe listening.
Table of Contents
- The Audio Amateur’s Octalizer: by Reginald Williamson ........................................... 3
- The American Prototype: by the Staff ................................................................................ 8
- A Simple Shock Mount for your Microphone: by Roger R. Sanders ........................ 12
- A Super Op-Amp Preamp: by Daniel Meyer ................................................................... 16
- Tapeniques: Record Compensation: by James K. Jobson .......................................... 21
- Kit Report: Phase Corporation’s ASG-200 Sweep/Function Generator ............. 24
- Tips & Technique: by readers Watson, Rossmassler, Repka and Greene .................... 26
- Showcase: Superior audio craftsmanship: Alan Watling ............................................... 33
- Learning to Use Transistors: by C.N.G. Matthews ........................................................ 34
- Ear Demolition: by David M. Lipscomb ............................................................................. 36
- LETTERS ................................................................................................................................... 37
- JUST LOOKING ..................................................................................................................... 38
- CLASSIFIED ............................................................................................................................. 38