Extend the useful life of those precious tubes: use a Tube Amplifier High-Voltage Delay

Tube life can be extended if you delay the application of high voltage until after the heaters have warmed up and current can flow. This little module does just that: depending on the setting of a jumper, it delays the high-voltage for 40 or 60 seconds after the amplifier is switched on. And the module is available as a kit. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2014.

Solid State Logic announced the release of the VHD Pre Module for the popular 500 format modular rack platform. The release makes its patented Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) and SSL SuperAnalog preamp technology from Duality, SSL’s large format studio console, available for studios of all sizes.

Since Roland decided to sell Cakewalk to Gibson things have been relatively quiet on the software house front, even though its famous SONAR DAW solutions continue to be among the most popular on the Windows platform. For the 2015 NAMM Show, Cakewalk now confirmed the presentation of its latest software iterations and a new Membership model allowing for continuous upgrades.

New from MOD Kits DIY for NAMM 2015 is The Wave, a tube driven analog spring reverb unit kit combining four dual triode tubes with a MOD three-spring reverb tank, a typical sixties design. The unit can be used in front of a guitar amp or as a line-level analog reverb effect for the recording studio. The Wave kit comes with a pre-punched powder coated steel chassis, easy-to-follow instructions and all necessary parts.

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Designed, manufactured and assembled in England, the new Tron Atlantic high end amplifier combines an affordable price with a compact chassis not compromising on big sound. The Atlantic is an extremely low noise stereo 300B design with a D3a driver stage, delivering 9 watts per channel with 4, 8 and 16 ohm outputs.

It just gets better every week! The Audio Voice newsletter addresses the interests of both audioXpress and Voice Coil readership communities. A unique perspective for audio developers, manufacturers, marketeers, design and engineering houses, supply chain, and industry insiders. Every week, there's a rich mix of industry news and trends, product design and new technology highlights, trade-show calendar updates, a selection of free magazine articles, and much more, directly to your inbox.

For anyone with a passion for tube amps and in particular for exploring all the possibilities of tube tones in guitar amps, the new BIAS guitar amp Modeler software by Positive Grid - a fully customizable plug-in for AAX/RTAS/AU/VST - offers infinite possibilities in mixing-and-matching customizable preamps, tone stacks, power amps, transformers, cabinets or even mic selection and placement.

Blending Old-Style Techniques with New Technology ERIC STROUTH - I started Locomotive Audio really just as a hobby. But, after I realized I could blend several of my favorite things (audio recording, product design, and building electronics) to start a new career, I decided to quit my day job as a graphic designer and go all-in!

The November 2014 edition of audioXpress is dedicated to our DIY audience with the first instalment of a rewarding project on “How to Build an Audio Mixer“ by George Adamidis. We also have two great articles on audio amplifiers: one is Class-AB MOSFET-based and the other is a push-pull AB amplifier using KT 120 vacuum tubes. Of course, we continue to discuss the latest Wireless Audio technologies and Audio for Mobile Devices. In the third article in the Nordic Audio series, we explore Scan-Speak’s audio history. We also bring you an article explaining the thinking and product design considerations for the unique Genelec M Series studio monitors. That and much more is already online.