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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: SmokinJoe on August 23, 2011, 11:38:03 AM

Title: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: SmokinJoe on August 23, 2011, 11:38:03 AM
I've got an Apogee Mini-MP.  I love the sound of it behind the Schoeps.  Anyone who has used one knows they are much longer/deeper than the height/width.  So when used in my green Sonic Case, it lays down on it's side... you pull the face up to adjust a knob, then lie it down into the bag to close the bag.  I'm kind of anal about closing the bag so that some wookie can't spill a beer in by gear bag.

The problem is that the main Left/Right gain knobs always seem to catch on something and self-adjust the gain in ways I didn't intend.  And it's all because of that flat "pinch" part of the knob and the fact that it rotates fairly easily.

(http://www.sweetwater.com/images/closeup/750-MiniMP_img_front.jpg)

I'm sure I'm not the first person with this problem.  What have others done?  I'm thinking I should find some round knobs, and/or tighten something to create more friction on the knob?
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: page on August 23, 2011, 11:46:20 AM
How often are you adjusting more then 6db? Maybe set them slightly (more) conservatively and just remove them. I did something similar when I ran a sax. I found that my taping basically swung a span of about 6db about 90% of the time, so I set my gain at the lower end of that and figured I'd just add a touch more in post if necessary. Just a thought.

off topic: I just realized that the MP goes to 11. :lol:
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: SmokinJoe on August 23, 2011, 11:59:58 AM
Good idea Page.  Just take the knobs off.

Mine doesn't look like this picture, mine actually has db markings 20, 30, 40 etc.  It stays around 25 (or 11 o'clock) most of the time and I thought about using tape to hold them in place, didn't think about removing them.  Along with that output knob (-inf to +6db) and possibly the gain on my MR1/R4 I could definitely live with that.  And I expect I could adjust the small shaft with my fingers in a pinch.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: dlh on August 24, 2011, 08:21:43 AM
I'm thinking of some kind of snap on plastic cover just a little deeper than the knobs,
maybe held in place with foam inside.  Now to find something in common use to be adapted.
Clear would be cool.  I'd like something similar for my MME.

Give me some time to McGyver this.

Dave
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on August 24, 2011, 10:23:21 AM
I ran my minime in a "target" rack.  It extended a bit higher than the knobs.  I further enclosed them by adding a piece of stainless wire.  So the controls were boxed somewhat like the v3.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: hubbachild on August 25, 2011, 01:13:58 PM
I run a mini me and mini mp in a targus rakpak. They fit side by side standing up and has plenty of room to the top so I can zip up if needed.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: Chuck on August 25, 2011, 01:22:52 PM
I run a mini me and mini mp in a targus rakpak. They fit side by side standing up and has plenty of room to the top so I can zip up if needed.

I used a Targus when I had a Mini-Me.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: NOLAfishwater on August 25, 2011, 06:39:52 PM
fits on its side in petrol pegz bags. thats how I ran it.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: H₂O on August 26, 2011, 02:48:49 PM
I run a mini me and mini mp in a targus rakpak. They fit side by side standing up and has plenty of room to the top so I can zip up if needed.

This what I used for the Mini-Me and AD-1000 back in the day
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: dlh on August 28, 2011, 10:41:12 AM
I'm thinking of some kind of snap on plastic cover just a little deeper than the knobs,
maybe held in place with foam inside.  Now to find something in common use to be adapted.
Clear would be cool.  I'd like something similar for my MME.

Give me some time to McGyver this.

Dave

Still workin' on this one - thinking butter dish lid, but too large.
Something polyethylene - Tupperware ? ???
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: SmokinJoe on August 29, 2011, 04:20:01 PM
FYI... the knobs don't simply pull off like I had hoped.  I was expecting the knob would pull off. and there would be a 1/4" shaft with a flat on it, same as older stereo and TV knobs.  No such luck.

I'm starting to lean towards cutting something like plexiglass panels for top/bottom/sides, so the face becomes recessed like a V3.  Hold plexiglass in place with tape.  Ugly but functional.  Actually I don't need all 4 sides surrounded completely, just enough to protect the main knobs when I lay it down on it's side.
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: page on August 29, 2011, 04:53:50 PM
Ok, plan B:
can you fashion a small metal box (metal for heat-sink purposes) that extend over the entire thing (or enough that you could secure it with a strap or something over the rest/back)? Ala the wooden boxes that you could find on the old AD500 and AD1k sometimes.

I guess you could put small feet on it and use those feet to go between the front panel screw and the front panel.

edit: You could even do it out of sheet metal if you have a decent way of bending everything properly plus the drill. A low pressure vice would work. I totally have this shit diagramed in my head.  :D
Title: Re: Apogee knob mods?
Post by: jbell on August 29, 2011, 05:49:47 PM
When I had a UA5 I velcroed metal strips around the face to create protection for the knobs.  Not high end, but it worked.  Bought the supplies in Home Depot