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4/19/2014

1401 Stereo Microphone Amp & The Ghost Box

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Since my last post about the 1401, minor alterations were made to the layout to lower the noise floor and raise the output level capability.  It is now complete and available for purchase here on the site.  Details about the 1401 Stereo Microphone Amp can be found here. 

The Ghost Box (pictured above the 1401 Preamp) was built as an add-on to give the 1401 all the typical features commonly associated with mic preamps. Its main feature is phantom power, but it also provides switches for phase invert and low cut.  The Ghost Box is stereo to compliment the 1401 Preamp, but it can be used with any mic preamp as a sonic alternative to on-board phantom power.
  
There's a few interesting things to note about the Ghost Box.  First off, its 100% valve state (like everything made by Lightning Boy Audio).  That might not sound too strange unless you're familiar with phantom power enough to know devices that deliver phantom power are traditionally powered by solid state power supplies.  Usually with phantom power, it needs to be well regulated so that the microphones being powered by it can operate with low noise.  The use of solid state voltage regulators is common in the industry.   Furthermore, phantom power was first introduced when solid state condenser mics came about.  I doubt anyone considered building a tube based phantom power supply because few people are as crazy as I am and its considerably more expensive to do... not to mention the design challenges involved.      
The Ghost Box departs from traditional phantom power by deriving its 48vDC from a vacuum tube rectifier and a neon voltage regulator tube.  

What's so special about that you might ask?  Well aside from it being a new concept, there is an obvious sonic difference between using a solid state phantom power supply and the all-tube Ghost Box.  Check out this demo video with some decent speakers or headphones to hear the difference yourself!  

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4/8/2014

Adding on to the site!

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As you'll see from looking around the site, I've been busy incorporating my studio into the folds of Lightning Boy Audio.  I renamed the studio and have a new sign on the way... "LBA Studios."  Keep an eye on the site as new gear rolls out and the studio section of the site comes together.  BTW, check out the super killer 1401 preamp and Ghost Box!  There's some tasty demos up, with more on the way!!!

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    About the Author

    Mike Congilosi II, Owner/Designer/Electronics Engineer at Lightning Boy Audio and Owner/Audio Engineer/Music Producer at LBA Studios.  

    Mike received a Master of Music Degree in Studio Production from SUNY Purchase in 2007.  He has been engineering and producing music for about 15 years and has been a musician since early childhood.  Mike's electronics background comes from self education fueled by love, necessity, and a insatiable drive to create.  

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  • Home
  • Store
  • Products
    • Dark Storm - Mic Pre
    • Sun Storm - audio compressor
    • Super Storm - 500 Series Preamp
    • Eye of Jupiter - 500 Series Re-Amping DI Box
    • 23Fe+ Instrument Transformer
  • Mike's Blog
  • Reviews & Demos
  • Customer Support
  • LBA History
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  • LBA Studios