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Production of the 2020S will cease with the release of the final batch on September 20th. Pre-ordering is over and the quota is met. The final one produced will be number will be 323. Instrument transformers will continue to be produced... just not the 2020S. If you really want a 2020S, you can make one yourself with the 20SX transformer that I will continue to offer as a product. Thank you for supporting my endeavors!
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Everyone seems to love the wide range of color offered by the Dark Storm, even some focusing on how it can get very distorted. The Dark Storm can be very clean too and we set out to demonstrate that by recording piano. Pianist and piano tech, Kevin Urso laid down a jazzy jam at LBA Studios in the video below. Don't forget to buy 7 Dark Storms! :D
Finally, I've been able to work out all the issues with equipment failures and supply chains. We're back on production and working 7-days per week to catch up. Already, there's a lot of product back in stock. Simultaneously, I'm working to develop several new products (slowly working on developing a new compressor, I have an interesting idea for a ribbon mic signal booster, and a couple of nifty transformer designs). This week, Paul is coming back to work now that things are looking better. His first job is to edit the 5th and final video in the Big Flippers Youtube series. The mixing board was sold to Adam Horwitz of New Jersey, so I no longer have it to shoot anymore videos with. However, I may follow up with some more related videos in the future, but on my AMEK Big 44, which had far more extensive upgrades and mods done to it. For now, Paul's next mission after Big Flippers is to focus on a Dark Storm ad/video, an Eye of Jupiter demo, and then possibly on a new video series. His job is now exclusively video production and some minor photography stuff.
Due to multiple big problems with equipment and supplies, small signal transformer production is halted. Limited stock on hand for the time being. This directly impacts all LBA products. Whatever is in stock is all we can sell until the issues get resolved. I expect things to get back on track in under 2 weeks. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. This is a terribly frustrating time for me. I'm working as fast as I can to get back on track. The huge expenses involved are killing me. Your support is appreciated during this time. Thank you.
-Mike I've been working on a video series to document my acquisition of a beat-up 1995 AMEK Big 28 mixing board with the intent of repairing it to sell for profit. In this series I provide some how-to methods for recapping old electronics, replacing IC's on circuit boards, setting up a vintage PC with MS Dos and the automation program for the mixing board, and much more! In the first episode I take us on tour of BRM Sound, the recording studio where the Big was located when I purchased it. Subscribe to the channel to follow along. Here's what we have so far: Check out our fun new video series, Big Flippers on Youtube, where Mike buys a beat up 90's mixing board to repair, upgrade, and flip. We also have a newborn, "Eye of Jupiter"  The Eye of Jupiter is a 500 Series module, which offers both a DI input and a Re-Amp output. In fact, both the DI and RA (Re-Amp) jacks can be used at the same time and both offer a little something extra in the tone department. The DI is exactly the same circuit as what is in our Dark Storm preamplifier and as a result, features our popular MC15 audio transformer. Furthermore, the DI signal path also includes the Low Cut switch of the Dark Storm. However, this can only be used with the DI signal and not the Re-Amp signal. The Re-Amping section features LBA's new "Hot" light to indicate when the signal exiting the Re-Amp jack is higher in volume than that of a typical passive electric instrument (ie. electric bass). The level of this output jack can be controlled by the "Out Trim" knob. Internally, there is a setscrew adjustment pot for fine tuning the threshold of the "Hot" light. The Re-Amp signal is similar in design the the DI amplifier in that it is also features a discrete JFET signal path... a design choice made for tone. Get yours here.
We will be closed from February 18th-25th. Orders may still be placed on the webstore and will begin shipping on the 26th in the order they were received.
The Dark Storm has been nominated for the Sound On Sound 2023 Awards in the category of mic preamps. It's on page 3, but you'll need to cast a vote on each page to get there. Please vote for the Dark Storm. I know our chances are slim, but it would be sooo cool to have a little badge of honor to present. Thanks for your support.
Vote here. Sound On Sound review of the Dark Storm by Matt Houghton, November 2023. "For a box with so few user controls, the Dark Storm offers impressive tonal versatility, and with both the mic and instrument inputs feeding the same circuit, operation is trivially easy."
"So simple, but so addictive. And what character there is on offer here!" "So much more than ‘just’ a mic preamp, the Dark Storm is as much about colour and character as it is about gain. It practically begs you to play and experiment!" To read the full review, please visit the Sound On Sound website. Click here for the review at SOS. |
About the AuthorMike Congilosi II, Owner/Designer/Electronics Engineer at Lightning Boy Audio and Owner/Audio Engineer/Music Producer at LBA Studios. Archives
July 2025
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