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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 27, 2014 18:47:33 GMT
Hi Ian, Thanks. Your entry on my list didn't show as a definite purchase but it does now. Regards, Charlie
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Post by gruntfuttock on Aug 27, 2014 22:59:45 GMT
Quote: If the manufacturer decides to send one outside of the UK
Hi Charlie. Might there be a problem sending a unit to Japan? Will the unit be dual voltage 240 / 100? The voltage here is 100/110 but I could use a transformer if necessary. Regards Dave
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 27, 2014 23:10:30 GMT
Hi Dave, The unit uses a separate wall wart type power supply. I don't yet know how this will be done for countries outside the EU. Maybe supplied without a power supply so the user can source their own supply locally. Regards, Charlie
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Post by shadowkarl on Aug 28, 2014 7:46:01 GMT
Hi Charlie as everybody on the list now seems to rush and reconfirm a definite purchase I think I said so right from the beginning beeing number 13 already. So again, if it is available i will definitely purchase one. (Albeit having the Problem of selling all my Alesis stuff afterwards. (Q20,GT and Zoom 2200) Best Shadowkarl
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Post by watsfender on Aug 28, 2014 13:12:06 GMT
Hi Charlie, I put my name down on your list what seems ages ago,Please consider me as a definite purchaser. Thanks Watsfender.
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Post by shaunh on Aug 28, 2014 14:29:11 GMT
Hi Charlie,
Please also add me to the list of definate interest to order & purchase the unit once it is available.
Regards Shaun
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 28, 2014 15:39:40 GMT
Hi Karl, Thanks for re-confirming that you definitely want one. I already have that note on my list.
Hi Watsfender and Shaun, Thanks. I have added a note to each of your entries on my list that you both definitely want one.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by abbeyroed on Aug 28, 2014 22:36:57 GMT
Hi Charlie: Hope all is well with you and yours. Good home here on the island. As I see re-confirmations of wanting a unit from the first release, I, too, will definitely want one. Kind Regards, Ed!!!
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Post by michaelbeer on Aug 29, 2014 6:13:26 GMT
Hi Charlie,
It's been some time since I asked to be put on your list as a definite purchaser (at least I think I did!). Can you please check that I'm on it?
Mike Beer
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Post by burt075 on Aug 29, 2014 7:27:13 GMT
Hi Charlie I definitely would like to purchase the Hall & Collins Echo unit once it goes on sale Cheers Bruce
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Post by pipeline2020 on Aug 29, 2014 12:55:19 GMT
Hi Charlie I added my name to your list some time ago. I would like to confirm myself as a definite purchaser.
Regards
Mike
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 29, 2014 14:45:16 GMT
Hi Ed, Thanks. I have added a note to my list that you definitely want one.
Hi Mike (Beer), You are on my list but I didn't have a note that you definitely want one. I have added that now. Thanks.
Hi Bruce, Thanks. I have added a note to my list that you definitely want one. What is the specified mains voltage in your area?
Hi Mike (pipeline2020), Thanks. I have added a note to my list that you definitely want one.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by burt075 on Aug 29, 2014 18:17:57 GMT
Hi Charlie voltage in New Zealand is 230 volts Cheers Bruce
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Post by Chas on Aug 29, 2014 19:50:23 GMT
Hi Charlie, great news about the progress of the new unit. Please note on your list that I am a definite purchaser.
Many thanks, Chas.
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Post by billboy75 on Aug 29, 2014 20:25:34 GMT
Hi Charlie I hope you can find me on the early part of your list, can you please put me the 'Definitely' list. Best wishes. Bill Murray
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 29, 2014 20:40:59 GMT
Hi Bruce, 230 volts is the specified standard in the UK. If there is such a thing as a UK to NZ plug converter in NZ then the UK power supply should work with it. At the moment I am trying to work out the best options regarding the supply of a UK power supply to each country.
Hi Chas and Bill, Thanks. I have added a note to both your entries on my list that you each definitely want one.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by burt075 on Aug 30, 2014 4:24:31 GMT
Hi Charlie New Zealand voltage is the same as Australia 230 volts and the same 3 pin plug. I don't know if I could get a UK adapter to NZ power I will find out when the time comes. Cheers Bruce
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TonyL
Member
Vintage stuff
Posts: 190
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Post by TonyL on Aug 30, 2014 11:40:00 GMT
Hi Charlie New Zealand voltage is the same as Australia 230 volts and the same 3 pin plug. I don't know if I could get a UK adapter to NZ power I will find out when the time comes. Cheers Bruce Hi We've got a couple of UK to Oz adaptors so they are available. We got ours at Heathrow but I think I've seen them in travel shops in Sydney so you should be able to get one locally.
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Post by GeorgeII on Aug 30, 2014 12:28:14 GMT
Hi Charlie,
I will place a definite order this way! Whish you good luck in final work!!
Cheers, Gerd
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 30, 2014 13:20:16 GMT
Hi Bruce and Tony, Thanks for the information.
Hi Gerd, Thanks. I have added a note to the list that you definitely want one. Programming is going very well and we might even be finished earlier than the deadline I have set ourselves.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 30, 2014 20:27:13 GMT
Hi Steve, I can't think of any electronics manufacturer (still manufacturing in the UK) that is well known. Most stuff seems to be made in China now. I hadn't heard of them before but that doesn't necessarily mean they are not well known! I have learned that they make a wide range of innovative products, from high end expensive car electronics to supermarket checkout electronics to leisure activity electronic products. Then our unit of course! They will warranty the product against manufacturing defects (the final design has been seriously tested and performs flawlessly), and I am committed to offering user support like I always have with everything else, as I believe John will too. Regards, Charlie
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Post by alphamark on Aug 30, 2014 23:00:39 GMT
Hi Charlie. I am currently on your "advise when ready" list for the new Hall And Collins Echo unit but would like to be put on the definite buyers list. Many thanks - Graeme
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 30, 2014 23:17:41 GMT
Hi Graeme, Thanks. I have added a note to my list that you definitely want one. Regards, Charlie
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Post by sheendigs on Aug 31, 2014 1:36:02 GMT
Hi Charlie Some questions on your unit..if it has been answered sorry for that. By murphy's law anything could happen with electronics today. Will the presets be safely protected? Or will one have to save them? Or if any defect happens to the chip, will one have to send the whole unit to be repaired? Thanks.. Sheendigs
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Post by John Collins on Aug 31, 2014 10:21:23 GMT
Hi Sheendigs, & other members, I might take the opportunity here to jump in and answer this one. It's been quite a while since I posted on The H&C Echo unit, so perhaps it's a good time for me to share some insight into progress of the project (as seen from this end of the globe), particularly as we get close to completion. To answer Sheendigs' question - Yes, the Preset patches (there are 64 of them) are safely & permanently protected in Flash memory of the MPU (Micro Processor Unit) chip. So although the Presets can be edited, the edited patch can then ONLY be saved in the User area. The User area also contains room for 64 Patches. On delivery, the User area of the unit will contain the same 64 patches as the Preset area. The difference in the User area is that the patches can be moved, edited, renamed, saved etc. So, among other things, you could save your favourite patches (from either Preset or User area) into a set list playing order, into the User area. But whatever the operator does, it is impossible to accidently erase or change in any way, the 64 patches in the Preset area. They're definitely safe! Regarding the second question, if the MPU chip were to fail would the whole unit need to be sent away for repairs - Answer is probably yes. We did consider having a socket mounted processor(our early prototypes had this arrangement), but the final production units are likely to have a direct soldered chip, for a variety of reasons - reliability being the main one. In my experience over the years, MPU failures in electronics are pretty rare, it's usually support components, such as power supplies, LCD displays, etc that cause problems. The MagicStomp is a good example, where LCD failure seems to be a main cause of failure. At this point I would like to reassure everyone that from the start, the H&C unit has been designed with reliability & durability as non negotiable goals, and accordingly, we have chosen quality components that are conservatively rated, and subjected the prototypes to a rigorous testing schedule! We want these things to be around for a long time.
To address some earlier posts about the Power Supply plugpacks needed for various countries. The H&C unit requires a 12V AC input, and we recommend a 1 amp rated plugpack be used, even though current draw of the unit is only around 200mA. The power input connector is a standard 5.5 x 2.1 "barrel" connector. This is the same connector as used on many effects pedals. Also, it's the same as the MagicStomp, which uses a similar 12V AC plugpack (the MagicStomp plugpack will work fine with the H&C unit). As Charlie mentioned, it's not finalised yet as to which plugpack will be supplied to the various countries, but that detail will be sorted out by the time the manufacturer is ready to ship.
This echo unit has taken a long time to reach this stage - far longer than Charlie or I ever expected - I think it's nearly 4 years ago we first started discussions about the possibility of a purpose built platform, where all characteristics of the old echo units could be implemented from the ground up. Along the way, we have had plenty of challenges. But in the end, the extra time that it has taken to get to reach the point we are at now has definitely had some benefits. For example, there was a period where development slowed, for a variety of reasons, but this pause has allowed me time research and develop the editing software for the unit, which I believe will prove to be a valuable addition, for many users. Not only do the Preset patches sound great as they are, but they can be tweaked if desired - eg, You like the Echomatic 2 patches, but wonder how They might sound with a 5th Head at 800mSec? You can try that out!
The current state of the project, as Charlie (and Peter) mentioned, is setting the EQ etc for some of the remaining patches. I'll try to explain what that actually means, in a bit more detail - the patches in the unit cover a variety of old Echo Machines - Meazzi Drum & Tape machines, Vox Long Tom, Binson, Klempt, Roland etc. Each unit has it's own characteristic sound - a product of it's individual mechanical and electronic design. The bulk of work with this project has been analysing the circuits of these machines to work out,in particular, the frequency response curves for the various sections of each, also looking at likely causes for wow and flutter and calculating the frequency and amplitude of those artifacts - all this is tempered with Charlie's analysis of the actual recorded audio from these machines. The result of all that might be, for example, that Charlie suggests we try a 10dB shelf High pass filter at 410Hz in the feedback loop of, say, the Roland RE 301 patches. I would then program the filter into the patch, send it back to Charlie to audition, and then fine tune as necessary. I should say that when programming that filter, it means writing machine code in our DSP chip - not just twiddling a knob! We have a large variety of filters that have had to be programmed in the digital domain, eg 6,12,18dB Low pass and High pass filters as well as shelving and peaking filters. If anyone has played around with programming digital filters, you will know it's as much an art form as a technical excercise, as filter co-efficients tend to be inter-active. In any case, I think I have waffled on for too long - but I'd like to thank all, of you who have believed in this project!
cheers, John Collins
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Post by istvan on Aug 31, 2014 10:35:05 GMT
Hi John! I know the unit,and I m happy that Charlie and the team has worked with such a professional manner!Thank you!
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Post by sheendigs on Aug 31, 2014 14:05:00 GMT
Hi John I think you have covered some stuff that lots of us were wondering. About the power supply..the unit could not have a locking switch that allows selecting 110 volts or 240 volts (+ or -) If we have to send the unit back..hum..that involves postage. I am in Canada and depending on the weight..it is rather costly. (I know that because I post regulary to different countries - and I have seen fees escalate. And then I am sure we have to ensure the package - onwards and on the way back) Sheendigs
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 31, 2014 14:57:20 GMT
Hi Sheendigs, The wall voltage determines which power supply to be used. The unit needs 12 volts AC so there is no need for a locking switch, and there is no need for a polarity switch with AC volts. I do not think a voltage selector switch on the power supply would be of much benefit as there are many different plug types in use over the world. And there is Japan which has 100 volts. Yes, postage costs could be a deciding factor. It would be even worse if our unit cost far more and weighed more. Regards, Charlie
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Post by sheendigs on Aug 31, 2014 15:21:53 GMT
Hi Charlie Thanks for the info on power supply. Postage costs are our problem. Anyway, we will see in the future how everything goes. Sheendigs
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Post by Charlie Hall on Aug 31, 2014 15:30:13 GMT
Hi Sheendigs, You've got me thinking now. I think I'm going to have to sell everything I own so I don't have to worry about posting back for repair or service. I certainly trust very few local facilities. Regards, Charlie
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