Bottlehead Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc B. on December 12, 2012, 12:16:17 PM
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Time for a new class! This one will be on Saturday, January 19th, from 12-4. The class will deal with using test gear - the multimeter, oscilloscope, signal generator, etc. We will go through the basics on each piece of gear and then show how things like frequency response and distortion measurements can be done. Price is $50 and as usual the class size limit is 6 students. Call Eileen at 206-451-4275 to reserve a spot, this should be a really interesting class.
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Brilliant! I'd love learn how to measure:
- Preamp input/output impedance
- Preamp/power amp frequency response, distortion, channel separation, S/N ratio, noise floor
- Power amp input impedance
- Power amp output power
Some discussion on choosing a suitable oscilloscope and signal generator for audio measurements would be great too.
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- Preamp input/output impedance
- Preamp/power amp frequency response, distortion, channel separation, S/N ratio, noise floor
- Power amp input impedance
- Power amp output power
Roger that, those should be doable.
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I would love to take a class like that. I have a scope sitting in my basement but I don't know how to use it.
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i will be attending. i just bought a ticket and will fly up from oakland CA in the early morning and leave back home the same day to keep travel expenses to a minimum. it will be a long day but i am sure it will be worth it. looking forward to the class.
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Wish I could attend but going to the opposite coast is to far for a weekend trip
Deb
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Another way to make some money, instead of broadcasting it for free, make a decent enough recording of the class and I would buy it.
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See you guys there tomorrow!
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Hope everybody involved has a blast today. Wish I could be there but I'll be looking forward to the comments.
-- Jim
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I'd love to be there and learn some of the tricks that are being presented. A couple of thousand miles it all that keeps me away. Looked it up, 2600 miles. What a road trip!
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okay, so i got up at 4 am this morning, attended the class and got back home at 10:30pm. it was a long day but definitely worth the trip. i had a great time and learned a lot and met some nice people. thanks to bottlehead for hosting such a great event. time for bed now...
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Another great afternoon at Bottlehead HQ! As audio enthusiasts, we read specifications all the time, but how many of us really know what those numbers mean?
In the Test Gear class, we started off with some basics that built on many of the things we learned in the schematics reading class, then moved on to various types of test gear. Doc and PB had a few test scenarios set up that demonstrated the proper use of multimeters, Oscilloscopes, and signal generators. PB also demonstrated how to make measurements using just a simple M-Audio sound card and the free ARTA Audio Real Time Analysis software. The class was a mix of theory and hands-on that I think is a very effective approach to teaching. I brought an amp that I'd built last year for testing and learned some interesting things about it. PB was able to suggest some simple tweaks to raise its power output.
Toward the end of the day, we once again retired up to Doc's lair where we were treated to some great tunes, courtesy of The Tape Project and Doc's superb Empire turntable, not to mention a growler of the excellent microbrew from next door. He had just reconfigured his speaker array, repositioning the tweeter in the middle rather than the top, which made for some interesting soundstaging differences. PB set up his Dayton Audio V2 kit and he and Doc demonstrated how to make room measurements. This is something every audio enthusiast should know how to do. Even if you are not into building amplifiers, simply knowing how to measure and tune your room is a valuable skill.
So, thanks to the Bottlehead crew for another fun and informative day. It really is exciting to learn new things and if you're in to tube audio, this is one of the very few opportunities available anywhere. I'm already looking forward to the next class and hope to see more of you there in the future.
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Very Cool! I understood everything up to "Growler of beer." I know can, bottle, tall boy, pony keg, half keg and full keg. I also know a full keg is 31 gallons. But I don't know a growler.
I'd happily pay for a DVD of this class and room measurements demonstration. I'm capable of taking that and going with it from what is presented. Maybe a couple of PMs to Paul Birkeland.
There is, sadly, just no way, physically or financially, that I can make across America for a one day class.
I feel others would benefit if it were offered.
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Hello Grainger,
When we offer the multi-day class, perhaps you'll consider flying out?
Making videos of stuff like this is pretty difficult, especially when you try to record what happens on a CRT.
We'll continue to work on how to make this material accessible.
-PB
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Hey Grainger,
Let's push for a weekend class and maybe we can justify the trip.
Actually I would propose skip the class and meet at the brewery (and maybe at Doc's system) the whole weekend.
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Xavier, I would be willing to fly up for that trip! :)
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Very Cool! I understood everything up to "Growler of beer." I know can, bottle, tall boy, pony keg, half keg and full keg. I also know a full keg is 31 gallons. But I don't know a growler.
A growler is a half gallon glass jug that is filled with draft beer/ale for consumption at home.
http://beeradvocate.com/articles/384 (http://beeradvocate.com/articles/384)
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Paul,
I make it out about every other year to visit my friend in Portland. I could probably arrange something around that. We like to use up frequent flyer miles we get on our credit cards for this long a trip.
Xavier,
As long as PB and I can wander off for a quick tricks with an oscilloscope instructional I could go for beer and the Big Rig!
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Hey Grainger,
Let's push for a weekend class and maybe we can justify the trip.
Actually I would propose skip the class and meet at the brewery (and maybe at Doc's system) the whole weekend.
You and Grainger coming into town is enough of an occasion, you don't have to wait for a class to pop up...
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Paul,
Thanks, I will start talking to my social chairman, wife Paula, about it so we can aim at something this spring or summer.
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Paul,
Thanks, I will start talking to my social chairman, wife Paula, about it so we can aim at something this spring or summer.
Well, if you're going...