8mm Forum: ST 600 Stereo

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Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on May 30, 2005, 04:35 PM:

A while ago David Pannell opened up a topic on the For Sale board as he was selling his ST 600. Regular readers will remember there ensued a debate about whether or not the ST 600 could play back in stereo through an external amp. We established that there was an ST 600 model that was capable of stereo playback but that it was rarely seen.

I have just spotted one on Ebay so I thought I would 'borrow' a couple of the photos from the listing as they illustrate this unusual model rather well.

So, here is the machine;

And here is the front panel showing the stereo take off;

Mike

Posted by Rick Skowronek (Member # 385) on May 30, 2005, 07:28 PM:

Hey Mike,

How are ya?

Wow, it's clear from all the varieties of the same model that my earlier statement is that you sure can't tell the models without a program. It's unusual in any other industry I've been associated with for the same model number to have so many variations of capabilities. Sounds like many of these machines were changed to try and spur further interest in Super 8 about the time video began it's climb.

By the way, I'm in the process of designing a small add-on board for ST600, 800 and 180's as well as potentially for ST1200's without stereo to play full fidelity stereo off of the main and balance tracks. It will basically use the projector power with no mod, and not interfere with normal operation of the projector as you may use it. Will have a separate set of audio (line out) jacks for stereo. Just leave the projector in silent mode and and mixed mode.

Of course, must have the full head complement (and track/mix) switch. Will deliver approximately .7 to 1.0 volts full line out so would be suitable to drive any regular stereo amp. Only a minor projector mod (tie-in not change) and a small 2X3 inch circuit board.

Don't know how much interest and will need some level of tech expertise to implement. Know that I want it though.

Rick

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on May 30, 2005, 08:07 PM:

Rick, splendid idea! If this comes to fruition I know I'll want one - but make it cheap. [Big Grin]

I had an idea of my own recently, more of a low-tech solution: Hook up a good stereo tape deck to the projector's monitor-outs - set the tape deck to record (but don't actually record anything) and pump up that level control. My thinking is that the tape deck should boost the sound signal just enough so that you can grab it off the tape deck's out jacks and feed it into your amplifier and speakers. Well, it's a thought anyway, but your way is so much better. [Smile]

Posted by Rick Skowronek (Member # 385) on May 31, 2005, 10:11 AM:

Hi Jan,

Have the circuit and have identified the IC. It uses a whopping $5.00 of parts (including the IC) not counting the printed circuit board which I haven't determined yet. It can run off of any available DC supply in the projector from 7 to 23 volts DC and will just need a couple of shielded wire connections to the amp board where the heads come in. Doesn't use nor interfere with any of the normal sound play or record functions.

I'll let you know once I have one built and perfected. My ST600 will be the first guinea pig.

Rick

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on June 01, 2005, 02:11 AM:

Agnello Guarracino puts a car audio box in between his ST1200HD and amplifier to get normally amplified stereo sound. This box is used where a car hifi doesn't have line outs and therefore the speaker terminals are connected to this box and from there standard line out jacks go to the amplifier.

Cost of such a box was £10 (about $18 but no doubt it will be cheaper in the US).

No need to mess around with tape decks Jan.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on June 01, 2005, 06:10 AM:

Rick, if that comes off you will sell some I'm sure. Let me know how it goes.

Kev.

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on June 01, 2005, 10:33 PM:

John,

not quite sure how this is supposed to work if the ST-1200HD only has ONE speaker-out to begin with? How would this help you get stereo sound? [Confused]

Posted by David Pannell (Member # 300) on June 03, 2005, 03:14 PM:

Excellent pictures, Mike.

But OH! SO VERY different from the ST600 which I had. Almost a totally different machine entirely.

Anyway, nice to have the differences confirmed - so we were ALL telling the truth, after all!! [Razz]

Dave.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on June 04, 2005, 10:19 AM:

Jan, I think Rick is meaning stereo via line out sockets only just like the ST1200 HD.

Kev.

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on June 04, 2005, 11:59 AM:

I know what Rick is talking about, but John spoke of some fellow who used a car audio box to connect to the speaker-out and bring its signal down to line level and send it to a dedicated stereo amplifier. Since the ST-1200HD is, at its heart, still a monaural machine and only has one speaker-out, it's not possible to use this way to get stereo sound - you have to go through the twin monitor outputs. Thus my confusion as to what John was saying. [Cool]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on October 16, 2005, 01:37 PM:

Ohh, another old thread to revive. [Big Grin]

Rick, have you succeeded in building that add-on board for stereo output at line level from Elmo projectors? [Smile]

Posted by Rick Skowronek (Member # 385) on October 20, 2005, 11:08 AM:

Hey Jan,

Been awhile since I've been back to the old board. I played extensively with the udea. The problem came up that the way the ST600 head wiring and the myriad of switches it goes through did not lend itself at all to an easy modification. In other words, you'd have to be a very highly experienced electronics tech to even attempt it and the projector may not be able to easily go back to it's standard functionality without adding even more switches.

In the case of the standard 600's like mine, Elmo had no intention of allowing it to be stereo. They must have totally redesigned it for the model Mike found above.

So, to make a long story short, I figured no one in their right mind would dig into it this extensively (and possibly mucking it up for good) just for stereo.

Best to all!

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