Changing Channel Strip Face Plates

Required Tools:

• 1.5mm Hex Driver or Allen Key

Estimated Time For Installation:

• 1 hour (maximum)

The following guide describes the procedure for mounting ‘older style’ (blue) channel face plates on new channel modules. If you have to mount the ‘newer style’ channel face plates (dark grey) on old channel modules please be aware that you will have to carry out the ‘reverse’ of many of the key steps in this guide (for example - removal and rotation of channel brackets on page 5). Please refer to the additional document ‘Channel Face Plate Info’ on the Custom Series 75 website for more information on channel face plate types.

IMPORTANT:Before removing channel modules, please ensure the console is powered off and its power cable disconnected.

Step-By-Step Guide

Firstly, make sure your console is powered down, then remove the channels you want to replace from your console. Lay the old and new channels side-by-side for easier workflow. Start by unscrewing the ‘wing’ knobs - there are 5 on each channel (4 grey and 1 maroon), located on left-hand-side of the channel [Fig 1].

[Fig 1]

Using the 1.5mm Allen/Hex key provided, unscrew the ‘grub’ screw on the grey and maroon wing knobs. This is the small screw within the wing knob that secures it to the pot.

Removing the wing knobs can require a small amount of force - you might need to use a pair of pliers. Once you have removed all the wing knobs, remove the rest of the knobs from the channel strip. There are no grub screws on the remainder of the knobs - these simply pull off.

Important:Do not unscrew the wing knobs’ grub screws all the way out as their housings can get damaged. About 1 full turn on the Allen/Hex key should be sufficient.

There are two configurations of the other (non-wing) knobs - ‘left-hand-side’ and ‘right-hand-side’. If you replace the knobs on the wrong side they will not align properly with the etching on the channel face plates. When you have removed them from the channels, it is suggested that you place them to the correct left or right-hand-side of the channel you are working on in order to avoid confusion.

Please also notice the grey bushing located underneath the wing knobs. When reinstalling, these need to be pushed back into the recess holes that lie underneath the wing knobs [Fig 2].

[Fig 2]

After removal of the front dress panel, your channel should look like the photograph below [Fig 3].

[Fig 3]

After removing all knobs from the front channel dress panel, the next step is to remove the gold front panel. This is done by removing 4 screws from the underside of the gold channel strip, on the back of the PCB [Fig 4, overleaf].

! (1) ! ! (2)!! ! (3)! ! ! ! ! (4)

[Fig 4]

Once you have removed its gold panel, the “naked” channel should resemble the channel on the far left of the photo to the left.

! (1) Naked channel showing PCB

! (2) Naked channel with gold plate

! (3) Complete channel

(1) (2) (3)

Important:There are 5 screws in total on the rear of the panel. Only remove the screws outlined below in Fig 4.

Removing & Rotating Brackets

In order to accommodate the old face plate on the new channel modules, 2 aluminium brackets need to be rotated 180°. These are located at the top and bottom of the channel PCB.

Please note that the middle aluminium bracket does not need to be rotated like the other two. Fig 6 shows the new channel and the lower bracket to be rotated:

[Fig 6]

Use an 11mm socket or driver to undo the 2 nuts securing the bracket and remove it from the channel. Flip the bracket 180° and re-install it on the channel so that it looks like the photograph in Fig 7:

[Fig 7]

The second bracket is located at the top of the channel. Use an 11mm socket or driver to remove the 5 nuts securing the bracket. Please note the “cutout” around the ‘AUX B’ button, indicated by the arrow below in Fig 8:

! ! ! ! ! ! [Fig 8]

This cutout needs to be flipped onto the other side [Fig 9]. Use the bracket from your old channel - it should have one of its corners removed as shown in Fig 9.

As you can see in image below [Fig 9] the bracket has been rotated 180° so that the cutout is now on the outer side of the ‘AUX B’ button.

! ! ! ! ! ! [Fig 9]

Please make sure both brackets are firmly secured using the nuts removed from the brackets in the previous steps. This completes all the modifications required to assemble the new channel with the old face plate. Please note that you do not need to use the gold plate as the older style face plate incorporates this into its design.

Assembling the Channel Strip

Lower the face plate gently over the PCB, paying careful attention to the alignment of the LEDs at the top of the face plate.

In Fig 11, the LED lights are not aligned correctly and as such may be damaged if you try to force the face plate on. If the LED lights are not aligned correctly, please remove the face plate and gently move the LEDs to their correct position (this may require some patience).

[Fig 11]

Figs 12 and Fig 13 (overleaf) show the correct alignment of the LEDs:

[Fig 12]

[Fig 13]

Do not try to force the face plate on. It will be a tight fit, so take some time aligning the channel’s LEDs and buttons correctly.

Once all LEDS have been aligned and the face plate has been installed, please replace the 4 screws on rear of the channel strip PCB. These secure the face plate to the channel module. Please use the screws from your old face plate as these screws are 2.5mm x 6mm, whereas the ones from the newer channel are 3 x 6mm and as such will not fit.

Please make sure that the 5 grey bushings shown in Fig 15 are inserted below the wing knobs before attempting to re-attach them - the fifth bushing is located under the maroon wing knob at the top of the channel.

[Fig 15]

You can now re-attach the various wing knobs and other knobs to your channel strip - this completes all modifications needed for your new channels to accommodate your older style face plates.