Altec Lansing model 1988A Automatic Microphone Mixer

**glhering** · October 17th, 2003, 04:00 PM

Does anybody know about this mixer or have a manual? I just bought this and it doesn't have regular mic inputs (1/4 or XLR). Looks like you would have to cut the connectors and hook the wires up to the back!?!?! Thanks.

**Todd W. White** · October 17th, 2003, 10:52 PM

Are you sure that is the right Model Number?

**audiojunkman** · October 19th, 2010, 03:06 AM

I just bought two of the 1988a automixers on ebay, I've never seen these units, before.
They probably operate very similar the the 1678 series of mixers, based on Dan Dugan's early designs, of which the "c" suffix was the last.
I thought the last units designed were the 1700 (?) series of automixers.
The connectors are called "phoenix", pretty standard in current commercial audio products.
You can check with Great Plains Audio, as I'm going to do, to find out about these mixers.

Was going to post the link to them, just joined to answer this post, says I gotta post more.

I believe the gentleman's name there is Ira, who was one of the last people involved with the automixers before the OKC plant closed.

Hope this helps.
Charles

**audiojunkman** · October 19th, 2010, 03:13 AM

Duh, I guess y'all are familiar with Great Plains Audio....

**whitebroncoii** · October 19th, 2010, 09:03 AM

The 1984A and 1988A were developed by order of Altec's management and the mandate was to redesign for lower manufacturing costs using surface-mount technology. Because no input from sales or marketing was allowed, no functional improvements exist between the 1678C and the 1988A (other than in/out connectors). After the 1988A was released and a number of them were in operation a 'ground problem' was discovered. The problem is in the circuit board layout and could not be fixed without a complete new board design. Management decided to pull the 1988A from distribution.

Not many applications/installs will exhibit the 'ground problem'. Give yours a test drive before you decide to put it back on ebay. The Altec automixer is a Dugan "gain-sharing" design and it adjusts input levels by comparing the sum of all inputs to the individual input. In action this is similar to how an operator will turn up the mic in-use and turn down the unused mics. When multiple mics are in-use the mixer shares the gain by turning mics up, but not as far.

The 1988A is not a stereo mixer! It can ruin a stereo mix.

**Altec Best** · October 19th, 2010, 07:36 PM

Hey Charles :welcome: to the board. I'm not sure if you are aware that that post is 7 years old. October 17,2003 so don't know if glhering is still here.

Great Plains Audio doesn't repair the electronic's you were right the first time Ira is the man for that. "Ira-Tec" he repairs most of Altec electronics Mixers,amps,etc.....

**audiojunkman** · October 20th, 2010, 10:54 PM

Geez, didn't notice the thread being that old. Sorry....
I own and have used lots of the Altec 1678's, mainly the "c's", and like how they work.
I even have some of the early "Dugan" automixers that I'm finally getting around to updating.
Main problem I have found in several of the 1678c's were intermittent Switchcraft XLR's, made around the time when Switchcraft was purchased by Raytheon.
Once replaced, no more problems, but did have to wait awhile for Switchcraft to get some of the direct replacements to me.
Next time would probably retrofit Neutrik XLR's.
I've been collecting some other company's automixers for awhile, going to evaluate their function, do me a "shoot-out".
Good to hear Ira is still around.
Charles