|
|
Post by geoff738 on Jun 25, 2019 18:45:11 GMT -6
Go!
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
|
|
Post by Guitar on Jun 25, 2019 18:54:54 GMT -6
There was this guy called DB Dawg. He had some crazy stuff, think he also built motorcycles. I got a couple of his CEQ which is like a Calrec equalizer, as a DIY project. They sound wonderful. There were some oversights in the build manual I guess but the projects got finished.
He put out the same EQ with an API preamp tacked on to it and the knobs were so cramped, I thought it was an insanely bad design choice for 500 series. A preamp with a 4 band parametric EQ in 500 series. I guess he quit doing it.
Also I really love my Five Fish NK-72DI. I am using some op amps I can't talk about. But if you can get a Neumann OA-10 style op amp in 2520 format they sound amazing in this preamp. I think 51X Audio / Volker Mayer makes some. I was using GAR-918BC for a while and that would be my second choice. I need to try some Hardy 990 too just to see what happens.
This is my "secret weapon" preamp for electric guitar and bass. I didn't love it on vocals but I have other specific pres for that.
My main pair of preamps for years now is a pair of CAPI VP312 that I put Cinemag CMMI-8PCA input transformers in, and a Bo Hansen DI circuit, in place of the T Pad attenuator which I omitted. These work on everything.
You can put a million different op amps in them. The GAR AM10 Quad Eight style op amp is my choice for vocals. Various 2520 op amps would be for the standard sound.
I'm not sure if they are underrated or lesser known but I have the Midas 512 EQ and the Lindell PEX-500 EQ, a pair of each. I find them both to be useful. Both are inexpensive.
I guess that's all my stuff for now. I really need to get some AML ez1073 up in here.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on Jun 25, 2019 19:03:21 GMT -6
I’ll throw out Cranborne. So far they have a pre, and some interesting looking, well, what to call them. Power supplies plus converters plus headphone/monitor controllers. But I don’t believe those products have hit the market and they’re not 500 modules, so I’ll just mention them in passing as something new and innovative and 500 series related.
The pre is supposed to be clean/transparent with some switchable options to add more character. Good reviews from what I can tell, but, I have not tried them. Price is very reasonable I believe.
Inward Connections. I mentioned in the thread that begat this one. They’ve been around a long time and I’ve heard good things, but not in a long time.
I m curious about Flickinger derived stuff. Skibbe I know of. They’ve been around a while. Anybody else?
The Awtac stuff sounded awesome when it came out. I pondered jumping into the 500 universe for their stuff, but I didn’t, still haven’t, and after the initial bit of great reviews, I haven’t really heard anything.
so, I can’t add a whole lot to this from personal experience. No 500 rack here. But definitely interested in what others have found that is either new on the market or has been out there for a while and for whatever reason hasn’t become flavour of the month or whatever.
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
|
|
Post by 000 on Jun 25, 2019 19:05:48 GMT -6
Lindell EVO-6 are actually quite nice sounding preamps with practically 0 reviews.
I also consider my mr. springgy reverb to be a bit of a secret weapon for indie/vibey sounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by matt@IAA on Jun 25, 2019 19:13:02 GMT -6
There was this guy called DB Dawg. He had some crazy stuff, think he also built motorcycles. I got a couple of his CEQ which is like a Calrec equalizer, as a DIY project. They sound wonderful. There were some oversights in the build manual I guess but the projects got finished. He put out the same EQ with an API preamp tacked on to it and the knobs were so cramped, I thought it was an insanely bad design choice for 500 series. A preamp with a 4 band parametric EQ in 500 series. I guess he quit doing it. Also I really love my Five Fish NK-72DI. I am using some op amps I can't talk about. But if you can get a Neumann OA-10 style op amp in 2520 format they sound amazing in this preamp. I think 51X Audio / Volker Mayer makes some. I was using GAR-918BC for a while and that would be my second choice. I need to try some Hardy 990 too just to see what happens. This is my "secret weapon" preamp for electric guitar and bass. I didn't love it on vocals but I have other specific pres for that. My main pair of preamps for years now is a pair of CAPI VP312 that I put Cinemag CMMI-8PCA input transformers in, and a Bo Hansen DI circuit, in place of the T Pad attenuator which I omitted. These work on everything. You can put a million different op amps in them. The GAR AM10 Quad Eight style op amp is my choice for vocals. Various 2520 op amps would be for the standard sound. I'm not sure if they are underrated or lesser known but I have the Midas 512 EQ and the Lindell PEX-500 EQ, a pair of each. I find them both to be useful. Both are inexpensive. I guess that's all my stuff for now. I really need to get some AML ez1073 up in here. I agree, Neumann OA10 style op amps sound great on guitars. They have a bit more distortion than most DOAs and can’t drive low loads cleanly, but the way they distort is really pleasant. They are thickeners for sure. Super easy builds too. |
|
|
|
Post by Bender on Jun 25, 2019 19:15:51 GMT -6
I think AML has flown low under the radar. I've heard nothing but good things quality wise, apparently the kit versions can be tricky to build however... neve preamps and a new add on eq in 500 series sure sounds nice and even at the assembled prices after pounds to USD it's comparable to a vp28 pricewise.
|
|
|
|
Post by NoTomorrow on Jun 25, 2019 19:16:26 GMT -6
N-Sonic N73-EQ
'Neve style' equalizer.
Cheap and very useful for tracking. These are actually Alctrons rebranded....
Good sound - class A with transformers, very broad curves and HPF. Lots of EQ frequency points.
I have 2 and use them often for various things.
|
|
|
|
Post by nudwig on Jun 25, 2019 19:39:06 GMT -6
Inward Connections. I mentioned in the thread that begat this one. They’ve been around a long time and I’ve heard good things, but not in a long time. I have their Brute. Awesome comp. I've probably ran my mouth off about them before but I love the Louder Than Liftoff Mr. Focus modules. I love using them in the Stage 2 configuration with their various colour modules and the superfilter is very useful. Also, you can put the Smash comp in them which is a monster. |
|
|
|
Post by drbill on Jun 25, 2019 21:25:03 GMT -6
Inward Connections. I mentioned in the thread that begat this one. They’ve been around a long time and I’ve heard good things, but not in a long time. I have their Brute. Awesome comp. I've probably ran my mouth off about them before but I love the Louder Than Liftoff Mr. Focus modules. I love using them in the Stage 2 configuration with their various colour modules and the superfilter is very useful. Also, you can put the Smash comp in them which is a monster. Want to try the Brute sometime.... I've also got 12 of those MrFocus modules - and they have kicked my mix template into the stratosphere. Loving having all those color options at mix. I set em up how I like em, and use em as "colorizing analog presets" and push into em with a trim plugin in my DAW right before the analog insert. I do tweak the Focus EQ per track though. Having 12 is mega powerful for the mix. Smash comps are on Kicks & Stomps right now. Implodes are on Claps. RGB colorizers with API and Neve line cards are on Ac. Guitars, RGB with Tubes (pentode) are on Electric and Tremolo guitars. The RogueTec Air Pultec HF EQ's are on Tambourines and Shakers, and the Stage II's are on standby to put on something that's still analog naked....  Digging it!! When the Silver Bullets are used up too, the Chroma's get put into the fray on Misc lead-ish type instruments. I'm obviously biased, but I don't know how these fly so low under the radar. I've got em loaded with Pentodes so I've got API, Neve and Tube topologies at the flick of a button on every Chroma mic/line module. This is also rocking my mix template. Cool stuff these days. You can fit so much bang for the space and buck in a bunch of 500 racks. I think the format is a LONG way from topping out. |
|
|
|
Post by nudwig on Jun 25, 2019 22:06:21 GMT -6
I have their Brute. Awesome comp. I've probably ran my mouth off about them before but I love the Louder Than Liftoff Mr. Focus modules. I love using them in the Stage 2 configuration with their various colour modules and the superfilter is very useful. Also, you can put the Smash comp in them which is a monster. Want to try the Brute sometime.... I've also got 12 of those MrFocus modules - and they have kicked my mix template into the stratosphere. Loving having all those color options at mix. I set em up how I like em, and use em as "colorizing analog presets" and push into em with a trim plugin in my DAW right before the analog insert. I do tweak the Focus EQ per track though. Having 12 is mega powerful for the mix. Smash comps are on Kicks & Stomps right now. Implodes are on Claps. RGB colorizers with API and Neve line cards are on Ac. Guitars, RGB with Tubes (pentode) are on Electric and Tremolo guitars. The RogueTec Air Pultec HF EQ's are on Tambourines and Shakers, and the Stage II's are on standby to put on something that's still analog naked.... Digging it!! When the Silver Bullets are used up too, the Chroma's get put into the fray on Misc lead-ish type instruments. I'm obviously biased, but I don't know how these fly so low under the radar. I've got em loaded with Pentodes so I've got API, Neve and Tube topologies at the flick of a button on every Chroma mic/line module. This is also rocking my mix template. Cool stuff these days. You can fit so much bang for the space and buck in a bunch of 500 racks. I think the format is a LONG way from topping out. I think you'll dig it, I wouldn't mind having the mk2 rack version (sorry, I know this is a 500 thread). Really good on vocals, John had a sample I believe on the other site that sold me. It's not my necessarily the first call for my usual work but it's never let me down, it's usually what I go to when the Sta or LA2A are too heavy, it's smooth and pretty. We had a pop singer in recently and it was great on her. I also amazed that the Mr. Focus stuff is flying under the radar, I use them during tracking and it makes life much easier later on. Sadly I only have 4 but with double the colour modules I just picked up another lunchbox so I can have eventually have them all on tap instead of always changing them out. ZOD into Pentode Stage 2 into a compressor is just magic (on bass and vocals). Always tracking snare with some Mass Driver treatment (and some smash during the mix). These are easily my favorite 500 series modules. Still want to try the Doublewide 2. |
|
|
|
Post by lpedrum on Jun 26, 2019 11:12:54 GMT -6
The Chambord Audio CA-250. Designed after the Sontec EQ it sells for $379 US. I love 'em (have a pair) and they also have a great look to them. I'm surprised that more folks here haven't tried them. |
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jun 26, 2019 14:34:25 GMT -6
The Chandler TG Opto is pretty damn impressive.
|
|
|
|
Post by adamjbrass on Jun 26, 2019 15:15:55 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by m03 on Jun 26, 2019 19:26:51 GMT -6
With the caveat that I own none of these:
JMK Audio has a couple of neat modules. Their preamp has had some praise here in the past, and I've seen their JM-115C compressor module mentioned when people have asked about DBX 160VU style compressors in 500 series (something that there are surprisingly few attempts at duplicating).
Electrodyne preamp and EQ modules have gotten some positive comments, but seem to be rarely discussed.
As far as things that are out of production go, the 500 series Valley People Dyna-mite looked compelling. It seems like it wasn't in production for very long, and rarely comes up for sale on the second-hand market.
|
|
|
|
Post by Blackdawg on Jun 26, 2019 19:34:54 GMT -6
I still think most the diy stuff is underrated.
So:
DIYRE OLA5, EQP5
AML stuff
CAPI stuff
JLM Audio
Sound Skulptor
Total Audio Control
You can get dbx 560a comps for cheap too
|
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Jun 26, 2019 21:17:10 GMT -6
Those Sound Skulptor Neve type preamps are pretty great.
The Tonelux comps and eq's are great.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoff738 on Jun 26, 2019 22:19:02 GMT -6
Definitely some interesting stuff I was unaware of.
Didn’t know Chandler had so much 500 series stuff. Not just the piece JK mentioned. The Lipinski stuff looks like they’re forging their own path. And so on. The Chambord stuff is made 5 hours down the highway and I’d never heard of them.
And the LTLO stuff I’m still not sure I completely grok, but sounds like tons of flexibility.
Ok, will try and learn more about some of the other stuff mentioned. Tomorrow.
Cheers,
Geoff
|
|
|
|
Post by Blackdawg on Jun 27, 2019 0:19:00 GMT -6
I've heard good things about the E22 Avedis EQ too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chad on Jun 28, 2019 20:04:32 GMT -6
» ACME Optocom XLA-500. Love this thing.
» Chandler TG Opto
» IGS Audio Bison (stereo parallel mixer w/ Mid-Side feature)
Chad
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 12:13:58 GMT -6
Hamptone MP500A. His JFET preamp in 500 format. Still honeymooning with it, but it sounds really good. The build quality is impeccable.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2019 12:17:37 GMT -6
» ACME Optocom XLA-500. Love this thing. Chad Just curious... does yours have insanely sensitive pots? Like, zero resistance? A close friend of mine got one and loaned it to me, and while I thought it sounded really cool, it was weirdly difficult to dial in because of the pots. |
|
|
|
Post by jeremygillespie on Jul 9, 2019 20:50:07 GMT -6
» ACME Optocom XLA-500. Love this thing. Chad Just curious... does yours have insanely sensitive pots? Like, zero resistance? A close friend of mine got one and loaned it to me, and while I thought it sounded really cool, it was weirdly difficult to dial in because of the pots. That’s my only gripe with all Tube Tech gear. The pots are AWFUL. |
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Jul 10, 2019 9:43:00 GMT -6
Just curious... does yours have insanely sensitive pots? Like, zero resistance? A close friend of mine got one and loaned it to me, and while I thought it sounded really cool, it was weirdly difficult to dial in because of the pots. That’s my only gripe with all Tube Tech gear. The pots are AWFUL. They're clean, sealed and the work well . . . but they move when you lightly blow on them. That what you mean? |
|
|
|
Post by jeremygillespie on Jul 10, 2019 10:55:48 GMT -6
That’s my only gripe with all Tube Tech gear. The pots are AWFUL. They're clean, sealed and the work well . . . but they move when you lightly blow on them. That what you mean? Yeah it’s like they are lubed up with wd40 from the factory. Just a little bit of resistance would be perfect. As an assistant I absolutely hated when a mix engineer would ask me to use anything tube tech and I knew I was going to have to do a recall. They are the biggest pain in the ass to get back to where you had them when running tone through a unit. I personally print whatever track I have going through the stuff when I’m running the show so I don’t have to deal with that problem. But... didn’t really have that choice as a 20 year old assistant for the big boys. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2019 11:14:34 GMT -6
That’s my only gripe with all Tube Tech gear. The pots are AWFUL. They're clean, sealed and the work well . . . but they move when you lightly blow on them. That what you mean? Yes. Looking at them cause them to move. Also resulted in huge changes in response with minimal movement of the pot. It's kind of obnoxious, considering the cost of entry. |
|
Digging it!!
