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Post by recordingengineer on Nov 30, 2021 18:41:17 GMT -6
The studio I work out of has pairs of Manley Voxboxes, Summit Audio TPA-200Bs, an early UA 2-610 and a couple of other tube preamps. I’m really curious of people’s experiences with the Coils and Weight Tank in comparison to those mentioned. I’d really like to expand the tube preamp option a tiny bit after being completely satisfied with the solid-state array there and what I’ve brought in. Anyone?
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Post by EmRR on Nov 30, 2021 18:50:37 GMT -6
The Coil CA-70 will be the most different of any listed. The rest more similar to each other than the CA-70. The other Coil more similar to all the others.
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Post by recordingengineer on Nov 30, 2021 18:53:32 GMT -6
Thanks… That confirms my long-time drool for grabbing a couple of CA-70s then!
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Post by plinker on Nov 30, 2021 20:07:28 GMT -6
Is there anything particularly unique about the Coils outside of variable feedback? Aren't they all just old circuits with variable feedback?
My Hamptone tube preamp had zero negative feedback, and I was able to replicate its sound pretty well with a very small amount of EQ and plugin "toob" distortion. I eventually sold it.
I realize I'm opening the floodgates of hate, but I don't get it.
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Post by recordingengineer on Nov 30, 2021 20:44:16 GMT -6
As a general statement, a good ole circuit is just that, the but the components you choose and the way you put it together can make all the difference in the world.
I had a Hampton years prior to the kit becoming a thing. I also sold it, some years later, for some needed cash, as I knew in the already over-saturated market even back then, I could replace it with something else more unique down the road.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Nov 30, 2021 20:55:48 GMT -6
The studio I work out of has pairs of Manley Voxboxes, Summit Audio TPA-200Bs, an early UA 2-610 and a couple of other tube preamps. I’m really curious of people’s experiences with the Coils and Weight Tank in comparison to those mentioned. I’d really like to expand the tube preamp option a tiny bit after being completely satisfied with the solid-state array there and what I’ve brought in. Anyone? Sounds like you're unhappy with those VoxBoxes. I'll take them off your hands free of charge, I'll even unrack them for you. Just let me know, happy to help! |
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Post by yotonic on Nov 30, 2021 21:15:10 GMT -6
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Post by drumsound on Nov 30, 2021 21:59:24 GMT -6
The Useful Arts SFP60 is a cool option for tonal variance. There's Input, Output and Color controls. I'll do things like back off the color for backing vocals, so they are a bit different from the lead, but when we're working quickly and changing mics is going to kill momentum.
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Post by drbill on Nov 30, 2021 22:37:11 GMT -6
Locomotive 286a = Big, Aggressive, Smooth, Large.....very versatile.
Locomotive WT72 = Elegant, Open, Elegant, Warm, Elegant. Love this pre
Coil CA70S = Fat, Warm, Wooly, Vintage-y, Old sounding.....
All good. Need all of them. As mic pre's, I probably use the WT72 the most. It's ALWAYS "right". For post production tweaking - I use the Coils most. The Locomotive 286a is probably the most versatile overall and highly underrated. (And it's rated pretty freaking high with Pensado and Bob Horn as huge proponents.)
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Post by EmRR on Nov 30, 2021 23:32:51 GMT -6
Is there anything particularly unique about the Coils outside of variable feedback? Aren't they all just old circuits with variable feedback? My Hamptone tube preamp had zero negative feedback, and I was able to replicate its sound pretty well with a very small amount of EQ and plugin "toob" distortion. I eventually sold it. I realize I'm opening the floodgates of hate, but I don't get it. They’re entirely different types of old circuits. |
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Post by Ward on Dec 1, 2021 7:22:23 GMT -6
The Weight Tank WT72 sounds more hifi than any solid state preamp, and opens up an LDC like nobody's business. I've got a few other tube preamps that push back and enhance microphone capture in subtle ways.
The relatively cheap and no longer available Dizengoff RCA and EMi clones are also magical and bringing out grit from Ribbons and condensers respectively!
But hang on to your hat, because soon there's something GOLDEN coming! Some of you know what I'm talking about.
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Post by bricejchandler on Dec 1, 2021 12:48:27 GMT -6
Locomotive 286a = Big, Aggressive, Smooth, Large.....very versatile. Locomotive WT72 = Elegant, Open, Elegant, Warm, Elegant. Love this pre Coil CA70S = Fat, Warm, Wooly, Vintage-y, Old sounding..... All good. Need all of them. As mic pre's, I probably use the WT72 the most. It's ALWAYS "right". For post production tweaking - I use the Coils most. The Locomotive 286a is probably the most versatile overall and highly underrated. (And it's rated pretty freaking high with Pensado and Bob Horn as huge proponents.) I've been eyeing the WT72 recently. I've been all Coil for the last 6 months and I'm getting some of the best recordings ever, for what I do ( folk, americana) the Coils are pretty stunning but sometimes, particularly for vocals I would like something that gets out of the way a little more but not in a clean Grace kind of way ( been there done that and it wasn't my thing). From your description and quite a few people it seems the 72 would fit that role. |
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Post by bricejchandler on Dec 1, 2021 13:00:48 GMT -6
Is there anything particularly unique about the Coils outside of variable feedback? Aren't they all just old circuits with variable feedback? My Hamptone tube preamp had zero negative feedback, and I was able to replicate its sound pretty well with a very small amount of EQ and plugin "toob" distortion. I eventually sold it. I realize I'm opening the floodgates of hate, but I don't get it. I've gone through a million preamps in the last years and I don't see the Coils going anywhere. They really have a sound that I haven't heard anywhere else. The CA70 has the deepest lows I've ever heard, on kick drum or bass, no need for an eq. I love the way it handles transients for acoustic instruments, I'm using way less compression and eq. On guitar amps, with the NF I'm able to get rid of speaker harshness way better than with a traditional eq. My favorite feature though is the way things recorded through the Coil sit in a mix, everything sits back a little bit and feels really natural. |
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Post by drbill on Dec 1, 2021 13:57:45 GMT -6
Locomotive 286a = Big, Aggressive, Smooth, Large.....very versatile. Locomotive WT72 = Elegant, Open, Elegant, Warm, Elegant. Love this pre Coil CA70S = Fat, Warm, Wooly, Vintage-y, Old sounding..... All good. Need all of them. As mic pre's, I probably use the WT72 the most. It's ALWAYS "right". For post production tweaking - I use the Coils most. The Locomotive 286a is probably the most versatile overall and highly underrated. (And it's rated pretty freaking high with Pensado and Bob Horn as huge proponents.) I've been eyeing the WT72 recently. I've been all Coil for the last 6 months and I'm getting some of the best recordings ever, for what I do ( folk, americana) the Coils are pretty stunning but sometimes, particularly for vocals I would like something that gets out of the way a little more but not in a clean Grace kind of way ( been there done that and it wasn't my thing). From your description and quite a few people it seems the 72 would fit that role. Sounds like it would suit you. Highly recommended here. The Coils can be heavy handed sometimes. At least the 70's. |
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Post by robschnapf on Dec 1, 2021 14:23:57 GMT -6
Coil CA70s are beautiful sounding and I find them pretty flexible.
The CA286 is more mid forward and has that classic pentode harmonic sound when pushed.
A 47 into a 286 is really a match made in heaven.
But pretty much go to the 70s first.
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Post by recordingengineer on Dec 1, 2021 14:45:43 GMT -6
All great stuff on the characters of these… It really does make me say I need them all! The studio also has pairs of Millennia Origins and Manley Cores. Anyone know if either of those cover the ground of Weight Tank? My mind says no, as it wanders, but I have no experience to actually say yay or nay.
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Post by recordingengineer on Dec 1, 2021 14:55:32 GMT -6
The studio I work out of has pairs of Manley Voxboxes, Summit Audio TPA-200Bs, an early UA 2-610 and a couple of other tube preamps. I’m really curious of people’s experiences with the Coils and Weight Tank in comparison to those mentioned. I’d really like to expand the tube preamp option a tiny bit after being completely satisfied with the solid-state array there and what I’ve brought in. Anyone? Sounds like you're unhappy with those VoxBoxes. I'll take them off your hands free of charge, I'll even unrack them for you. Just let me know, happy to help! Haha! I have a love/hate relationship with them (like I do 103s). They either work great or don’t at all… It’s a 50/50 shot. Either way, I know upon hearing the first note, which way it went! That works great when I can play just a bit, but not when it’s best to be working great when first bringing up the fader. |
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Post by bricejchandler on Dec 1, 2021 15:28:27 GMT -6
Sounds like you're unhappy with those VoxBoxes. I'll take them off your hands free of charge, I'll even unrack them for you. Just let me know, happy to help! Haha! I have a love/hate relationship with them (like I do 103s). They either work great or don’t at all… It’s a 50/50 shot. Either way, I know upon hearing the first note, which way it went! That works great when I can play just a bit, but not when it’s best to be working great when first bringing up the fader. In my old studio, our main pres for vocals were either the Mercury M72s or the Voxbox. Usually if one didn't work, the other one was perfect. I really liked the Voxbox for female vocals and acoustics. |
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Post by Ward on Dec 1, 2021 16:29:56 GMT -6
A 72 for male vox, a 76 for femvox. That always works.
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Post by gravesnumber9 on Dec 1, 2021 16:47:21 GMT -6
Sounds like you're unhappy with those VoxBoxes. I'll take them off your hands free of charge, I'll even unrack them for you. Just let me know, happy to help! Haha! I have a love/hate relationship with them (like I do 103s). They either work great or don’t at all… It’s a 50/50 shot. Either way, I know upon hearing the first note, which way it went! That works great when I can play just a bit, but not when it’s best to be working great when first bringing up the fader. I fell in love with the VoxBox using the UAD plugin. It's on my dream list of "someday I'll own that... someday you will be mine, oh yes... you will." |
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