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Post by littlesicily on Jan 28, 2014 20:42:50 GMT -6
DOWNLOAD ALL FILES FROM THIS LINK. dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...mp%20Files.zip1) Retro Sta-Level (attack time set to double for all examples) 2) Retro 176 (added Aug. 8, 2012) 3) TubeTech CL1B 4) Purple Audio MC77 5) Purple Audio Action (added Nov. 28, 2011) 6) Universal Audio 1176 (reissue) 7) Universal Audio 6176 (same setting as MC77 & 1176 even tho panel markings are different) 8) Urei 1176LN Revision F (added june 16, 2012) 9) Urei 1176 Blue Stripe Rev B (restored, calibrated for stock factory spec) 10) CAPI FC526 Fet Comp (1731 DOA's) (added Oct 13, 2015) Also, added 2:1 ratio and ABI "all buttons in" 11) Emperical Labs Distressor EL8 12) Anamod AM660 (added Sept. 9, 2011) Note: "TC" stands for time constant which is the attack and release setting. 13) Urei BL-40 (added Sept. 15, 2011) 14) Urei La3a vintage (added Sept. 15, 2011) 15) Universal Audio La3a (added Dec. 27, 2011) 16) dbx 163 (old one from 70's freshly recap'ed) 17) Ashley SC-50 Blackface 18) Aphex Expressor 651 w/ Jim Williams Mod (added Nov. 28, 2011) 19) JoeMeek VC1 (added Dec. 9, 2011) 20) Anamod ATS-1 (added Dec 30, 2011) I threw this one in for fun! ___ Plugins___ 21) Bomb Factory BF76 (1176 emulation) 22) Massey CT4 23) Waves CLA-76 Blacky Blackface (notated as ...CLA76Bk) 24) Waves CLA-76 Bluey Blue Stripe (notated as ...CLA76BS) 25) Waves CLA-3A La3a I took a vocal file from the 3d Audio "Mic Pre CD" and ran it out of ProTools HD, thru a Lynx Aurora at 24 bit, 44.1khz, thru the compressor, then back thru the Lynx into PT again. I made several files for each comp with various settings. I've also included a vocal file that I ran thru the D/A, A/D but without any compressor. This way you are hearing ONLY what the compressors are doing without any added changes from the conversion process. The file labeling is pretty simple but here's a brief description: ratio is listed as 2.1 rather than 2:1 b/c a colon was not allowed. A= attack R= release GR= gain reduction. I listed what the MAX GR was (on the loudest section) per unit. I tried to hit the comps hard, as to reveal their sound a bit more obviously, based upon what I thought each unit could handle. For instance, the StaLevel can easily do 20db of GR and still sound great, actually better, while the Distressor can crap out at half that much. I hope you find this helpful. More on the file source: The original recording is from the 3D Pre CD by 3D Audio, which showcases 30+ preamps on female voice and acoustic guitar. They are copyrighted and are only used by securing written permission from Lynn Fuston and 3D Audio. The original recordings are available for download at www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showth...-Vocal-Samples and the CD is available at osCommerce I have purchased 3 of the various shootout CD's from 3d Audio and they are all great, IMO. Lynn is really making great products.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 28, 2014 21:54:54 GMT -6
Thanks for getting these up, Sal! I'm trying to motivate myself to get off the couch and go upstairs to listen...if not tonight, then tomorrow!
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 28, 2014 21:57:38 GMT -6
Not that I'm surprised...but I can't tell a damn thing on MBP speakers
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Post by Ward on Jan 28, 2014 22:46:06 GMT -6
I'm swamped by the way... but I shall do my best to get my part in on this soon. I'll contribute the pro replica bluestripe, the mohog and the 2-1176.
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 28, 2014 23:10:59 GMT -6
My fav's so far is the Urei 1176 rev F, U76 Bluestripe, Urei Blue Stripe, WA 76 in that order. Is that The Don's Classic U76, Sal?
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Post by joey808 on Jan 28, 2014 23:29:57 GMT -6
Thanks! WA76 is sounding really good.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2014 23:32:55 GMT -6
We should redo these tests to make sure everyone's unit is providing the same amount of GR, via sinewave test signal.
Feed a -12dbFS into it from the daw, set the controls as described at the top, then set the input and output pots such that you get a -12dbFS signal back and also get an agreed-upon amount of GR.
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Post by unit7 on Jan 29, 2014 2:23:14 GMT -6
We should redo these tests to make sure everyone's unit is providing the same amount of GR, via sinewave test signal. Feed a -12dbFS into it from the daw, set the controls as described at the top, then set the input and output pots such that you get a -12dbFS signal back and also get an agreed-upon amount of GR. I did the Don Classics U76 Blue stripe. You're right of course. But with only one source (fem voice) and only one setting and w/o hearing the source in it's context this can only give a very sketchy impression. Fun and interesting imo. The next step for me is to demo for a few weeks and put it to work in my studio with my music etc. And re using test tone, we did get the instruction to have 15dB of GR at loudest peak which was clearly one note towards the end ('God'), so to me that note was the test signal. I looped that note and dialed. A side note. I believe the shoot out started with the wish to compare Blue stripe versions. Now it has become more of a general 1176 shoot out. Totally fine of course, but just saying. Edit: And Thank You Sal for doing this! Cool for me was to hear that the U76 at least seems to be in the same ballpark as the original. Thumbs up for David o'Neill (Don Classics) and Ed Anderson. For the music I'm working with mostly I couldn't justify a wall of 1176s. I've got two MC77s, waiting for Hairball parts for my 2nd U76 and hopefully today will order a Hairball Rev D, so that will have to do for now. Of course that could change if suddenly the swedish rock community dubs me CLA of Sweden, but for some reason I find that unlikely .
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2014 2:32:21 GMT -6
can we use the RMS of the fem voice file to get an equivalent -dbFS level to use for the test sine wave?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 29, 2014 6:26:08 GMT -6
can we use the RMS of the fem voice file to get an equivalent -dbFS level to use for the test sine wave? A bunch of Sal's tracks were run through the comps at different times. He doesn't own the original blue stripe or a few of the others now, so a scientific redo won't work. I think we need to just take it for what it is....still awesome. I'm looking forward to checking these out.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 29, 2014 6:52:58 GMT -6
We should redo these tests to make sure everyone's unit is providing the same amount of GR, via sinewave test signal. Feed a -12dbFS into it from the daw, set the controls as described at the top, then set the input and output pots such that you get a -12dbFS signal back and also get an agreed-upon amount of GR. Yeah - I don't think we have to be super technical - this is still an internet comparison and maybe it just is what it is. I appreciate you guys putting this stuff up - time is valuable...
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Post by henge on Jan 29, 2014 8:04:18 GMT -6
Great thing to wake up to! Gonna check today, hope the wa76 stands up...
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 29, 2014 8:28:00 GMT -6
Hey littlesicily, can we get the unprocessed track to download too?
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 9:14:34 GMT -6
Hey littlesicily, can we get the unprocessed track to download too? I just added the unprocessed original file to post#2.
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 9:18:18 GMT -6
I'm swamped by the way... but I shall do my best to get my part in on this soon. I'll contribute the pro replica bluestripe, the mohog and the 2-1176. Thanks, Ward ... looking fwd to it. Also, I've already posted a 2-1176.
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 9:20:04 GMT -6
@matkatmusic do you want to run the original vocal (in post #2) thru the Splice and post back here? I can then add the file to the list at the top of this thread. Also, has the Splice been discontinued? I can't seem to find it anywhere on their site.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 29, 2014 9:49:37 GMT -6
Here were my favorites...
1. UREI Bluestripe - it reminded me of the RI 176 - a little more grabby than the D - seemed to tame the first esses the best and rolled off a little more 2. UREI Rev. D - more open than the BS - a little more top - might be number 1... 3. WA76 - a little bigger on the bottom and top than the first two. 4. Rev F - Thought this one was very, very similar to the WA76
Honestly - after listening a little while...I really don't think I could pick out any of these in a blind shootout - maybe the Bluestripe because of the slightly aggressive attack on the word "God"...but man - the difference is really just nothing but splitting hairs. Except for the UA reissue - I definitely think that one sounded brighter than the others.
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 10:00:49 GMT -6
In this scenario, female vocal, 4:1, no backing music, etc... they all sound "kinda" similar w/ subtle differences. In using them in real-world applications, turning knobs more, pushing harder or less, various ratios... the differences become more apparent. IME, here are my general observations with the ones I've owed (considering I mostly record vocals and gtrs at my place) Urei Blue Stripe - less hi-fi than D or F, way more aggressive and grabby, too much for me to wanna track a vocal with. Urei rev F - punchy, brings excitement to a track, my fave for acgtr. Great on some vocals. Urei rev D - smoother tone, not as punchy as F. Hairball D - brighter than Urei D, less of that vintage mojo tone, even for the price wasn't impressed and I've heard two different ones from 2 diff builders. MC77 - closest to my rev F but maybe a little brighter... almost a little fuzz to the tone. Good but not as "big" sounding as Urei D or F. UA 1176 - ehh... boring UA 6176 and 2-1176... clean...useable, and I don't like clean
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Jan 29, 2014 10:37:43 GMT -6
Yeah, John there just isn't that much difference in them. But I do know what Sal is getting at. In a mix, the tiny differences sometimes makes all the difference. Hearing these comparisons though has made me realize that what I was hearing from the WA 76 was accurate. For a budget minded guy like me, it's a clear favorite in my mind. 600 clams? Come on. Big league contender for not a lot of scratch. Especially considering those UREI's are going for 4 to 6k right now.
It should also be noted that these results are raw. Some creative sculpting with eq can go a long way as well in getting to where you want to get.
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Post by tonycamphd on Jan 29, 2014 10:52:02 GMT -6
@matkatmusic do you want to run the original vocal (in post #2) thru the Splice and post back here? I can then add the file to the list at the top of this thread. Also, has the Splice been discontinued? I can't seem to find it anywhere on their site. First let me say this... IMO, A thread this cool establishes RGO as the coolest gear site EVER!!! 8) Sal, the splice 500 is history, the logistics of cramming all that stuff in the small space proved problematic, serpent will be releasing the splice in a standard 19" rack piece I'm pretty sure, I also understand that mike really went overboard to make this thing very true to the original pieces in an electronic value sense, it should be stellar, not to mention a revA and D in one unit!
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 10:57:32 GMT -6
Yeah, John there just isn't that much difference in them. But I do know what Sal is getting at. In a mix, the tiny differences sometimes makes all the difference. Hearing these comparisons though has made me realize that what I was hearing from the WA 76 was accurate. For a budget minded guy like me, it's a clear favorite in my mind. 600 clams? Come on. Big league contender for not a lot of scratch. Especially considering those UREI's are going for 4 to 6k right now. It should also be noted that these results are raw. Some creative sculpting with eq can go a long way as well in getting to where you want to get. The WA76 is an amazing deal for $600. Something I noticed in the WA76 and Hairball, though, is that they are pumping a lot more than others... listen to the line "bear patiently" and see how much the wa76 and HB pump compared to the UREI's. Not sure if it's the detector circuit or what?
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Post by Martin John Butler on Jan 29, 2014 11:18:40 GMT -6
My fav's so far is the Urei 1176 rev F, U76 Bluestripe, Urei Blue Stripe, WA 76 in that order. Is that The Don's Classic U76, Sal? That whack, I picked EXACTLY the same three in that order ! There's a little low end push and warmth in the rev F and Blue Stripe that I like. It's great that the WA76 is hanging in there, it's as close as I'll get to owning a Urei myself I suspect. If I was buying today, I'd buy the Sta-Level. From what I've heard, that things serious.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2014 12:33:20 GMT -6
Hey littlesicily, can we get the unprocessed track to download too? I just added the unprocessed original file to post#2. i'll post the splice today. Send mike a message on facebook if you're curious about acquiring some splices, he has a lot of them left from his final run that just need to be assembled.
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Post by littlesicily on Jan 29, 2014 12:38:00 GMT -6
My fav's so far is the Urei 1176 rev F, U76 Bluestripe, Urei Blue Stripe, WA 76 in that order. Is that The Don's Classic U76, Sal? That whack, I picked EXACTLY the same three in that order ! There's a little low end push and warmth in the rev F and Blue Stripe that I like. It's great that the WA76 is hanging in there, it's as close as I'll get to owning a Urei myself I suspect. If I was buying today, I'd buy the Sta-Level. From what I've heard, that things serious. My STA gets more use on vocals than any other comp I have.
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Post by jeromemason on Jan 29, 2014 15:19:46 GMT -6
We should redo these tests to make sure everyone's unit is providing the same amount of GR, via sinewave test signal. Feed a -12dbFS into it from the daw, set the controls as described at the top, then set the input and output pots such that you get a -12dbFS signal back and also get an agreed-upon amount of GR. I did the Don Classics U76 Blue stripe. You're right of course. But with only one source (fem voice) and only one setting and w/o hearing the source in it's context this can only give a very sketchy impression. Fun and interesting imo. The next step for me is to demo for a few weeks and put it to work in my studio with my music etc. And re using test tone, we did get the instruction to have 15dB of GR at loudest peak which was clearly one note towards the end ('God'), so to me that note was the test signal. I looped that note and dialed. A side note. I believe the shoot out started with the wish to compare Blue stripe versions. Now it has become more of a general 1176 shoot out. Totally fine of course, but just saying. Edit: And Thank You Sal for doing this! Cool for me was to hear that the U76 at least seems to be in the same ballpark as the original. Thumbs up for David o'Neill (Don Classics) and Ed Anderson. For the music I'm working with mostly I couldn't justify a wall of 1176s. I've got two MC77s, waiting for Hairball parts for my 2nd U76 and hopefully today will order a Hairball Rev D, so that will have to do for now. Of course that could change if suddenly the swedish rock community dubs me CLA of Sweden, but for some reason I find that unlikely . The U76 is very impressive for what it is. David did an excellent job on this one. I wouldn't mind sending the same file through mine with the same settings to see if it has any differences, I chose some different types of caps and resistors when I built mine. I'd be interested to see if it did anything different compared to yours.
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