|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 24, 2019 8:07:15 GMT -6
I just watched Son Volt a couple of days ago at the Scoot Inn here in Austin. Excellent show. I've seen them four times now. Each show has been great. The show on Wednesday night was fantastic. I've always loved Jay Farrar's song writing. I also love the guitar tones on Son Volt records. Has anyone here ever been involved in the recording of any Son Volt record? I'd be interested to hear about how the guitars were recorded on any of their albums. Great guitar tones. If memory serves - Brian Paulson did those records - at least the first one. Killer engineer. Did some early Wilco and Uncle Tupelo stuff as well as Slint etc. (Louisville scene bands)
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Dec 22, 2018 14:00:42 GMT -6
Hey RGO'ers Big Steve from Coil Audio here - Our pal, mentor, and actual rocket scientist, Jack Rock, has a small batch of his 'Emotion Machine 175' comps available for sale and John K thought we should post about them here to see if there are any interested parties. These are handbuilt using NOS iron and tubes and include a special mod from Jack that makes the Attack and Release more reactive than the stock original. Other than that - this is a true stock 175. If you are at all familiar with these then you know how incredible they sound. When compared to the new VK reissue - we laughed out loud - seriously. Jack uses 6BC8s for these typically but there is a pair of them available with 6386s if anyone has that itch. Prices are $3500 for the 6BC8 version and $3700 for the 6386 version (update: i think maybe only one is available now and the other spoken for) He can also match pairs if needed. Jack usually makes about a dozen or so a year and has a cache of the NOS iron and tubes so anyone with any interest can usually secure one by simply contacting us at anytime via email **info@coilaudio.com** I'll try to field any questions here but feel free to drop us a line for a quicker response as im still in the shop shipping last minute Coil orders. Fun sidenote: He's also building an exact clone of his stock Fairchild 670 (that came new in the box from a rural German radio station) that we have enjoyed and made countless records with over the last 20 years. When i say exact - we're talking right down to the special saturating filament transformer. Its super impressive and we'll post some pics of it when it wraps for everyone to drool over. Happy Holidays!
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Nov 25, 2018 21:26:01 GMT -6
Thanks for your purchase indiehouse! As of right now we only have (3) CA-70S left at $1399 (we put 25 on sale thinking no one would care- we were wrong) If anyone here on the RGO is interested in this deal - shipping is free in the US and just for fun- any RGO member that purchases one- we’ll give them an additional $100 off our fancy CP-248 2-ch phantom power supply- good for now or the future. This goes for you too indie- anytime you want it. ...and we’ll throw in a free t-shirt.! Shoot us an email at *info@coilaudio.com* to order. Hi Coil, Is there any audible difference in using your phantom box vs. a cheaper box? I have a CA-70s on the way as well, and will consider buying your phantom in the near future if it is worth it. Excuse my ignorance, but I have never used external phantom before. Thanks, Warren Sorry we missed this Warren - to answer your question - Yes. When we ear tested it against a sub-$100 Rolls from Guitar Center it was painfully obvious - against an Audio Technica cp8506 (now discontinued) it was less so but under heavy compression you could hear the transient response of the mic (as the capsule took on high level signal) choke and leave little sonic holes in the audio. We totally overbuilt the CP-248 but it shows - its got 45mA of current in the reserves so every mic stays nice and stiff. Some mics are really demanding - the Earthworks mics for example need 10-11mA to perform at spec.
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Nov 24, 2018 22:20:37 GMT -6
Thanks for your purchase indiehouse! As of right now we only have (3) CA-70S left at $1399 (we put 25 on sale thinking no one would care- we were wrong) If anyone here on the RGO is interested in this deal - shipping is free in the US and just for fun- any RGO member that purchases one- we’ll give them an additional $100 off our fancy CP-248 2-ch phantom power supply- good for now or the future. This goes for you too indie- anytime you want it. ...and we’ll throw in a free t-shirt.! Shoot us an email at *info@coilaudio.com* to order. mrCoil - I had a pair in my FrontEndAudio cart - with the 15% off $1399 @ $1189.15 shipped. Couldn't turn that down.... Then I went away to do something, came back and FEA's cart bumped me out - saying the 15% discount was no longer valid. Sad for me, but I guess it was not meant to be. These have been on my "list" for a couple of years, and I've been waiting till I had the $$$$$. 15 off 1399 MADE me pull the trigger and exploded my budget.....but..... Not sure why FEA took away the 15%, as it's still available on their other products. Just a FYI - thought you should know. Dr Bill - sent you a DM
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Nov 24, 2018 18:59:34 GMT -6
Thanks alot man, you just saved me some serious coin. What a deal! And yea, I want a pair too, but hey, we're half way there! Really looking forward to using this as a line driver for some serious saturation. What are you planning on doing for phantom power? I’m not too worried about for the time being. There are options for external phantom power. In the meantime, I’ve got my Stagers and my tricked out MK67 (Neuman BV12 tranny, Tfunk EF86, Klaus Heynes tuned capsule). Thanks for your purchase indiehouse! As of right now we only have (3) CA-70S left at $1399 (we put 25 on sale thinking no one would care- we were wrong) If anyone here on the RGO is interested in this deal - shipping is free in the US and just for fun- any RGO member that purchases one- we’ll give them an additional $100 off our fancy CP-248 2-ch phantom power supply- good for now or the future. This goes for you too indie- anytime you want it. ...and we’ll throw in a free t-shirt.! Shoot us an email at *info@coilaudio.com* to order.
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 27, 2018 15:02:50 GMT -6
I have a couple stam 1073eq s on order and would love to see them in the flesh before putting a deposit on this but this is very tempting. Been looking for a deal on a manley varimu but no luck and this is about the same $. Looking forward to user reports Mike There are a couple on Reverb at around $2900 with make offer. Reverb reports the completed listings at $2,335 — $2,670 so the only thing you have to fear is a counteroffer.
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 27, 2018 14:42:15 GMT -6
The Unfairchild nails the compression/attack/release characteristics - but it sounds like Cinemag/JJ when pushed (which is a polite way of saying"it cant be pushed") which sucks because again, thats why you use a tube based vari-mu. We actually tried to buy one without the tubes and iron because everything else about it is pretty spot on. UTA really worked hard to make it look real both inside and out and they spent some serious coin on the R&D - supposedly there are 100 units + currently in service. We only know of 2 or 3. At a price of 10k its still out of reach for 99% of folks out there and is still gonna get put to the ropes by things that are cost 1/3rd of the price. If Stam brought the prototype to Nashville we would certainly invite him to attend our Tracking Room party and bring it along. We could do a quick 15 min shootout between it and the real thing and post the results to RGO. There will be plenty of golden ears in the room- Can you mod my UnFairchild? ... I'm only partly serious Sure - line forms around the block
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 27, 2018 10:58:41 GMT -6
thats why you use a tube based vari-mu. - That's not why I use a tube based Vari-Mu. I've been barely tickling the meters on a Vari-Mu (manley) on mix buss for 20+ years. Heavenly. We can help you overcome this disability
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 26, 2018 15:51:17 GMT -6
The Unfairchild nails the compression/attack/release characteristics - but it sounds like Cinemag/JJ when pushed (which is a polite way of saying"it cant be pushed") which sucks because again, thats why you use a tube based vari-mu. We actually tried to buy one without the tubes and iron because everything else about it is pretty spot on. UTA really worked hard to make it look real both inside and out and they spent some serious coin on the R&D - supposedly there are 100 units + currently in service. We only know of 2 or 3. At a price of 10k its still out of reach for 99% of folks out there and is still gonna get put to the ropes by things that are cost 1/3rd of the price.
If Stam brought the prototype to Nashville we would certainly invite him to attend our Tracking Room party and bring it along. We could do a quick 15 min shootout between it and the real thing and post the results to RGO. There will be plenty of golden ears in the room-
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 25, 2018 21:38:49 GMT -6
I understood the previous context and sarcasm. Honestly, This is just a bit too cartoonish to not have a bit of a chuckle. Stam has obviously proven that he can build gear that people enjoy. Fact. Would you or anyone else on here NOT buy just a regular ol' Stam Stereo Tube Limiter for the price advertised? It could be even cheaper if one didnt have to 'nail' the look of a fairchild no? Neves, SSL Comps, LA2As, pultec Eqs - these are all somewhat simple designs that can take some variation in parts and still be quite decent/usable sounding circuits for little money. Great! However, A fairchild of any maintenance pedigree is not like those circuits AT ALL. It either does its thing or it doesn't. This isnt 'splitting hair' stuff either - these are differences anyone could distinguish. There is a snotty old guy saying that applies here - "You can make a Lexus look like a Ferrari, but its still a Lexus". Now, Will it perform as well as others in that price range? Id say it has some tall hurdles to clear - (see comment below)
Curious about the Blackbird units you used John. We'll be there later this week - you recall which room? Assuming it wasnt in a mobile rack - . You'd be surprised how many major studios have working fairchilds that sound lacking due to a tech swapping out critical paper & oil caps with modern orange drops in the signal path or worse. We know another person that actually collects and rents these and most of those were also tech mangled. People still rent them as they 'work' fine and look cool and you can say "hey man! we totally used a Fairchild on our record!" - but its a far cry from what it should be. I'll just say this - ive heard more screwed up 670s than good ones and its usually due to one or all of these being replaced or modified - Tubes/Transformers/Caps/PSU etc. sidenote: Narma admitted in the last 20 years or so that he would of done some things different in the PSU as the parts available now exceed the specs and life of what he had available to him at that time - we're talking mostly electrolytic caps and power stuff that you SHOULD replace in most vintage equipment - not the critical signal path stuff. If someone were to base a 'clone' or 'homage' off of one of these sub-par working units - the end results would be further compromised. eek
Do i think 660s or 670s are expensive and overpriced? - of course they are! So are Ferraris! I dont personally own one, and if i did, i wouldn't be here! BUT - they do sound like 'the money' when working as intended - and i guess thats what i really meant. When you break it down into just parts (which we do every 6 months or so - LOL) - Stock NOS with true zero compromise you are looking at roughly 10k or more and then you have to build it. That is us pulling from every nook and cranny around the globe we know about. Hell - a Drip kitty can't even build a Drip 670 kit without dropping $4k or so on new JJs and modern iron - the 6386 bill alone is $900 and those Drips sound terrible - i hate to be that guy but they do. I wouldn't stick my worst enemies mix thru it!. Ok maybe i would -Anyway, in the end it boils down to too much money for what you end up with. Many have tried - it just isnt a hackable design.
In the spirit of championing the budgetary constraints of the modern working music producer- a used late 90's Manley Vari-mu goes for around $2500 and Manley will Tbar mod and calibrate it at the factory for another $500 or so. I consider this the actual 'poormans fairchild' as you can get jiggy with -8 to-10db of compression before it even gets close to dismantling and it does what a properly built vari-mu tube compressor should do - GET BIGGER and SOUND BETTER the more you plunge into it. Used on countless recordings you know and love, known to work for 20+ years and is well supported. Just sayin'....
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 25, 2018 12:11:09 GMT -6
Wow-
Excuses abound! Sounds like the majority of 670 experience here is with broken pieces that were tech raped (i'll bite my tongue on those infamous LA/Nashville dips that like to badge their destruction) Having worked with one for almost 20 years that came new in the box from a German radio station - to call it "unimportant and overrated" makes me LOL. When working properly these units earn the money they fetch real quick. Pure gooey golden audio honey -
Can someone tell me how 4 6386 and a pair of 12ax7s make this a "True to the original Fairchild audio path schematic"?
Also- the pics look weird, chassis is half the size it should be (for a 'zero compromise' recreation) and the zero/bal knob in the picture is practically falling off, which is a little disconcerting. This is Stams most expensive 'piece' yet and no one bothered to tighten the knob down for the photo shoot.?
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on Jun 1, 2018 21:40:48 GMT -6
A note about that audition, we were set up in a rather small conference room in the CBS building known then as 'black rock.' It housed not only the record companies but the TV and radio business as well. When Clive Davis came in, he'd brought along Harry Nilsson and Bobby Columby, the drummer of Blood Sweat And Tears, to listen to us. After we'd played a couple songs, Harry got up and left the room. We're thinking, ah crap, he doesn't like us. But it turned out he just had to have a cigarette. This is so f#$king cool - can we just make this thread a donr impromptu Q and A? Nilsson!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 29, 2018 13:23:10 GMT -6
When we crunched the numbers - it was way more cost effective to get 2 channels and the PSU in a 3U chassis than a 2U with a remote PSU (it would have to be remoted, no way around it) It was an effort to just get a pair of CA-70 circuits to fit upright in the 3u chassis with enough clearance for the grid caps on the 1st stage 6J7. We have considered a limited edition 2-ch tabletop wood chassis/steel insert rack that would hold 2 of our PS6 modules ala the Neve 5052 portable 2-ch frame. Sort of a 'lunchboxing' of Coil stuff - would that float your boat? Lets poll it - Thanks for the answer mr. Coil! I completely understand the logistics of "making stuff fit" into smaller spaces - esp. when it comes to tubes. Am I hallucinating, or did you not have a 2 channels in 3RU unit at one point? I don't see it on your website..... That is probably do-able for me with some dieting, but 2 2RU units for stereo operation is not. The tabletop thing is no go for me personally. Some guys like that, but I'm not one of them. My tabletops are crowded already. As is my studio. I've slimmed the studio down to where I have very little that I don't use regularally - and at this point I have 16 racks pretty much full. Ugh. Adding something else means giving up something that I use and love. Thanks for offering the capi refugee discount!!! I may consider going on a capi binge diet. hahahahahaaaa! LOL Don't kill me jeff.... Your products all look sweet. Just wish they were smaller. We actually do make a 2-channel in a 3u - but they are currently sold out and will be re-released (mk2) this fall if all goes as planned. I hear you when it comes to space management - thats what is so damn attractive about jsteiger and his warez. Who doesnt want 32 channels in a 6u space, not only is it cute but you can trade cards with your friends! However, im always looking for my tweezers to adjust the tiny knobs. #16voltlife
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 29, 2018 13:16:23 GMT -6
Before this thread crashes and burns to the ground and is replaced by a 12 page WA73 vs UK Sound debate - we should all take a moment and head on over to capi-gear.com jsteiger informed me of a special on the new SumBusACA - ****FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!!!**** Buy any SumBusACA and Outputs are included FREE!!! Thats right folks! OUTPUTS (-2dBu) !!! On brand name XLR jacks too! ACT NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!!! XO Jim Hey Jim - are your outputs upside down like Jeff’s? Asking for a friend. You are talking about the Coil 'platinum' edition Outputs. Thats extra.
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 29, 2018 13:13:47 GMT -6
So, how does this compare to a V72? I’ve been really interested in the Coil Audio stuff for awhile. I’ve got a Tab-Funkenwerk V72S right now. Hey indiehouse - Big Steve here - Jim was supposed to chime in here as he is more intimately familiar with the complete Telefunken family of amplifiers but he's been busy in session work and other Coil related nonsense (trying to clone/match/meet/or beat an inductor for a future real Tube EQ circuit - OY) I can't personally speak to Olivers builds, other than he was the first person really doing a proper 'homage' IMO, but in contrast to our CA-286 (our dual noval circuit) it is much different in that you can swing the variable Negative Feedback like a broad sword across the freq. spectrum - so its a bit more useful when you are 'fitting' the response you want from the circuit to the source material you are capturing. Stock v72 modules generally have a pretty fair amount of NF going on and so they end up sounding pretty clean/smooth - at least in my experience. Since we started building the Coil line i havent really touched the TF rack of stuff available to us at a few places. Usually though, when used , id just park them (or a v76) wide open and trim the front end with a 150ohm Daven Pot to taste/level- i always found the pads to be rather inferior sounding (and in the v76 you are also changing the NF when you click through the pad positions) so i always left them wide open. Jim might chime in with some more useful info -
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 29, 2018 12:55:34 GMT -6
jsteiger begged us not to leak this new CAPI® product ad - its great seeing your favorite 500-series manufacturer pals 'diversify' with the latest in crypto currency.
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 23, 2018 15:29:20 GMT -6
HA! I expect a 300V javelin coming your way shortly!!! The problem I have with them is both dudes post under the Coil user. Its hard to figure out who it is. I have determined that all the nasty stuff is from big Steve. He's downright mean. Jim ends all of his posts with "XO Jim" so I know deep down he still loves me. You should hang with us in person. I have never laughed so hard before in my life! Before this thread crashes and burns to the ground and is replaced by a 12 page WA73 vs UK Sound debate - we should all take a moment and head on over to capi-gear.com jsteiger informed me of a special on the new SumBusACA - ****FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!!!**** Buy any SumBusACA and Outputs are included FREE!!! Thats right folks! OUTPUTS (-2dBu) !!! On brand name XLR jacks too! ACT NOW WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!!! XO Jim
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 23, 2018 15:15:04 GMT -6
The CAPI // Coil Audio Duel is best thing on the internet lately
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 22, 2018 23:42:26 GMT -6
^ fixed it for you jsteigerHmmmm Johnkenn We could maybe swing the RGO'ers a group deal if there were enough interested parties involved. Of course we need to be very transparent here with an initial disclaimer of some sort. Maybe something along the lines of: ***WARNING: THIS IS NOT A 'NEVE' CIRCUIT***
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 22, 2018 23:26:40 GMT -6
Any RGO discounts at the end of the Rainbow? For CAPI® gear? Of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 22, 2018 16:32:59 GMT -6
Hope that a 2RU, 2 channel Coil unit shows up sometime! When we crunched the numbers - it was way more cost effective to get 2 channels and the PSU in a 3U chassis than a 2U with a remote PSU (it would have to be remoted, no way around it) It was an effort to just get a pair of CA-70 circuits to fit upright in the 3u chassis with enough clearance for the grid caps on the 1st stage 6J7. We have considered a limited edition 2-ch tabletop wood chassis/steel insert rack that would hold 2 of our PS6 modules ala the Neve 5052 portable 2-ch frame. Sort of a 'lunchboxing' of Coil stuff - would that float your boat? Lets poll it -
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 22, 2018 16:10:40 GMT -6
Unless I sell off that rack of CAPI pre's and stuff.....hmmmm......I might be able to swing 7RU then. LOL We do offer a discount to CAPI refugees!
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 21, 2018 18:06:34 GMT -6
You guys are just awesome, that's all I can say! Hey thanks drumhead57 - we certainly try!
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 18, 2018 13:20:59 GMT -6
Awesome we need a KC pride emoji! It should be a rack of ribs -
|
|
|
Post by Coil Audio on May 18, 2018 13:15:23 GMT -6
...it will also have its transformers fixed inside the chassis BUT each channel will have both Input Transformer options installed with a switch to choose which one you want on the front panel (i know, what a concept!)... Wow! How Sharrow Hirrs of you guys Somebody left the door open and coltcapperrune snuck in. Welcome Colt! \m/ We only steal from the finest of NASA punch card operators!
|
|