|
Post by Quint on Sept 28, 2020 12:30:14 GMT -6
To the extent that I've used varimus on a stereo source before, that has more or less been my experience as well. I wonder if Locomotive Audio would be able to build you a couple that could be stereo linked for an upcharge? Well the new ones apparently do have stereo link, according to their website.
|
|
|
Post by jacobamerritt on Sept 28, 2020 12:40:08 GMT -6
I've got a pair of Weight Tanks. Love em. I haven't used em on MIX bus, but I have used them on many stereo sources - unlinked as I have no link - and they tracked very well. Better than my Dual LA2a linked...... I take it that you have the older Rev A version? I was glad to see that the new Rev B version has a link, for times when you might want it. Though there is no link switch that I've seen on the front. I guess it just automatically links once you plug the cable into the back? Ah yes! I forgot about the Rev B. I think I bought the very last Rev A he made actually.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
|
Post by ericn on Sept 28, 2020 14:21:09 GMT -6
If I wanted traditional Tube opto color the ELOP would not be on the top of my list. Manley really wasn’t trying to clone an LA2, he got what he wanted the compression of the opto but more transparent. If I was looking for a more traditional opto I would be looking at Audioscape or Locomotive. Bang for the buck on either is going to be hard to equal.
|
|
|
Post by drbill on Sept 28, 2020 14:32:21 GMT -6
I've got a pair of Weight Tanks. Love em. I haven't used em on MIX bus, but I have used them on many stereo sources - unlinked as I have no link - and they tracked very well. Better than my Dual LA2a linked...... I take it that you have the older Rev A version? I was glad to see that the new Rev B version has a link, for times when you might want it. Though there is no link switch that I've seen on the front. I guess it just automatically links once you plug the cable into the back? If anything, the one thing that the WT Rev B doesn't have, that I wish it did have, is a sidechain filter knob like the Locomotive 14B has. Do you ever find yourself wishing you had a sidechain for the WT? Also, since you also have a Manley Varimu, I'm curious how you think they compare? I know they're not the same thing, but I'd be curious to hear about when/where you might use the WT versus the Manley? I must have the Rev A. I got them early on. No, never really felt the need for a side chain. The unit has good bottom, and I have not been using it on the mix buss or drum buss, so no real need for me. They don't compare other than both being Vari Mu's. They are quite different. Manley gets used mostly on Piano, and in Mastering. That's it. Occasionally for when I need an electric guitar to sound "goo-ier". WT's get used all the time on Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keys and whatever else I use them for. Mostly on individual mix elements for me, as I rarely use a mix buss compressor until mastering, and then I like the Manley, as that is essentially it's best use. Right now, I don't think there's a better bang for the buck tube compressor than the WT's.
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Sept 28, 2020 15:18:29 GMT -6
I take it that you have the older Rev A version? I was glad to see that the new Rev B version has a link, for times when you might want it. Though there is no link switch that I've seen on the front. I guess it just automatically links once you plug the cable into the back? If anything, the one thing that the WT Rev B doesn't have, that I wish it did have, is a sidechain filter knob like the Locomotive 14B has. Do you ever find yourself wishing you had a sidechain for the WT? Also, since you also have a Manley Varimu, I'm curious how you think they compare? I know they're not the same thing, but I'd be curious to hear about when/where you might use the WT versus the Manley? I must have the Rev A. I got them early on. No, never really felt the need for a side chain. The unit has good bottom, and I have not been using it on the mix buss or drum buss, so no real need for me. They don't compare other than both being Vari Mu's. They are quite different. Manley gets used mostly on Piano, and in Mastering. That's it. Occasionally for when I need an electric guitar to sound "goo-ier". WT's get used all the time on Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keys and whatever else I use them for. Mostly on individual mix elements for me, as I rarely use a mix buss compressor until mastering, and then I like the Manley, as that is essentially it's best use. Right now, I don't think there's a better bang for the buck tube compressor than the WT's. Well when you put it like that... I'll probably pick up a pair here pretty soon.
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Sept 29, 2020 4:59:24 GMT -6
I've got a pair of Weight Tanks. Love em. I haven't used em on MIX bus, but I have used them on many stereo sources - unlinked as I have no link - and they tracked very well. Better than my Dual LA2a linked...... That's impressive. I've also got a dual LA2a, which functions very very well. Did you get yours rebuilt from Alto, also? They had a guy tearing them apart and rebuilding/modding them so you had a dual or stereo unit in 2R that was at original specs. Quite a nice unit... Back on topic. anyone compare the Locomotive 14B to the Elop? I would have no issue manually adjusting 2 14Bs to stereo match simply by multing to both first and getting their performance matched, and then patching LR for 2 buss. But how would they compare to the ELOP?
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Sept 29, 2020 6:45:51 GMT -6
I've got a pair of Weight Tanks. Love em. I haven't used em on MIX bus, but I have used them on many stereo sources - unlinked as I have no link - and they tracked very well. Better than my Dual LA2a linked...... That's impressive. I've also got a dual LA2a, which functions very very well. Did you get yours rebuilt from Alto, also? They had a guy tearing them apart and rebuilding/modding them so you had a dual or stereo unit in 2R that was at original specs. Quite a nice unit... Back on topic. anyone compare the Locomotive 14B to the Elop? I would have no issue manually adjusting 2 14Bs to stereo match simply by multing to both first and getting their performance matched, and then patching LR for 2 buss. But how would they compare to the ELOP? The clips I've heard of the 14b sound great.
|
|
|
Post by EmRR on Sept 29, 2020 9:55:34 GMT -6
An ELOP is fast enough it erases drums. Did I say that yet?
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Oct 1, 2020 6:20:34 GMT -6
An ELOP is fast enough it erases drums. Did I say that yet? It must be a Tape Op intern.
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 1, 2020 7:43:07 GMT -6
How hot do the Weight Tanks run?
|
|
|
Post by drbill on Oct 1, 2020 11:04:42 GMT -6
How hot do the Weight Tanks run? ?? I never really think about it. I don't think they run that hot or I would have noticed it.
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 1, 2020 12:21:26 GMT -6
How hot do the Weight Tanks run? ?? I never really think about it. I don't think they run that hot or I would have noticed it. If they don't get that hot, that's great. I just thought they might, since they're tube based.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 13:44:16 GMT -6
I think my tube preamps actually run a little cooler than some of my solid state stuff. My small mixing room at home gets sweaty pretty fast. You could fry an egg on a UA Apollo. Sweet 10 rack is a nice little space heater in the winter too.
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 1, 2020 13:49:25 GMT -6
I think my tube preamps actually run a little cooler than some of my solid state stuff. My small mixing room at home gets sweaty pretty fast. You could fry an egg on a UA Apollo. Sweet 10 rack is a nice little space heater in the winter too. Yeah, those 500 racks, and interfaces/converters in general, always seem to get pretty hot. My 2192 will practically burn you. I was just trying to think ahead and figure out where I could fit a pair of Weight Tanks while also providing some space above each of them for heat escape, if needed. If they don't run that hot, maybe I don't need to worry about it too much.
|
|
|
Post by EmRR on Oct 1, 2020 15:08:28 GMT -6
Gear that's just preamp tubes doesn't generally run hot unless there's a zillion of them. That has 2 tubes? 3? That's nothing. You can wrap your hand around a tube in most tube preamps, it's just warm. A 12BH7 like an LA-2A is a mini-power tube, they run hot, but most tubes that make real heat are actual power tubes, 6V6's, etc.
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
|
Post by ericn on Oct 1, 2020 20:03:43 GMT -6
Gear that's just preamp tubes doesn't generally run hot unless there's a zillion of them. That has 2 tubes? 3? That's nothing. You can wrap your hand around a tube in most tube preamps, it's just warm. A 12BH7 like an LA-2A is a mini-power tube, they run hot, but most tubes that make real heat are actual power tubes, 6V6's, etc. Doug You forget a lot of modern tube pre’s are victims of terrible design when it comes to venting! Even an old design that had room to breathe in a single space chassis that’s sealed can get hot if a bunch are racked together. Now it’s not like the class A BEL 2002 powering the Questeds That I could cook a steak on!
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 8, 2020 13:44:20 GMT -6
A pair of Weight Tanks have been ordered. I guess they'll be here next week. $849 a piece isn't too bad for what it looks like these units will bring to the table.
Thanks for the recommendations everybody.
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 15, 2020 16:38:23 GMT -6
So I'm re-racking things in preparation for the Weight Tanks which arrive tomorrow.
As I'm doing this, I'm planning ahead for space to eventually grab a V-Comp and put it in the same rack as the Weight Tanks, but I'm fast running out of room.
How hot does the V-Comp get? Will I need to leave a space open above it? All of my racks are SKB shock racks with open backs and air space around all sides, if that's of any importance to anyone providing advice.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2020 12:08:42 GMT -6
Id say try the ELOP+ from a dealer with a good return policy. Manley actually has a demo of it in action on the mix buss worth checking out on their site. Yeah, on one hand, I'm glad to see that Manley is specifically touting the ELOP+ as something you might want to use on the mix bus. On the other hand, that demo is on music that is so far from anything I have ever been involved in, or care to be involved in, that it's hard for me to make an objective judgement on it. I want to hear what it can do on relatively stripped down, unpolished acoustic music. I may just order one from Sweetwater and return it if it doesn't work for me. They do have 48 month financing on Manley at the moment... They always choose heavily processed bs for demos. For most varimus and tube comps, it’s always something with just the right tempo and balance to not make it pump, thump, and turn into goo. I want to hear what it does to raw multi tracks. And I don’t mean tracked with compression. I want it raw, taking the peaks off, leveling, or making a bus better. And not some guy playing in slow motion, processed vocals, or a drum machine. So you can have no idea if your getting a retro 176 utility knife, something gross (old Manley, nu ART), or something that barely does anything at low gr But turns into goop at higher gr (New Manley Varimu, some of the Telefunkens) until you get your hands on the thing. Stereo link is really crude and tricky with many vari-mu. You can set it up for one amount of GR, move it up or down a few dB (or simply have program with big dynamic shifts) and response will be different, with a need to realign L/R gain structure. I find myself going to mono and/or test tones after making changes, otherwise I find the center image has shifted off. Most manufacturers don’t spend hours selecting and calibrating the tubes and most users don’t spend hours maintaining them. To use well matched tubes can add hundreds to the cost. Used Drawmer, ART, and even Manley tube stuff can have a ton of issues. The tube circuitry can cook other parts on the pcb too.
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 23, 2020 14:41:28 GMT -6
So I'm re-racking things in preparation for the Weight Tanks which arrive tomorrow. As I'm doing this, I'm planning ahead for space to eventually grab a V-Comp and put it in the same rack as the Weight Tanks, but I'm fast running out of room. How hot does the V-Comp get? Will I need to leave a space open above it? All of my racks are SKB shock racks with open backs and air space around all sides, if that's of any importance to anyone providing advice. Did your tanks come in? What ya think of em?
|
|
|
Post by Quint on Oct 25, 2020 7:15:29 GMT -6
So I'm re-racking things in preparation for the Weight Tanks which arrive tomorrow. As I'm doing this, I'm planning ahead for space to eventually grab a V-Comp and put it in the same rack as the Weight Tanks, but I'm fast running out of room. How hot does the V-Comp get? Will I need to leave a space open above it? All of my racks are SKB shock racks with open backs and air space around all sides, if that's of any importance to anyone providing advice. Did your tanks come in? What ya think of em? I just got them in last week. I haven't been able try them much, but I did like what I heard on bass a lot. I'm anxious to dig into them further.
|
|
|
Post by peterhess on Oct 25, 2020 19:11:01 GMT -6
Manley ELOP on Reverb right now for 1600? That’s a steal, no?
|
|
|
Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 25, 2020 20:22:07 GMT -6
Manley ELOP on Reverb right now for 1600? That’s a steal, no? Good price, but I wouldn't call it a steal.
|
|