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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 22, 2014 21:12:41 GMT -6
Man! You guys aren't making this easy. I want to track with this. I'm a total UAD fan, but do you really think a plug can compare to this hardware for tracking? Of course, if it gets me 99% there and saves me $2300, I'm all in. But I just don't know. I've been watching that eBay listing, but for the price this listing started at, I might as well drop a few hundred more and go new with a warranty! Meh. Skip the Sta and get aTC Phoenix.  |
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Post by matt on Apr 22, 2014 23:47:15 GMT -6
Do you guys use the Sta-Level for tracking? Yes, always, particularly on vocals. And on just about any other mono signal, but only because I don't own two yet to support my Beyer MC930s. If I had two I'd track with them all the time. The more I push it, the better it sounds. We really stomped on it last Saturday and now my vocalist wants to re-track everything he has done previously. A picture of the thing should be in the dictionary for the word mojo. Also, all owners should invest in a 6386 tube. I like it much better than the stock 6BJ6s. The 6386 makes the STA less noisy and smoother when slammed. Of course, this is how my ears hear it, others may think differently. |
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Post by deehope on Apr 22, 2014 23:57:41 GMT -6
Errm, believe I'll pass JK... I thought you said it sounded good? I'd love to hear the files you had comparing it to the real deal! |
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Post by lolo on Apr 23, 2014 0:35:12 GMT -6
I just ran a quick mix. Sounds great already. Oh man Cowboy I cant wait to hear it. Drums should be done any day now. |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Apr 23, 2014 5:01:48 GMT -6
Errm, believe I'll pass JK... I thought you said it sounded good? I'd love to hear the files you had comparing it to the real deal! He sent me back a revision and it was worse than the first one. The attack and release is the issue. Not so much the sound. I can't find a setting on it anywhere to get it to not pump. It's a work in progress I guess but it's not ready. If you guys are looking for a plugin that in in the same ballpark as a Sta Level, there is the PSP Old Timer and the UAD LA2. Both are good. But I think the quaint hardware is perhaps better  |
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 23, 2014 6:35:20 GMT -6
Do you guys use the Sta-Level for tracking? Yes, always, particularly on vocals. And on just about any other mono signal, but only because I don't own two yet to support my Beyer MC930s. If I had two I'd track with them all the time. The more I push it, the better it sounds. We really stomped on it last Saturday and now my vocalist wants to re-track everything he has done previously. A picture of the thing should be in the dictionary for the word mojo. Also, all owners should invest in a 6386 tube. I like it much better than the stock 6BJ6s. The 6386 makes the STA less noisy and smoother when slammed. Of course, this is how my ears hear it, others may think differently. Matt you are killing me man! you don't post much, but when you do it always seems spot on to me, now all your talk of mojo, tubes replacements, and your J Page quote at the bottom of your posts.... you got me looking around my room to see what i can sell! Gasssss! |
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Post by svart on Apr 23, 2014 7:51:55 GMT -6
I've never used a sta-level. I have 5x 1176. You should too. If you ever did, you probably want to throw rocks at those 1176's  Kidding.. just a little bit but not all the way.. Well, I think the STA is famous for being extremely transparent(in terms of compression), I generally use the 1176 for the color and the musical pumping it can produce. I think these are pretty much the opposite! I do use my LA2A for it's rather transparent compression though, and I can make the 1176 fairly transparent in certain circumstances. I did check out the STA schematic. It's really a very simple design! I'd probably build one in the future if I thought I needed it at some point. |
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Post by matt on Apr 23, 2014 8:04:26 GMT -6
Of course, this is how my ears hear it, others may think differently. Matt you are killing me man! you don't post much, but when you do it always seems spot on to me, now all your talk of mojo, tubes replacements, and your J Page quote at the bottom of your posts.... you got me looking around my room to see what i can sell! Gasssss! You are welcome T. Anything to help! Also, I agree with cowboy's post recommending that the STA be hit gently on the way in, for most applications. This is the way I use it for most tracking activities. However, we have discovered that my vocalist gives more inspired performances when the STA is hit harder (-10db-ish+ on peaks). Our go-to vocal chain has not changed: Notre Dame > Ventura > STA > B2. But we have learned something called technique. Setting the mic higher than you would for for live performance (Lemmy excluded), standing off 18 inches or so instead of eating the capsule, watching out for plosives, etc. On the technical side, I have modified the metering in PT 11 so that 0db on the meter is -10dbfs, and the meter "Color Break" high/low settings are set to -3 and -8, respectively. Saw this online somewhere, maybe at the groove3 site, and it's a good way to ensure that your print levels stay in the sweet spot but still show plenty of meter. And we changed the gain staging into the STA. IMHO, with the 6386, it loves to be pushed a little on your typical vocalist. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 8:11:56 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great.
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Post by matt on Apr 23, 2014 8:19:22 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. Yes, depending on the type of performance, the meter can swing, for sure. As time goes by, addition of the 6386 seems an ever-better decision. |
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Post by RicFoxx on Apr 23, 2014 8:21:02 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. your vocals sound awesome to. What happened to that blue bluebird you were in love with?  |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 8:23:52 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. your vocals sound awesome to. What happened to that blue bluebird you were in love with? That was yearsss ago. And I wouldn't say I was in love with it...just shocked by it. It was a really good, sibilant, bright little mic. Wouldn't mind having one right now actually. |
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Post by svart on Apr 23, 2014 8:38:55 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. I regularly have my compressors doing huge GR. I don't see anything wrong with it if it sounds good. I probably have -20db on vocals and bass regularly just for the grit and in-your-face it gives you. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 9:06:19 GMT -6
Wouldn't it be great to have a mix knob!
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Post by RicFoxx on Apr 23, 2014 12:21:02 GMT -6
Just put an order in for mine!
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Post by indiehouse on Apr 23, 2014 12:37:03 GMT -6
Damn you guys! I want...er..NEED one of these!
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 12:37:53 GMT -6
Children are really getting good prices these days on the black market...
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Post by indiehouse on Apr 23, 2014 13:00:11 GMT -6
Children are really getting good prices these days on the black market... Ha! No doubt I'll need to sell something like that to afford the Sta. Hmmm...do I really need BOTH kidneys? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 13:03:59 GMT -6
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 23, 2014 19:32:10 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. don't you lose bit depth/dynamic range at -20? That seems strange? especially if your tracking with the STA-?(unless im mis understanding?) |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Apr 23, 2014 19:54:10 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. don't you lose bit depth/dynamic range at -20? That seems strange? especially if your tracking with the STA-?(unless im mis understanding?) He's saying 20dB of reduction with the Sta, I think. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 19:58:59 GMT -6
All I know is it sounds good.
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 23, 2014 20:09:14 GMT -6
jcoutu1 i think Johnkenn was responding to matt re setting his 0db in pro tools to -10, so 0db is -10. Is that right JK, you track at -20dbu or are you compressing 20db off your peaks with the sta-?
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 23, 2014 20:45:14 GMT -6
No - that wasn't me...all I said was -20 GR...
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Post by matt on Apr 23, 2014 20:53:21 GMT -6
I'm sure I'll be poo poo'd...but I regularly track my vocals where the loudest peak hits -20db...It just sounds effing great. don't you lose bit depth/dynamic range at -20? That seems strange? especially if your tracking with the STA-?(unless im mis understanding?) JK means -20 on the STA, or 20db of compression. Peaks are leveled big-time, and you can actually print hotter into your DAW, if you dare. |
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