|
|
Post by bchurch on Aug 26, 2022 7:55:46 GMT -6
This is such a cool era for 500 series owners. Seems like the innovation train for these little ships-in-a-bottle is showing no signs of slowing, and my own two 10-space-racks are constantly being refined bit-by-bit (when I realize I haven't patched something in for six months, it's walking the plank).
Along my own journey, I've happened upon a couple of really unique, useful pieces that do something that really enhances my workflow - kind of "off the beaten path" designs and builders (or easy to modify into something better).
So my favorite "what the heck is that" pieces right now:
Dead(Fx) GB-1 Gain Brain Compressor: Dude makes small batch runs of these, as well as Neve 51x EQ's and Flickinger preamps. These are spot on recreations of the original Alison Research GainBrains - the FET ones. They are definitely not for the faint of heart - they're like rackmounted honey badgers. They take 'ho hum' to 'hell yeah'.
ART Pro VLA 500 - These are a curio. ART did not make many and they quickly disappeared from the market. Same Vactrol topology as the VLA rackmount (which I think has earned its place as a legitimate piece of gear, even given the brand) - but adds a switchable "punch" (basically just a small JFET loop) and a "grit" (whoo-hoo, it's a diode! kinda like SSL's "4K Mode") circuit on switches. I did some parts swapping (yay thru-hole PCB!) - popped in some hand-selected vtl5c1 vactrols, Panasonic caps, and a slight switch to the diode circuit to make it run a tad hotter. These are absolutely legit opto-comps now. They weren't bad before, but they are amazing after $30 worth of new components.
Aphex CX-1 Compressors - OMFG these are amazing. They're "sorta" compatible with 500-series once you pinch off pin 15, and only take one retainer screw. But these 40+ year old suckers can really dish out some rich, tight compression on things like bass or room mics. I am intrigued by this old Aphex 1537A VCA and am going to try breadboarding a DIYRE colour palette that uses them. If you ever happen upon one or two, buy them on sight (hopefully they have the Jensen 115 output transformers - those are really part of the secret sauce.
Anyways - if I'm missing something weird, cool, off the beaten path, do share!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2022 8:24:47 GMT -6
I think I'm the only person I know of with an Acme Opticom 500.. It's pretty sweet.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2022 11:06:03 GMT -6
DIYRE OLA5
|
|
|
|
Post by bchurch on Aug 26, 2022 15:17:43 GMT -6
I built a couple of those but couldn't quite "find a home" for them in my workflow. You gotta love Peterson though - he really has created the most novice-friendly path to DIY circuits. The CP5 preamps are pretty great WWG-style devices - I've tinkered with those and the Colour format. If you sub an SSM2019 for the THAT1646 on the preamp circuit, it's (to my ears) a pretty noticeable improvement. Maybe not the most exciting preamp sound there is, but super fast and clean. The colour format is a great idea with the one notable exception that you're unable to modify settings without pulling the card out. Or metering anything. Just because / boredom / weed: I had a pair of the HRK "Solid State VCA" cards, they're (of course) touted as 'british console glue compressors', which I'd say is a weeeee bit of a stretch. More like a DBX 166. Anyways. I fashioned up two blank 500 panels with pots for threshold, attack, release, and ratio. Not bad. Not amazing. Just a fun experiment. I bet the OLA5 would be fun one to monkey about with as well. DIYRE's Instagram have been pretty active with posts about their own take on what's basically an updated GSSL-redux. We'll have to see on that one. |
|
|
|
Post by sean on Aug 26, 2022 19:50:05 GMT -6
Analog Allstars EQP1S5...I regret selling mine. I'm sure Colin's AML 500 series Pultecs are great as well. XQP 2531 is definitely the best 500 series de-esser I've used. The Purple Audio stuff is a bargain especially second hand...the Odd and program EQ are both great. Phoenix Audio Gyrator EQ.
|
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Aug 26, 2022 20:22:11 GMT -6
Phoenix Gyrator eq
XQP 2531 de esser
DEAD GB-1 Gain Brain Clone
Standard Audio Stretch
CAPI 526 comps
|
|
|
|
Post by Bat Lanyard on Aug 26, 2022 22:03:51 GMT -6
Phoenix Gyrator eq XQP 2531 de esser DEAD GB-1 Gain Brain Clone Standard Audio Stretch CAPI 526 comps The Stretch |
|
|
|
Post by sean on Aug 26, 2022 22:20:01 GMT -6
Stretch is a good one. I need to use mine more…I feel like if I had a pair I’d have them up on a permanent send. But they can really save a dull track that traditional EQ can’t
|
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Aug 27, 2022 2:40:34 GMT -6
I think I'm the only person I know of with an Acme Opticom 500.. It's pretty sweet. Nice. You’ve owned various LA2A units, where does the AO 500 sit in that spectrum? I wonder how it compares to the Chandler Opto? |
|
|
|
Post by Bat Lanyard on Aug 27, 2022 8:43:37 GMT -6
Stretch is a good one. I need to use mine more…I feel like if I had a pair I’d have them up on a permanent send. But they can really save a dull track that traditional EQ can’t I have a matched pair that lives on guitars via the Flock. |
|
|
|
Post by lowlou on Aug 27, 2022 14:16:33 GMT -6
Bereich 03 Density
|
|
|
|
Post by ab101 on Aug 27, 2022 16:54:26 GMT -6
xqp 531 de-essers, heritage 73eq jrs for that nevish bass sound, tree audio eq4s amazing, zahl eq1 for clean, buzz essence - phenominal 500 compressor, also Apa Leviathan - nice versatile compressor, capi LC25s assembled by Trace Audio - phenominal and easy to use, and the capi filters are great too!
|
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Aug 28, 2022 3:03:02 GMT -6
Those Phoenix Eqs are really cool
|
|
|
|
Post by robschnapf on Aug 28, 2022 7:56:18 GMT -6
That fllterbank looks really cool too |
|
|
|
Post by fellowshiphallsound on Aug 28, 2022 12:11:31 GMT -6
Those Phoenix Eqs are really cool <GREAT> Just as I was trying to be intentional about NOT more buying gear.  |
|
|
|
Post by recordingengineer on Aug 28, 2022 14:39:12 GMT -6
The Phoenix Gyrator EQ is mostly always on bass for me.
What do you guys mostly use the GB-1 and the Stretch on?
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934 
|
Post by ericn on Aug 28, 2022 15:54:48 GMT -6
All the Purple modulesseam to be forgotten.
|
|
|
|
Post by matt@IAA on Aug 28, 2022 18:29:50 GMT -6
Lately I feel like our 500 series is forgotten too 😜
|
|
|
|
Post by ab101 on Aug 28, 2022 18:35:06 GMT -6
Lately I feel like our 500 series is forgotten too 😜 As for me - "I could have had a V2!" Seriously, I love my V2. If I did not have the V2, I would get the 500 series for sure. And your prices are very reasonable. |
|
|
|
Post by fellowshiphallsound on Aug 28, 2022 20:20:05 GMT -6
Lately I feel like our 500 series is forgotten too 😜 My pair of H9s get used on every record! Sometimes room mics, sometimes guitar, sometimes overheads. |
|
hoot
Full Member
Posts: 42
|
Post by hoot on Aug 29, 2022 3:26:13 GMT -6
Pete’s Place BAC500!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2022 4:15:41 GMT -6
I think I'm the only person I know of with an Acme Opticom 500.. It's pretty sweet. Nice. You’ve owned various LA2A units, where does the AO 500 sit in that spectrum? I wonder how it compares to the Chandler Opto? Well, seen as I have both..
The Acme has its own vibe compared to a 2A but holistically achieves the same thing. It's not a cheap knock off that doesn't sound as good or nothing like a 2A but there are a few defining factors. For example at a certain point any 2A I've used will start to diminish and dull sounds, the Acme just makes things fatter under heavy compression.. But, if you're looking for a clean comp I'd go in another direction.
The Chandler sounds nothing like a 2A, it reacts nothing like a 2A and that's a good thing. It's a sweet sounding extensively flexible comp that works on a wide variety of instruments, the fact that it's an opto is somewhat irrelevant. For me it's stuck on the bass channel but I really liked it on backing vox, guitar etc. one thing that would have been nice is the option to link two together with dented pots, I think the TG Opto would make a fantastic bus comp and I've never said that about an opto before. (However I need to check out Buzz audio at some point, every time I added them to the cart, asked for demo units etc. something came up)..
It's not either or with these two, they are different and complimentary. So, you guessed it.. Buy both  .. |
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
|
Post by ericn on Aug 29, 2022 5:58:56 GMT -6
Lately I feel like our 500 series is forgotten too 😜 I don’t know I was searching for something completely different and one of the results was an Iron Age Manuals in one of those sites with just manuals and thought He has made it to the big time! |
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Aug 29, 2022 11:21:42 GMT -6
Nice. You’ve owned various LA2A units, where does the AO 500 sit in that spectrum? I wonder how it compares to the Chandler Opto? Well, seen as I have both..
The Acme has its own vibe compared to a 2A but holistically achieves the same thing. It's not a cheap knock off that doesn't sound as good or nothing like a 2A but there are a few defining factors. For example at a certain point any 2A I've used will start to diminish and dull sounds, the Acme just makes things fatter under heavy compression.. But, if you're looking for a clean comp I'd go in another direction.
The Chandler sounds nothing like a 2A, it reacts nothing like a 2A and that's a good thing. It's a sweet sounding extensively flexible comp that works on a wide variety of instruments, the fact that it's an opto is somewhat irrelevant. For me it's stuck on the bass channel but I really liked it on backing vox, guitar etc. one thing that would have been nice is the option to link two together with dented pots, I think the TG Opto would make a fantastic bus comp and I've never said that about an opto before. (However I need to check out Buzz audio at some point, every time I added them to the cart, asked for demo units etc. something came up)..
It's not either or with these two, they are different and complimentary. So, you guessed it.. Buy both .. I want to buy something a bit more "obvious" - maybe a Blue Stripe 1176 maybe a Chandler Opto - don't know really. My two tracking comps are a Retro STA Level and a Phoenix Mastering Plus (doubles up from living on my stereo mix bus) these are two fantastic Vari MU compressors but they are incredibly silky smooth and invisible in their compression envelope - like a colour box with a fader attached. I just need to gather the energy to book a couple of demos - Access Analog is good for demo's but it's not quite the same as hands on tactile feedback. |
|
|
|
Post by eyebytwomuchgeer on Aug 29, 2022 11:51:35 GMT -6
Analog Allstars EQP1S5...I regret selling mine. I'm sure Colin's AML 500 series Pultecs are great as well. Just built two of the ezP1A-500 kits. I really like them and thoroughly enjoyed the build! My first AML kits after a ton of CAPI kits. |
|
..