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Post by nomatic on Apr 4, 2024 7:27:04 GMT -6
![]() I had Josh at JCF Audio make me a Vactrol based 500 series unit that is the ultimate vocal tracking compressor for me at least. It was a custom piece but damn it is so stealthy and useful it was worth the $1300 ish... Attachments:
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Post by svart on Apr 4, 2024 9:10:50 GMT -6
I have an A revision 1176 (Hairball clone) permanently patched from a preamp as my vocal chain. 12:1 and usually hitting around 15db GR on loud spots and I've never really touched it much since getting it where it works best. Can't imagine anything else would work better.
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Post by recordingengineer on Apr 4, 2024 9:53:42 GMT -6
I have an A revision 1176 (Hairball clone) permanently patched from a preamp as my vocal chain. 12:1 and usually hitting around 15db GR on loud spots and I've never really touched it much since getting it where it works best. Can't imagine anything else would work better. I’d love to hear a with vs without vocal take of that. After having early 2000s reissues and quickly-trying a good-portion of the “best-original-versions” at various studios over the years, other than the All-Buttons-In trick on drum rooms (even then, I wish I could find that curve with so much less distortion), I’ve always been “ho-hum” about the 1176. It compresses well (I’m sure that was special in their hey-day), but I’m still waiting to hear the wow-factor. |
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Post by chessparov on Apr 4, 2024 10:29:05 GMT -6
I'm thinking Spark. For me.  LOL! Would love to hear any clips. A guy can dream ya know.  Chris |
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Post by chessparov on Apr 4, 2024 10:30:20 GMT -6
Magic death eye if you can find one. Every time I track vocals I am reminded how much I would miss it. They were killer. |
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Post by svart on Apr 4, 2024 11:13:21 GMT -6
I have an A revision 1176 (Hairball clone) permanently patched from a preamp as my vocal chain. 12:1 and usually hitting around 15db GR on loud spots and I've never really touched it much since getting it where it works best. Can't imagine anything else would work better. I’d love to hear a with vs without vocal take of that. After having early 2000s reissues and quickly-trying a good-portion of the “best-original-versions” at various studios over the years, other than the All-Buttons-In trick on drum rooms (even then, I wish I could find that curve with so much less distortion), I’ve always been “ho-hum” about the 1176. It compresses well (I’m sure that was special in their hey-day), but I’m still waiting to hear the wow-factor. In this case, I really am using a compressor to keep the levels mostly in a smaller dynamic range. Most of the time I'm using compressors to add dynamics. I honestly could use any 1176 here, but the extra bite the A revision gives seems to make vocals pop a little more than the D rev. or the F/G revs. In any case, I like the 1176 because it does keep vocals pretty level without pumping too much. I could never get along with the LA2A due to the weird dark fuzziness it gave vocals. I tried an LA4A and it worked ok, but I could never get it to give me the GR I wanted. I didn't have hardware LA3As until recently but now that I've settle on the 1176, I don't think I'm trying them. |
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Post by Oneiro on Apr 4, 2024 12:36:33 GMT -6
![]() I had Josh at JCF Audio make me a Vactrol based 500 series unit that is the ultimate vocal tracking compressor for me at least. It was a custom piece but damn it is so stealthy and useful it was worth the $1300 ish... I snapped up the one that was on Reverb for a literal few hours.
This thing is crazy good for vocals but also surprisingly useful on snare and kick.
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Post by Ward on Apr 5, 2024 13:31:04 GMT -6
Hard to screw up with a Sta-level (damnit now I want it again) or v-comp. You have to crank the input on the V-Comp compared to the retro, but it sounds pretty damn similar when you do. You just can't make it your only vocal comp. It's like audio syrup. It's delicious at times, but can get sickening. Anyone who spends a lot of time tracking or mixing vocals should have a STA/Vcomp/Mu and OPTical CL1b/LA2a/LA3a (not the LA4 which is great on bass and electric guitars), And a couple of FETs like a rev A 76 and a Rev F 76. and one VCA comp . . . which one? |
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Post by paulcheeba on Apr 7, 2024 18:52:15 GMT -6
I love the Chandler RS124, the POM Pye, BLA Bluey and the Great river for the 500.
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Post by kelk on Apr 13, 2024 15:07:13 GMT -6
![]() I had Josh at JCF Audio make me a Vactrol based 500 series unit that is the ultimate vocal tracking compressor for me at least. It was a custom piece but damn it is so stealthy and useful it was worth the $1300 ish...
Is the JCF reminiscent of an la3a?
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Post by nomatic on Apr 14, 2024 19:20:33 GMT -6
More transparent and quick depending on how you set it.
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Post by Oneiro on Apr 17, 2024 7:48:13 GMT -6
![]() I had Josh at JCF Audio make me a Vactrol based 500 series unit that is the ultimate vocal tracking compressor for me at least. It was a custom piece but damn it is so stealthy and useful it was worth the $1300 ish...
Is the JCF reminiscent of an la3a?
Not really.
Josh has also made me a 19" two channel opto and it's more LA-3A like but still smoother. It's actually pretty crazy how much it can sort out a very complex source - think evolving synth patch or a cellist switching back and forth between techniques.
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Post by kelk on Apr 17, 2024 10:36:24 GMT -6
Is the JCF reminiscent of an la3a?
Not really.
Josh has also made me a 19" two channel opto and it's more LA-3A like but still smoother. It's actually pretty crazy how much it can sort out a very complex source - think evolving synth patch or a cellist switching back and forth between techniques.
Amazing! How does the 500 series compare to your two channel opto?
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Post by Oneiro on Apr 18, 2024 10:04:01 GMT -6
Not really.
Josh has also made me a 19" two channel opto and it's more LA-3A like but still smoother. It's actually pretty crazy how much it can sort out a very complex source - think evolving synth patch or a cellist switching back and forth between techniques.
Amazing! How does the 500 series compare to your two channel opto?
They're pretty different. The two channel is like the LA-2/3A's in that it has no attack and release, just comp/limit, which inherently will change the way you use it. It's a slower, gradual attack response to transients as well - again like you'd expect with old optos. It wouldn't be my first call on drums, unlike the 500 series, which is a lot faster. The 500 series is still very smooth but you can give thickness to things and do a lot more, envelope-shaping wise. I can hear it working without the meters firing as well.
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Post by kelk on Apr 19, 2024 6:43:47 GMT -6
Can't wait to try some JCF modules soon..
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