|
Post by thehightenor on Jul 11, 2016 14:42:22 GMT -6
I guess as I've already got a STA for vocals I was thinking an LA2A (WA2A) would maybe be good for bass etc.
I'm just a bit worried about using the STA on everything, I really want some variation in my tracking compressors and currently I have two. Retro STA level and a Millennia STT-1.
I'm keen to experiment with the 1176 in LA2A thing on vocals as an alternative to the STA and the Warm Audio compressors make that prospect at least reasonably affordable to dabble in.
The 1176 into LA2A thing is very cool. The STA LA2A and 1176 couldnt sound more different from each other. All three are great... the 76 and LA give you two very different bass characters as well. Add a DBX comp to those 3 and you have a pretty wide pallet to paint with cheers Wiz Thanks Wiz,
What about the AML 54F50?
Isn't that a bridged diode compressor?
I keep hearing good things about that style of compression.
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Jul 11, 2016 16:52:50 GMT -6
The 1176 into LA2A thing is very cool. The STA LA2A and 1176 couldnt sound more different from each other. All three are great... the 76 and LA give you two very different bass characters as well. Add a DBX comp to those 3 and you have a pretty wide pallet to paint with cheers Wiz Thanks Wiz,
What about the AML 54F50?
Isn't that a bridged diode compressor?
I keep hearing good things about that style of compression.
I have never used the AML... I have a pair of Comp 54a's which I think are diode based... if so . ... they are the only ones that are diode I have used...and given their price point I wasn't thinking that they would be representative of the neve diode comp. They are okay though, and I use them pretty much exclusively on toms. cheers Wiz
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 11, 2016 21:27:49 GMT -6
An LA-2A and a StaLevel are very different things, one an optical comp with a tube amp and the other a variable gain tube amp that can be subjected to varying attack/release/ratio constraints. You should remove the other set of valves for it to act correctly, but of course there are reports of people running them in parallel for yet another effect. I don't know if you can zero the meter with all 3 gain reduction tubes in there, might not be able to. A good 6386 can be hard to find and can wear quickly if you leave the unit on frequently, especially with no signal passing through (maximum current flow). It seems the era of people modifying vintage tube comps to be super flexible is dying, with everyone wanting some new product instead, but many of these new products simply replicate the function of the originals without adding anything new. You can take something like a Gates SA-39 and easily modify it to act like a StaLevel, while still retaining the limiter aspect the Sta lacks. But then also, no one seems to want to bother with 7-8RU mono equipment anymore either. Thanks for the info, it's always good to get some expert advice.
The only 6386 I'm likely to get in the UK is the JJ new production version, and I have no way of knowing how good it is before buying it.
Perhaps I will just stick with the stock valves.
I have a JJ 6386 and a NOS GE...and I really can't tell a difference.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 11, 2016 21:29:15 GMT -6
You should consider an LA3A or Serpent Chimera.
|
|
|
Post by tasteliketape on Jul 11, 2016 21:41:17 GMT -6
So are you all saying the jj6386 sound as good as nos ? I ran the 3 tubes in mine for a while and thought it had a little pronounced mid honk and just maybe a bit grainy (or at least not as smooth as the 6386 only
|
|
|
Post by EmRR on Jul 11, 2016 23:58:29 GMT -6
So are you all saying the jj6386 sound as good as nos ? I'm saying in my experience I did not find an original 6386 that sounded as good as the JJ's I tried. Others report differently.
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Jul 12, 2016 2:09:12 GMT -6
You should consider an LA3A or Serpent Chimera. I have considered (if I can save up the pennies) getting the Serpent Splice MK2 and the Chimera to give me some great options. I think I will get a JJ 6386 and see if I like it - I'm definately up for experimenting with valves - although my unit does sound great as it is, but you know - if might be even better? Do you run your 6386 as an added valve or do you remove the vavle(s) it can replace (if you see what I mean) To be honest as the Retro has no manual I'm not sure at this point which valve(s) it is meant to replace, I'm guessing it's the two inside the unit which do the MU compression bit of the circuit?
|
|
|
Post by jin167 on Jul 12, 2016 2:22:12 GMT -6
You should consider an LA3A or Serpent Chimera. I have considered (if I can save up the pennies) getting the Serpent Splice MK2 and the Chimera to give me some great options. I think I will get a JJ 6386 and see if I like it - I'm definately up for experimenting with valves - although my unit does sound great as it is, but you know - if might be even better? Do you run your 6386 as an added valve or do you remove the vavle(s) it can replace (if you see what I mean) To be honest as the Retro has no manual I'm not sure at this point which valve(s) it is meant to replace, I'm guessing it's the two inside the unit which do the MU compression bit of the circuit? Correct. Two 6BA6 valves inside are doing what a single 6386 should be doing so if you wish to use 6386 then you should remove those 6BA6s first. But when I enquired Phil about this he told me that his unit can be used with both 6BA6s and 6386 installed so it's up to you really.
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Jul 12, 2016 14:35:10 GMT -6
Cool - thanks for that info.
It's a bit odd that Retro don't have a manual for the STA Level for non technical users like myself, although I do appreciate the fact the unit is easy to operate.
|
|
|
Post by drsax on Jul 13, 2016 10:48:40 GMT -6
Mine has the JJ6386 and I'm perfectly happy with it. Not inclined to scour the earth for vintage tubes for this piece. I have a buddy that has a Retro/modded original Gates STA and he likes the JJ just as much as the vintage tubes he has.
Also, I tried my Retro with just the 6386 tube alone, with just the two 6BA6 tubes in, and also with all three tubes in at the same time. It may not sound as "stock" but I preferred it with all three tubes in it.
|
|
|
Post by jayfitz on Jul 13, 2016 11:02:01 GMT -6
If anyone is interested, I have a Highland Dynamics BG-2 in stock, could easily run something through it....
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Jul 13, 2016 14:28:05 GMT -6
Mine has the JJ6386 and I'm perfectly happy with it. Not inclined to scour the earth for vintage tubes for this piece. I have a buddy that has a Retro/modded original Gates STA and he likes the JJ just as much as the vintage tubes he has. Also, I tried my Retro with just the 6386 tube alone, with just the two 6BA6 tubes in, and also with all three tubes in at the same time. It may not sound as "stock" but I preferred it with all three tubes in it. Great info thanks.
I like the idea of just adding an external tube, as opposed to having to remove the two internal ones, so I'm happy to hear that three tunes sounds good.
I'm feeling inspired to grab a JJ 6386 and experiment a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 13, 2016 18:14:56 GMT -6
You should consider an LA3A or Serpent Chimera. I have considered (if I can save up the pennies) getting the Serpent Splice MK2 and the Chimera to give me some great options. I think I will get a JJ 6386 and see if I like it - I'm definately up for experimenting with valves - although my unit does sound great as it is, but you know - if might be even better? Do you run your 6386 as an added valve or do you remove the vavle(s) it can replace (if you see what I mean) To be honest as the Retro has no manual I'm not sure at this point which valve(s) it is meant to replace, I'm guessing it's the two inside the unit which do the MU compression bit of the circuit? I'll sell you mine for $80. Might have three hours on it.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Jul 13, 2016 18:17:23 GMT -6
I thought running the 6BJ6s and the 6386 could get a little distorty.
|
|
|
Post by thehightenor on Jul 14, 2016 6:15:57 GMT -6
Thanks for the offer, but as I'm in the UK I've ordered a JJ 6386 from UK valve shop.
|
|