Compressor / limiter for 60s style garage vocals.

  • Thread starter Thread starter hungovermorning
  • Start date Start date
H

hungovermorning

Dr. Caveman.
My first post in the rack here. I was looking for a compressor for 60s style garage vocals, think MC5, or something early Alice Cooper even. I was looking for something nice, probably between $400 and $1,000. I am recording to open reel through a Bogen tube PA modded as a pre amp to a Tascam m312 board, I've used an Oktava tube mic and an original Audix OM-1 or a Beyerdynamic m160 and it feels like it needs compression. I really just want something that I won't need to upgrade in two months and will be quite happy with for a while. Hopefully this helps with getting a suggestion.

cheers,
scott
 
i'd check out a silver 1176.

you have tons of options in your price range really...for the garage stuff a symetrix 501 - i think it's called maybe a 601 - is way beaneath your price range and can really rule.

the silver 1176 will go a long way though.

pax

Mike
 
Thanks for the replies. The Silver looks really nice, but I just checked and $3,000 is out of my price range. Could you tell me a little bit about the Symetrix.
Also, Big Kenny, could you tell me about the DBX 165, that looks real interesting, but does it do the same tone suck as DBX noise reduction does?
 
I unfortunately can't go over the $1k mark, I would just let other things I need suffer a little too long.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SRR
In your price range, DBX160 or 160X, XT or other derivative.

The 1176 is the sound of that era however as pointed out above.
 
Then I say get the ART PRO VLA (hay Massive has one) and save up for the purple 1176 clone, its what I am gonna do.
 
I threw in an X factor, I made a call to a tech friend and he'll be building me an improved Altec-esque tube compressor limiter for well under $1k with all the trimmings. Thanks for all the suggestions, if the 1176 is the sound of that era, I'll save my nickels for that one one day too but getting a handwired point to point tube one brand new for that price is hard to pass up. Again, thank you for all your suggestions, if I wasn't friends with a mad scientist... you know.

Middleman said:
In your price range, DBX160 or 160X, XT or other derivative.

The 1176 is the sound of that era however as pointed out above.
Click to expand...
 
the silver 1176s are not 3G. the blackfaces aren't three grand! you can find a silver one for under 1000 - easy.

the altecs i've heard (436) may be ok for the garage stuff...but lordy they are more effects than anything else...and the won't limit a vocal very well. ya never know though...could be just what yer looking for. if yer paying more than 5 bills for one though - you can do better. they appeal of those things are the color and the vu...and perhaps the ability to frankenstein em. :D :eek: just one dork's opine.

the 501 is kinda like the dbx 160X/Xt/A. cool unit.

laters.....
Mike
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/UREI-1176-Silve...SAL-AUDIO_W0QQitemZ330016097274QQcmdZViewItem
eep.
The altec copy he's proposing: It is tube, and it'd be just over $500 brand spankin new and hand wired point to point with high quality components which is nice. The last couple days I've read up on the 1176 and I've really liked what I've heard. If I gave him a schematic, he'd build anything. Do you think I should hunt down a schematic for an 1176? and if so which version? A hand built copy of that seems like a keeper if Altec isn't all it's cracked up to be.
 
ah no - that's the blue stripe...get a 'regular' silver. they aren't as collectible...they come after that version and the blackfaced versions.

i think there's a lot of 1176 schematic stuff on the web...i see home brew pix on other boards frequently. i don't know where though unfortunately...i don't do my own building.

Mike
 
hungovermorning said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/UREI-1176-Silve...SAL-AUDIO_W0QQitemZ330016097274QQcmdZViewItem
eep.
The altec copy he's proposing: It is tube, and it'd be just over $500 brand spankin new and hand wired point to point with high quality components which is nice. The last couple days I've read up on the 1176 and I've really liked what I've heard. If I gave him a schematic, he'd build anything. Do you think I should hunt down a schematic for an 1176? and if so which version? A hand built copy of that seems like a keeper if Altec isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Click to expand...
Here it is:
http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/1176/1176.htm
From what i've heard, they shouldn't be too hard to build, for someone who knows what he's doing..
I've heard them in use, and they sound absolutely excellent, I can't compare them to the real thing, though, I have never had a first hand experience with the Urei..

While you are at it, you should make him build you a SSL 4000 comp and a Pultec eq..
http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/gyraf_diy.html
Also check out:
groupdiy
 
i read on another forum and communicated with an online pal that some of those gyraf jobs are not clones. i think the ssl one was the one not close too the original though...

Mike
 
hungovermorning said:
I am recording to open reel through a Bogen tube PA modded as a pre amp
Click to expand...

Can you post a pic of that Bogen? I have a tube PA that was built in the 30's. I'm curious to see what you did with it.
 
Symetrix 501 (really good for bass)
DBX 160xt (or x)
Peavey VC/L-2 (tube comp and more like an LA-2A)

You should be able to get 2 channels of these for less than $1000 -- a lot less in many if not all cases - especially if you buy used.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top