Building studio gear (compressors/preamps)

[jtn191]

No problem! I'm really into how the Bronze Element preamp from Hairball sounds...

[lincolnic]

No problem! I'm really into how the Bronze Element preamp from Hairball sounds...

My old friend Jens designed the op-amps and PCBs (and some of the basic circuits) for all of the Elements pres. If he's had his hands on them, you can trust that they're great. He's brilliant.

[neve1272]

https://seventhcircleaudio.com/   i use the neve and api inspired ones

http://hamptone.com/hjfp2_info/
these are what i used in my studio. the quality of my recording amplified tremendously amazing what the  humble sm57 suddenly could do

[lincolnic]

https://seventhcircleaudio.com/   i use the neve and api inspired ones

http://hamptone.com/hjfp2_info/
these are what i used in my studio. the quality of my recording amplified tremendously amazing what the  humble sm57 suddenly could do

We just got the tube version of that Hamptone guy at my studio about a month ago. Sounds pretty good, but it seems to have an insane amount of gain. You barely have to turn it up at all before your inputs are overloading. Is the JFET version similar?

[neve1272]

yeah to a degree..... i love what it does when these pre's  start to clip what they do to bass really helps to "stand up in the mix" like wedding peter
   ive been criticized for useing it on snare ...but i love how it thickens it

honestly though the way api style pre's ive used absolutely have to use inline  pads when close mic ing drums and you might try that.......when using the jfet hamptone  all i need is the built in pad i get saturation but that is my goal. were i going for cleaner sounds i use other pres.
people have told me the tube one is stunning ive heard overheads done with them
for "transparent", turn shit down the color that people talk about comes from the abuse of this gear imo .......OMG im very sorry i forgot where i was.
   
   ive a bad brain and i dont read good

[blearyeyes]

Compressor with a brick wall limiter after it for voice.

Use the compressor for normal speech and set the brick wall for the occasional yelling or outburst.