Q&A

What is the 1176 sound?

What is the 1176 sound?

The 1176 is a “feedback” compressor. The signal goes through the input stage, via the line input transformer, which has a big impact on the sound. From there, the signal is routed to the top of a FET, which is being used as a variable voltage resistor.

What is the 1176 Good For?

It can add a very useful, gritty compression effect. This setting is especially useful on bass, where compression and distortion might be needed at the same time, and the 1176 can provide both in a unique way. This trick also sounds great on screaming lead vocals.

How do I adjust the sound on my compressor?

Try starting with the compressor set to the fastest attack, fastest release, and highest ratio setting for the compressor. Then adjust the input volume or threshold setting until about 16-24 dB of the audio signal is reduced on average (also known as gain reduction).

Is the 1176 A FET compressor?

But know this: The designation between FET and VCA matters, because of the one of the most famous, widely used compressors of all time is an FET compressor—the previously mentioned UREI 1176. FET compressors like the 1176 are capable of exceedingly fast attack times, though not without color.

What was the first audio compressor?

1937 – ‘The Western Electric 110 limiting amplifier created, being considered to be the first commercially available compressor.

What type of compressor is the API 2500?

stereo bus compressor
The API 2500 is a versatile stereo bus compressor that allows adjustment of sonic qualities that can alter the punch and tone of the stereo mix. The 19″ rack-mountable unit features API’s patented “thrust” circuit for a chest-hitting, punchy bottom end.

What type of compressor is la2a?

Design. The LA-2A is a hand-wired, tube-based compressor. It uses an electroluminescent panel together with a cadmium-sulfide light dependent resistor to provide gain reduction, which in the LA-2A’s own terminology is called the T4 cell.

What does a compressor do for live sound?

What is compression? Audio compression is the process of reducing the dynamic range of a sound. This compression occurs when the volume level signal exceeds a specified level. In practical terms, when a singer decides to belt out the chorus, instead of jumping for the fader, the compressor does the work for you.

What comes first EQ or compression?

Each position, EQ pre (before) or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.

Should I compress vocals while recording?

Generally speaking, you should only record vocals with compression if you are confident that the settings on the compressor will produce the results you desire. It’s worth noting, that compression interacts uniquely with different vocals.

What was the sound of the UREI 1176?

The result was the rather different-sounding solid-state 1176. UREI, and later Universal Audio (UA), continued to refine and produce the 1176 — with several new ‘revisions’ appearing — well into the 1970s, as well as a couple more in recent years (for more details go to www.uaudio.com/blog/1176-la2a-hardware-revision-history ).

What kind of AMP does a Universal Audio 1176 use?

Universal Audio engineers bench testing the 1176. For minimal distortion, careful circuit design was required to make the FET operate within a narrow linear range. The output stage is an all-Class A line level amplifier, designed to drive the 1960s standard load of 600 ohms.

What kind of sound can a 1176 compressor make?

This allowed the 1176 to make a sound unlike any other processor ever heard before. Distortion increased, along with a plateaued slope and a lag time in response to initial transients, creating an explosive sound on drum room mics, making an incredible grungy bass or electric guitar sound, or squeezing a vocal so it sat right in your face.

When did Universal Audio start making the 1176 compressor?

In 2000, Universal Audio began reissuing the 1176LN. These units are still handmade today in Scotts Valley, California. In 1999, when Bill Putnam, Jr. relaunched Universal Audio, a reproduction of the Blackface 1176LN was the company’s first product.