This is a research journal I put together for preamps and compressors in Capital University's Studio E. Cool stuff!
Preamps:
UA 4-710d Mic Preamplifier- This mic preamp combines 4 of Universal Audio’s previous preamp offerings into one unit, and at a cheap price. These preamp units also house UA’s remake of the classic 1176 compressor, which I was not aware of. Each channel allows you to choose between solid state and tube circuitry, and anywhere in between. These preamps also have A/D converters, making them really popular in studios today. You can also chain other units into these ones to access the A/D converters. The controls are also familiar too, with input and output controls, impedance switches, and basic pad and polarity switches. The only newer controls are the ones relating to the compression feature, but they’re simple to understand.
I was not previously aware that these preamps had a compressor in them, so I decided to look for user reviews to see what people thought about it. Most thoughts are extremely positive, as it can be very light or it can absolutely squash your signal while still being musical. With it being an 1176 style circuit, the sound is also familiar yet very new in this format. This is a feature I definitely want to play around with at the next opportunity.
Manual and Specs: https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/206356243-4-710d-Four-Channel-Tone-Blending-Mic-Preamp-w-Dynamics
Focusrite ISA 428 MKII- This mic preamp contains 4 channels, all featuring transformers. These transformers allow for a warm yet natural sound. This is a simple preamp, but it does everything you could ever need it to do. It has the ability to support different signal levels, you can insert directly into the unit, flip phase, and it also has A/D conversion units. Reviews say it is a warm sounding unit, but it won’t completely color your sound, and can handle anything you want to put through it.
Manual and specs: https://fael-downloads-prod.focusrite.com/customer/prod/s3fs-public/downloads/ISA%20428%20MkII%20User%20Guide%201.1%20English%20-%20EN.pdf
Daking Mic Pre IV- This unit houses 4 preamp channels in one place. The controls and offerings are simple but great. There is a pad control, phantom power, mic/line switch, a phase switch, and a gain knob. Not only are these preamps a great option in the studio, but they are also a great option for live shows.
I have little experience with these units, so I wanted to look at reviews and see what others think of them. Reviews are very good, stating that the preamp can handle a wide variety of instruments while still sounding good. The preamp has a clear and punchy sound, which makes me automatically think it would be best on drums. These preamps are simple, but they do a lot with very few controls and they do an excellent job.
Compressors:
Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor- This compression unit is extremely versatile and sounds awesome. There are very few controls, but you can do so much with what there is and you can get hundreds of different settings. From gentle compression to the “nuke setting” the distressor has it all. There are also distortion modes, starting out warm, but these can add harmonics and full on dirt. The compression settings are simple and familiar, as there are settings for input and output, attack and release, your ratio, and the previously mentioned distortion modes. These few controls can get you any sound, and it’s why these compressors are so beloved by all audio engineers.
Manual and Specs: https://www.empiricallabs.com/wp-content/uploads/distressor_manual.pdf
UA Classics 1176 LN Limiting Amplifier- A true classic, the UA 1176 is a true homage to the legendary 1176 units. It may be simple, but it carries a legendary sound. You have all your classic compressor controls, input and output, attack and release, ration, and meter controls. It was a breakthrough design when it was released, and this reissue is faithful to that. It still sounds awesome with anything you put through it, and it also has the classic 1176 trick up its sleeve, waiting to be discovered.
The ratio controls have a secret; if you push all buttons in, you get a new compression mode. While it wasn’t meant to be a feature originally, it quickly became used in every studio that it could. It adds a wild sound to anything, it makes drums sound massive, and can add fuzz like tones to basses and guitars. This reissue has it added as an intended feature, and it is supposed to have the same effect in this unit as it did on the original.
Manual and Specs: https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419447352980-UA-1176-Classic-Limiter-Collection-Manual
EQ:
HHB Radius 20 Tube Parametric Equalizer- Finding info on this thing was hard, as it seems to be older and reasonably obscure. But looking at it, what’s not to love? Two channels of fully parametric EQ, running through a smooth sounding tube circuit. There aren’t any low or high pass features, but that can be forgotten in this case. Super simple to operate. If you plug into the front inserts, it will override rear connections so you can quickly access that nice tube sound. Reviews were hard to find, but every forum from like 2003 raves about how great it sounds.
Manual and Specs: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703184/Hhb-Radius-Series.html
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