Originally Posted by 666666  Run `em through a pair of hand-wired "reissue" API 550A eq modules. These add just the right amount of smoothness and subtle "compression" without "distorting" the signal too much. The original sound at the input is pretty much "untouched", still sounds "true" and "accurate", but yet is just a bit, dare I say, "fatter", "thicker" and rounder... can put just the right degree of "analog" tinting to digital synths, and can make analog synths sound that much thicker.
Now if you are not so much into keeping the sound somewhat "true" and don't mind a good degree of obvious distortion, then any of the more "radical" mic pres out there will do the trick, Neve-ish stuff, tubey stuff, etc.
But personally, I' m often shooting for capturing good instruments "accurately", I try to keep from getting carried away with "distorting" the heck out of everything. Been there, done that, don't like it.
The 550As "distort" but in a generally "transparent" manner... if that makes any sense. They're obvious, but stealthy. (Holy contradiction, Batman!) Well, you know what I mean.... they add an analog thickness in a very polite manner. By comparison, a cranked up 1073 or highly colored tube thing will really "alter" the end result.... for better of for worse.
The newer 550As are a bit cleaner than the hand-wired ones. If you want the hand-wired ones now, you need to get the Saul Walker Editions... either that or scour the used market. These things are truly magical.
Handwired 550As DO "compress" the signal, I actually use them as subtle "compressors" (even though they are EQs)... as long as they are switched inline, they will add their glorious coloration and compression, you need not be cutting or boosting any frequencies. But, one click of 50Hz shelf boost and/or one click of 12.5k shelf boost can really help open things up in some cases (and a click of 400Hz cut can remove just the right amount of unwanted boxiness). This eq can do all these things at the same time if need be... very "musically "designed. Can't have enough of these puppies around. |