Hand crafted labs products

[C.Lambrechts]

on topic please ... thanks

[worm]

edit: mod power!

thats got to be a record

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by C.Lambrechts

on topic please ... thanks

I don't understand why you deleted my post in response to copiapoa's post. Mine was strictly on topic, contained no personal attacks, and was directly in response to what he/she posted. Seems like you just orbitrarily deleted every post after an inflamatory post by Lloyd without reading mine.

[flute player]

Thanks mod. I was planning to write you anyway
R.E.S.P.E.C.T is the word here

paul

[HandCrafted Lab]

Well, we welcome new GS member filltrate, Hi, Oscarthumbsup from LA and demonstrate some pics from manufacturing process of his leveller Solution s2
XXL pic

[filltrate]

thanks for the welcome HCL.

[Andrew Kinsey]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

But I`m guitar player&keyboardist ...thumbsup



Ye, of course. We agree with many things about consumers point of view,though as a developers we can guarantee safety of devices due to many,many tests around o`clock in our laboratory/studio and in studios of our old/oldest clients during line of years. They not had flammable cases never. Therefore we placed this big pictures without any doubt,as usually. Meanwhile,other devices was performed by other type of wire,and has more clear wiring due to it.I.e it was wrong to say,that we ignore clear wiring...no, of course. But we perform devices with reasonable fanatism concerning of it, considering sounding as main task yet...and how you can see at these pics -

http: // www.papa-movie.com/Di-Box_Top_2_2048.jpg

http: // www.papa-movie.com/VF_top_1843.jpg

(and others, see above post #13)


we can perform wiring clear enough.But it`s consumers point of view yet - and we not debate with it, certainly. It mean to debate with own success.

Meanwhile we perform now summator for flute player, and this device will be performed without PCB(only for VU-meters circiut and PSU) 3U rack summator+2U separate PSU I.e point to point at the metal chassis,with ceramic tube sockets,with aluminium cap at the tubes. I hope, wiring in this summator will pleasure from all points of view....for us how developers,and for consumers also,of course. And gift for flute player. Including sounding,naturally.

And for mrbowes, which ordered just now leveller. Device will performed at the 3mm thick PCB(how usually,btw not each manufacturer apply PCBs of such quality) It will BLACK PCB evidently. It`s sexy enough

As usually, big pics of these devices we shall place at the our web-site soon, I think during 2-4 weeks.




Ye thanx, He-he...We join!!

I haven't got any experience using any of the HCL products however i will say that the wiring on those pictures doesn't look too bad.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kinsey

I haven't got any experience using any of the HCL products however i will say that the wiring on those pictures doesn't look too bad.

Agreed, that looks MUCH better. Call it the power of the consumer / marketplace.....



Looks nice HCL, I will be hitting you up for a unit at some point.

[filltrate]

just to let you all know. im new to this site but not new to this game we like to call the music industry(ive been engineering professionally for about 11years now). one day while checking ebay for some gear (compressors in particular) i happen to see a stereo tube compressor from a company i have NEVER hear of(HCL of Ukraine?) I checked out there web site, granted i was confused (due to the broken english)cuz if you try to read whats on there your brain shuts off i paid it no mind and just put the item on my watch list to see if any would bid on it or buy it.
Few weeks went buy i was still looking for compressors and almost bought a UA 1176-2 (stereo 1176)from West LA Music but wanted to hold out cuz of its price. The whole time I'm still checking ebay and kept running into the S-2 Solutions from HCL. i check the web site again...brain froze so instead of trying to read the site i just browsed it, saw the pic's, heard the demos and was intreaged and for the price i thought "**** IT" i like poker and i saw this as catching a flush draw on the flop and pushing allin, i decided to buy it. now heres the gamble, i had to wire them the money and was told that it would take 3 weeks to build and then another week or two to ship this was 2 weeks and 3 days ago, and durring these past 2 weeks HCL has been in constent contact (via email) and sending me pic's(of the comp. they are building me) and updated reports of new products they are working on so all i can say for now is, so far so good i like my odds, i think ima catch this flush on the river and win a big pot i'll let you cats know what i think of these compressor when and IF i get them..i still have 2 and a half weeks till i even hear these im not really worried about not getting them, im more worried about the sound and longevity of the product though im being reasured that they will arrive intact and will last years before anything might go wrong with them. but with 2 weeks of shipping you never know......

[joh]

From my point of view, Albert did a really good job with my solution and my affinity, really nice and good sounding gear, and all the process from ordering till delivery was very personal and helpful (ok, moneytransfer is a little complicated to ukraine) but finally I´m a happy HCL customer and will buy some more gear when I need it.

[HandCrafted Lab]

Well, thanx Oscar and Joh ( I can not guess who are you? ) for kind wordsthumbsup

so...manufacturing continue, next updates

XXL pic 1 XXL pic 2

[filltrate]

Albert the pics look great Oh Boy !!! I cant wait to hear these bad boys !

[retractablezing]

can anyone describe the preamp and the compressor sonically?

i'm sure these sound great, but i have no idea about the character or what to expect in terms of sonic fingerprint...

i didn't find the samples helpful at all..

can anyone draw some comparisons with some well known gear?

[HandCrafted Lab]

Thanx, but you visited our web-site? There many links 1,2,3 etc with links and commets, and audioreviews are presented on our site, and User List with replies (songs even) some customers also.

OK, I simplify task a bit here - our old independent tester from Berlin for ex. -

Hand Crafted Lab Tube micamp and compressor, Blind test against 1176,v72,ADL and more

further dig from our site thumbsup

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

Thanx, but you visited our web-site? There many links 1,2,3 etc with links and commets, and audioreviews are presented on our site, and User List with replies (songs even) some customers also.

OK, I simplify task a bit here - our old independent tester from Berlin for ex. -

Hand Crafted Lab Tube micamp and compressor, Blind test against 1176,v72,ADL and more

further dig from our site thumbsup

Hello there! thanks for that. however, sound samples don't do much for me, sorry

I've read the reviews, none of them really talks about the tone or compares it to other gear, safe for TLAudio or M-audio, which isn't much to compare with at all.

I'dd be interested in knowing how the preamp fares against something like a V76, or Chandler gear, etc.

The compressor seems like an LA2A clone, right?

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

Hello there! thanks for that. however, sound samples don't do much for me, sorry

I've read the reviews, none of them really talks about the tone or compares it to other gear, safe for TLAudio or M-audio, which isn't much to compare with at all.

I'dd be interested in knowing how the preamp fares against something like a V76, or Chandler gear, etc.

Talking about music is like dancing about painting. I don't own a lot of gear and the only thing I can compare the HCL Affinity (the pre) to is my Manley Mono Pre. To my inexperienced ears the Affinity sounds more open. It has kinda the same fullness as the Manley but also retains more of the high-end. The vocals come out "mix-ready" - virtually no eq needed. My bass player said that bass sounded smoother through the Affinity than through the Manley direct input. I haven't exeprimented much with the Affinity. I kinda found the setting I liked (Input maxed out, Output - so it wouldn't clip) and stuck with it for all my recordings so far. I'm sure there are other sounds available throughout the whole Input dial. That's for vocals. For bass (direct) I turn down the output on the bass and turn the input up on the Affinity just about half way on the dial (11 o'clock). I use the bass in the passive mode. Harmonics galore.

Originally Posted by retractablezing

The compressor seems like an LA2A clone, right?

I don't think HCL gear can be considered clones. I may be wrong, but as far as I know, HCL may borrow from vintage designs but in the end comes up with entirely new devices. Their gear may have certain vintage character but the technological solutions are all HCL and are meant for modern studio.

[retractablezing]

Sorry bout that, didn't mean to imply it was a clone, guess i didn't really think about it when i typed.

Thanks for the comparison btw, that surelly helps. You mention more sounds, how is it breaking up a bit?

60db of gain correct? This might not be enough sadly..

[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

I've read the reviews, none of them really talks about the tone or compares it to other gear, safe for TLAudio or M-audio, which isn't much to compare with at all.

but.... ye, you are right

I'dd be interested in knowing how the preamp fares against something like a V76, or Chandler gear, etc.

but 2 in this post Hand Crafted Lab Tube micamp and compressor, Blind test against 1176,v72,ADL and more comparison between
A= v676a
B= V72
C= Cadac
D= HCL

The compressor seems like an LA2A clone, right?

Originally Posted by azzzy

I don't think HCL gear can be considered clones. I may be wrong, but as far as I know, HCL may borrow from vintage designs but in the end comes up with entirely new devices. Their gear may have certain vintage character but the technological solutions are all HCL and are meant for modern studio.

Ye, we borrow best ideas,on our opinion, though all tricks in tube circuits was invented on next day after inventing of tube, if told with joke. New implementation of classical ideas can be performed and improved with count of long investigations(which we inherited from soviet military complex alsostike stike ) during long tube age and design can be bedecked by some modern elements

And now next updating of manufacturing process the leveller for filltrate

XXL pic 1 XXL pic 2

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

but.... ye, you are right



but 2 in this post Hand Crafted Lab Tube micamp and compressor, Blind test against 1176,v72,ADL and more comparison between
A= v676a
B= V72
C= Cadac
D= HCL





Ye, we borrow best ideas,on our opinion, though all tricks in tube circuits was invented on next day after inventing of tube, if told with joke. New implementation of classical ideas can be performed and improved with count of long investigations(which we inherited from soviet military complex alsostike stike ) during long tube age and design can be bedecked by some modern elements

And now next updating of manufacturing process the leveller for filltrate

XXL pic 1 XXL pic 2

Ups, sorry, i checked that thread a while ago but the files were not working

Can i get a confirmation on the gain thing? Is it really only 60db?

[HandCrafted Lab]

I checked files just now again.....files are downloadable

Ye, 60dB is real. Why it can be problem? Pre has 3 stages, with gain up ~20dB in each, it`s classical level

[filltrate]

Albert, the compressor looks amazing !!!! looks like a tank ready for battle

When i get the S2 i will compare it to several other compressors (i.e. Distressor, 1176, 33609, LA2A ect..) as i have frequent access to these. i will also be showing it to other engineers and getting their reactions. I'll let you all know what's really what..

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by HandCrafted Lab

I checked files just now again.....files are downloadable

Ye, 60dB is real. Why it can be problem? Pre has 3 stages, with gain up ~20dB in each, it`s classical level

Yes, now they are a few weeks ago they were down.

60dBs is not enough for some of the work i have to do, quiet sources with ribbon mics. I would have to compress on the way in, which is something i'm not very fond of.

It's a shame, because your products look real good - inside and outside!

[azzzy]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

Sorry bout that, didn't mean to imply it was a clone, guess i didn't really think about it when i typed.

Oh, no need to apologize. Firstly, I don't work for HCL, and secondly, I don't think there is anything wrong with making clones. I just don't think HCL is making clones since a lot of their technology is based on proprietary Soviet high-tech stuff not available in the West up till now.

Originally Posted by retractablezing

Thanks for the comparison btw, that surelly helps. You mention more sounds, how is it breaking up a bit?

Well, I wouldn't say it's breaking up. It just sounds brighter and more open as the input knob goes up. All that without losing the depth and low end. All I can say is that to my ears the higher the input the better it sounds.

Originally Posted by retractablezing

60db of gain correct? This might not be enough sadly..

I use tube mics for everything, so if anything I get too much gain. I actually dial the preamps on my Aardvark -14 db so I can turn up the Affinity. However if you use low output mics, I think HCL can make a mod with a higher gain. There is a guy here on GS who had it made with extra 20 db gain. For a price HCL can make literally anything.

[worm]

I really wish I had insisted on that +20db upgrade on my leveler

my only mic being a ribbon.

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by azzzy

Oh, no need to apologize. Firstly, I don't work for HCL, and secondly, I don't think there is anything wrong with making clones. I just don't think HCL is making clones since a lot of their technology is based on proprietary Soviet high-tech stuff not available in the West up till now.



Well, I wouldn't say it's breaking up. It just sounds brighter and more open as the input knob goes up. All that without losing the depth and low end. All I can say is that to my ears the higher the input the better it sounds.



I use tube mics for everything, so if anything I get too much gain. I actually dial the preamps on my Aardvark -14 db so I can turn up the Affinity. However if you use low output mics, I think HCL can make a mod with a higher gain. There is a guy here on GS who had it made with extra 20 db gain. For a price HCL can make literally anything.

I meant if you ever had it breaking up a bit, and if so how did it sound..

My wild guess is that the HCL fella won't be able to bring the gain to 70 something dBs, cause that would mean major component swaps, especially on the transformer side of things.

[retractablezing]

I listened to those clips.

To my ears, the V's sound fast and big. The HCL compressor sounds great, i don't hear anything i don't like there, honestly.

I must admit that the preamp did impress me less. Not as noticable on vocals (where it sounded really good, a tad more present and bigger than the V's in a good way), but i think it had a hard time recovering from the transient response on the acoustic guitar, where the V's really excelled. Almost like a weird phasey sustain thing going on..

Anyone else hearing this?

I suppose it's cause it's a valve based pre, so it's kind of bound to be less quick on recovery.

The compressor sounds absolutely great though.

[filltrate]

Originally Posted by worm

I really wish I had insisted on that +20db upgrade on my leveler

my only mic being a ribbon.

If you need a mic pre w/ lots of gain try a Siemens V78 if in not mistaken they have 72db of gain great for ribbon mics i own a pair and i usually run old RCA ribbon mics thru them

[The MPCist]

Can you add pricing on the Handcraft website? It would help a bit to see how much they cost along with the other specs already on there.

Just an idea.

[frans]

I had my affinity preamp made with some additional gain - at the flip of a switch it is ready for my ribbons. Ask Albert/HCL, he will mod everything you want - besides the "bad drummer killswitch" he refused...sigh... so I have to do that myself.

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by The MPCist

Can you add pricing on the Handcraft website? It would help a bit to see how much they cost along with the other specs already on there.

Just an idea.

That would seriously screw any chance of people going around (as much as possible) their local customs offices.