Millennia Origin transformer-how does it sound?

[sctt_stone]

I read that the transformer in the Origin is based on neve transformers. Have any of you used this option and does it sound like neve stuff at all? I ask because I know that Millennia prides itself on a clean signal path and I am curious to know if this is a truly different tone from the Hv-3c and capable of getting dirty like neve pres or their clones,
Great river, Vintech etc...

[NathanEldred]

The transformer may be based on a St.Ives (not sure), but that doesn't make it close to Neve even remotely in it's characteristics. It's got a coloration, but it's subtle, and unlike the Neve stuff, it's very difficult to saturate the transformer in the Origin. The Millennia is never capable of outright and obvious high levels of harmonic distortion. Even with the transformer input in, and the tube path in, I would call it euphonic more than gritty...but it is more colored than the straight up HV3 circuit when tube/transformer is on. It's a GREAT sound (I've had two Origins with Telefunken tubes permanently in the rack for about 5 years now), but just don't expect a Neve (or an EMI TG, or a Telefunken V72, etc, etc).

[Mike H]

What Nathan said, as always. thumbsup

Nothing ever heavy-handed with the Origins, all the options are subtle but clearly different colorations. Versus say a Neve 1084, very different. The transformers are the Neve, while the Origin transformers just give you another nice option.

[sctt_stone]

Thanks
It sounds like the Origin can cover all of the clean options. I do by the way love the sound of the HV-3C. Do you know if it would be possible to bypass the millennia comp
and insert a 1176. Or to insert the eq from the Origin into a 6176?
Thanks again.
Scott

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Thanks
It sounds like the Origin can cover all of the clean options. I do by the way love the sound of the HV-3C. Do you know if it would be possible to bypass the millennia comp
and insert a 1176. Or to insert the eq from the Origin into a 6176?
Thanks again.
Scott

You have the option to select:
- Mic, Line or Instrument input (all separate connections)
- Tube or solid state preamp
- Input transformer in or out of service
- EQ in or out of service
- Tube or solid state EQ
- Compressor/limiter in or out of service
- Compressor/limiter or de-esser
- EQ pre or post compressor.

So you can:
(1) Run to Line In, take the compressor out of service, and then run the output into an 1176.
(2) For using the EQ, you'll still need to run into the Line In, with EQ in service and compressor out of service.

You can see the block diagram on page 17 of the manual:
http://www.mil-media.com/pdf/origin-manual.pdf

[Bdiggy]

Big fan here. No neve mojo but def. some clr. thumbsup and much choices and paths on the STT-1.

Stellar IMHO... me likey still after 8 years.

[cloudy house]

did a whole record using the origin for vox with a U87...male, female, rap...check my links if ya wanna hear
<><
mark

[Traxx]

The origin is an all around great piece...It actually sounds fatter than what i thought it would sound like..It has a fat, but still clean sound. Its definitely a great piece that you cannot go wrong with. You can have the best of both worlds, clean and fat or extremely accurate to the source if thats what you want..Its a great piece period..

[sctt_stone]

Is it suited for mixing as well,in pairs?

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Is it suited for mixing as well,in pairs?

When I was using a pair of Folcroms for summing, I used a mastering pair of Origins after the Folcroms. Worked great.