anthony demaria labs

[Robert Randolph]

Any experience or opinion on the ADL stuff? I cant say I've heard of it but it looks very very interesting.

[Berolzheimer]

I use the ADL 1000 fairly often, it's nice though not perfect....it has nice tone overall but on vocals I find it to be very sibilant. Good sounding gain though.
The tube DI is nice too.

[paterno]

There have been a few discussions in the past about the ADL compressors, you may want to try a search. I think they are cool...

John

[lowswing]

I have the ADL1000 and i use it a lot, doesn't fit for everything though... i had even cases where the vocals really sound thin through it but for many thing is great, i use it a lot for the tube sound, minimal gain reduction but a lot of make up gain.
the only big downer is that i find the knobs are caliberated strangly some time i just move it a milimeter and the gain reduction jump from -2db to -10db...

[Fletcher]

I have found the ADL to sound really wooly and grainy... and while I wouldn't use it in 95% of the applications I would use a compressor I have found them to be quite good for pedal steel, slow guitar solos, and in parallel applications on backing vocal groups [especially when going for like the Mutt Lange "air" thing on the backing vocals]

Best of luck with your search

[beechstudio]

LOVE my ADL 1000! Like the other guys said....its not first choice for everything as it does have its own sound. I dig the air on the top end!

Anthony is a very nice fellow as well!

[Silver Sonya]

The ADL line is a key tool in the arsenal of the Mitchell Froom / Tchad Blake / Husky Huskolds / John Paterno posse. If you're a fan of their work, as I am, that might mean something to you.

I owned an ADL 1500 which I sold and now regret selling.

Cheers,

Chad

[Robert Randolph]

hummm interesting scenario... someone just offered me 2 of their adl units... hum

[Tom VDH]

Hi,

I've just finished a session with a band, we used a Fearn VT2 chained with an ADL 1500 and a Distressor...the band and myslf couldn't tell enough good things about the sound on tape... lots of air, clarity, and silk. I also use the tube DI, both are must-haves. You won't do everything with an ADL 1500, but it's defenetely a great compressor!

Best,

Tom VDH

[lowswing]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

The ADL line is a key tool in the arsenal of the Mitchell Froom / Tchad Blake / Husky Huskolds / John Paterno posse. If you're a fan of their work, as I am, that might mean something to you.

Cheers,

Chad

Husky Huskolds' chain for Solomon Burke voice on "don't give up on me" is also my favorite for soul voices U67 (or 87)-> 1073(i use also cadac g268 often)->ADL1500

[shikawkee]

Anthony's a good guy who works hard to make
improvements in his line.

[max cooper]

I sent ADL an email asking a few questions about the 1000 when I was compressor shopping last year, and Anthony immediately answered the questions and offered to send a demo unit; we'd never met or spoken before that. He seems like very good people.

[Tom VDH]

...and yes, besides designing great gear, he's a great guy!

Tom VDH

[thethrillfactor]

The ADL 1000 is nice as long as you don't push it too hard.

I like it best on synth bass(especially the low sine wavy type-sub bass).

Works really well along with the Distressor at articulating the notes.

[Waylon]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

The ADL 1000 is nice as long as you don't push it too hard.

I like it best on synth bass(especially the low sine wavy type-sub bass).

Works really well along with the Distressor at articulating the notes.

interesting.. the only 2 I have used have not had any problem beign driven, but they have both been modded, replacing the input and output trannys with a pair form an LA2A.. I wonder if that is where the problem you are describing lies?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Waylon

interesting.. the only 2 I have used have not had any problem beign driven, but they have both been modded, replacing the input and output trannys with a pair form an LA2A.. I wonder if that is where the problem you are describing lies?

Yeah to me they always felt they didn't have that much headroom.

I just could never really use them with vocals.

Instead i would use its competition the old TLA-100.

The problem with the TLA-100 was the noise.

The best compromise of them all was the CL1-B.


I just "kiss it" lightly with whatever sound i am compressing(ADL 1000).

[Berolzheimer]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

The ADL 1000 is nice as long as you don't push it too hard.

I like it best on synth bass(especially the low sine wavy type-sub bass).

Works really well along with the Distressor at articulating the notes.

Funny, I like it best when it is being pushed a bit. Well, maybe we mean something different- I like it best when it's gain control gets up over 2:00 or so, so it's doing the pushing, I guess. I was just thinking yesterday I need to pad down my 192's inputs so I can crank the 1000's gain more. Shit, I hate where Digi put the trims on the 192; but that's a subject for another thread.

[beechstudio]

Originally Posted by Berolzheimer

Funny, I like it best when it is being pushed a bit. Well, maybe we mean something different- I like it best when it's gain control gets up over 2:00 or so, so it's doing the pushing, I guess. I was just thinking yesterday I need to pad down my 192's inputs so I can crank the 1000's gain more. Shit, I hate where Digi put the trims on the 192; but that's a subject for another thread.

I agree..........My 1000 seems to just come alive when its pushed!

[jho]

ADL 1000 - I like it, gets used quite a bit. It's just got so much gain you can't give it much...mine never gets much past 9 or 10 o'clock on the gain knob. Heck it can be used as a Mic Pre it has so much gain! Try it on bottom snare, etc.

I agree sounds great on hip hop bass, I also like it on snare, electric bass and vocals. It is nice and grainy. It was a good buy for me too I think I paid under $1K.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by jho

It was a good buy for me too I think I paid under $1K.

Used its around $700.

[jho]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Used its around $700.

Yeah I paid like 900 something for a new one. It was worth it!

[Punkiepie]

Hi
I have an ADL 1500 compressor.
The meter lamps are not working.
Any idea what bulbs I need to replace them and how tricky it might be?
Thanks in advance!

[Musiclab]

I owned an a pair of ADL 1000's for years, they thin things out, which is why they have a reputation for being harsh. I would use them on things that I wanted to thin out like thick background vocals, I always liked the way the compressor behaved but not the thinning out, which is why I sold them.
I own an ADL 600 which does not do that, it sounds great

[Omega Arts]

Call Anthony for parts, he'll take care of you.
I've got 2 1500's and have different tubes in each side so I have 4 slightly different sounds. I also have mono and stereo tube direct boxes.
Seems to me the Sovtex LPS 12ax7 makes the unit a little thicker and the NOS Mullards clean it up a bit.

When I can I'll be adding the new mic pre for sure.
Great guy and great company!
Larry

[bdmctear]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

I owned an a pair of ADL 1000's for years, they thin things out, which is why they have a reputation for being harsh. I would use them on things that I wanted to thin out like thick background vocals, I always liked the way the compressor behaved but not the thinning out, which is why I sold them.
I own an ADL 600 which does not do that, it sounds great

I wish I had told Lou when he was buying my old MTA EQs that I'd be using the money to buy an ADL-1000. I couldn't agree more with the above. I could have used the advice. Had it for less than a month. I thought it was supposed to be an LA-2A clone.... woops.

[Silvertone]

Anthony is a great guy who stands behind his product. In fact I bet if you asked him how he could improve the unit he would tell you himself. It's not cost effective for him to be hunting down old (or NOS) Peerless or UTC transformers and putting them in his units. But if you find them and want him to put them in I bet he would.

Also I think that now he's building the Fairchild remake he could probably come up with better trannies for the 1500 but then it wouldn't really be a 1500 now would it.

Talk to him if you own a unit and want something done. He's a gear nut just like the rest of us and would probably talk your ear off if you call him.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by Silvertone

Anthony is a great guy who stands behind his product. In fact I bet if you asked him how he could improve the unit he would tell you himself. It's not cost effective for him to be hunting down old (or NOS) Peerless or UTC transformers and putting them in his units. But if you find them and want him to put them in I bet he would.

Also I think that now he's building the Fairchild remake he could probably come up with better trannies for the 1500 but then it wouldn't really be a 1500 now would it.

Talk to him if you own a unit and want something done. He's a gear nut just like the rest of us and would probably talk your ear off if you call him.

a tech friend of mine told me the trannies are a big part of what's wrong with the 1000.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Silvertone

Anthony is a great guy who stands behind his product.
Talk to him if you own a unit and want something done. He's a gear nut just like the rest of us and would probably talk your ear off if you call him.

great guy!!!

Originally Posted by Musiclab

a tech friend of mine told me the trannies are a big part of what's wrong with the 1000.

he told me that trannies were part of the sound he wanted.
so it may be be that theirs anything wrong, it is the sound was wanting in a market that has plenty to offer.
i have yet to get any but still have hopes of getting one of his units in the future.
the 500 format is keeping me broke at the moment : )~

[druhms]

The ADL stuff is good, but only works on certain things. I'm glad Fletcher chimed in with the steel gtr comment. I use it on every steel track I do....that's not many though.
Druhms

[Upfront2K]

I have the ADL1500 Stereo C/L

Last year one of the channels began to give me problems. I called Anthony left a message and he got right back to me. I explained the problem and he instructed me to send it in to him which I did. He got it back to me in what was less than a week. When I got the unit back in my studio and fire it up I was immediately struck by the improvement in the sound quality. I was like damn what the hell did he do to this thing. I sent Anthony an e-mail and ask him in just that fashion "What the Hell did you do to the machine lol". He called and explained he replace the opto units and the tubes of course and made some additional improvements he saw the unit needed. I believe one was to the power supply but I'm not sure. Suffice to say man I love the machine. It's so much warmer and just has a creaminess that it didn't have before and I'm not talking suttle. I'm so happy I sent it back to Anthony and I have nothing but praise for the man.

Just my 2 cents I thought I'd share