Any recent feedback on LA-610 Signature Edition?

[rajprods]

I used the search function, but didn't find any recent posts about this unit. I'm looking for what people call that smooth and silky sound to use when tracking R&B/Pop female or male vocals and/or to use during mixing on vocals. I've heard numerous opinions that the LA-2A or Tube Tech CL 1B are the best, but I'm looking for another option that is not so expensive.

I called Universal Audio, and I understand that the LA-610 Signature Edition has the same opto cell as the LA-2A. It has the same compressor characteristics, however, the circuitry is different, so it's not the same as the LA-2A and it doesn't sound exactly the same but it's close.... they said it's not like a night and day difference.

I haven't heard an original LA-2A or reissue, so I don't have a reference point of knowing how different the compressor in the LA610 is compared to the LA-2A. Has anyone had any recent experience with the LA-610 Signature Edition or even the regular LA-610 who have also used a LA-2A? If so, is the sound and characteristics of the compressor close are completely different? I may be able to get a good deal on a LA-610 Signature Edition, so I'm wondering if it's worth it or should I go for something else? What other tube compressor would you recommend? Thanks.

[Yankee Doodle]

What are you recording on? DAW? What microphone?

Female vocals? If so what type of sound are you going for? Early Mariah? Aviral Lavigne, etc.?

Lot's of factors play a part in making a recommendation.

Best.

Herr Wasserman

[rajprods]

Recording into DAW via Peluso VTB microphone and Avedis Audio MA5 preamp.... Looking for a smooth sound that's more R&B than Pop.... or a mixture. I wouldn't say airy like early Mariah, but more of a thicker sound like Alicia Keys.

Originally Posted by Yankee Doodle

What are you recording on? DAW? What microphone?

Female vocals? If so what type of sound are you going for? Early Mariah? Aviral Lavigne, etc.?

Lot's of factors play a part in making a recommendation.

Best.

Herr Wasserman

[la grange]

awesome piece of gear that finds its place during every session I have done in the past year.

Oli

[rajprods]

Originally Posted by la grange

awesome piece of gear that finds its place during every session I have done in the past year.

Oli

Thanks!

[rajprods]

Anymore feedback?

Originally Posted by rajprods

I used the search function, but didn't find any recent posts about this unit. I'm looking for what people call that smooth and silky sound to use when tracking R&B/Pop female or male vocals and/or to use during mixing on vocals. I've heard numerous opinions that the LA-2A or Tube Tech CL 1B are the best, but I'm looking for another option that is not so expensive.

I called Universal Audio, and I understand that the LA-610 Signature Edition has the same opto cell as the LA-2A. It has the same compressor characteristics, however, the circuitry is different, so it's not the same as the LA-2A and it doesn't sound exactly the same but it's close.... they said it's not like a night and day difference.

I haven't heard an original LA-2A or reissue, so I don't have a reference point of knowing how different the compressor in the LA610 is compared to the LA-2A. Has anyone had any recent experience with the LA-610 Signature Edition or even the regular LA-610 who have also used a LA-2A? If so, is the sound and characteristics of the compressor close are completely different? I may be able to get a good deal on a LA-610 Signature Edition, so I'm wondering if it's worth it or should I go for something else? What other tube compressor would you recommend? Thanks.

[Jorg]

I own a LA-610 Signature Edition and I think it sounds great.
You hear a lot of people complain about the dark sound of a 610 however the Signature is nothing like that.
I've been recording about 90% of my vocals with it for about 6 months now.

[rajprods]

Do you find that the compressor is very good? As good as other compressors in the $1,000 to $2,000 price range?

Originally Posted by Jorg

I own a LA-610 Signature Edition and I think it sounds great.
You hear a lot of people complain about the dark sound of a 610 however the Signature is nothing like that.
I've been recording about 90% of my vocals with it for about 6 months now.

[rajprods]

Still looking for feedback on the compressor.....

Originally Posted by rajprods

I used the search function, but didn't find any recent posts about this unit. I'm looking for what people call that smooth and silky sound to use when tracking R&B/Pop female or male vocals and/or to use during mixing on vocals. I've heard numerous opinions that the LA-2A or Tube Tech CL 1B are the best, but I'm looking for another option that is not so expensive.

I called Universal Audio, and I understand that the LA-610 Signature Edition has the same opto cell as the LA-2A. It has the same compressor characteristics, however, the circuitry is different, so it's not the same as the LA-2A and it doesn't sound exactly the same but it's close.... they said it's not like a night and day difference.

I haven't heard an original LA-2A or reissue, so I don't have a reference point of knowing how different the compressor in the LA610 is compared to the LA-2A. Has anyone had any recent experience with the LA-610 Signature Edition or even the regular LA-610 who have also used a LA-2A? If so, is the sound and characteristics of the compressor close are completely different? I may be able to get a good deal on a LA-610 Signature Edition, so I'm wondering if it's worth it or should I go for something else? What other tube compressor would you recommend? Thanks.

[statixx]

i track hip hop vox on it.... and i love it....Alot of people on here will say it sounds too dark .....Gets muddy when layering....Not very great head room......Iono......I think its all crap...For vocals....The 610 can be very in your face and the compressor is nice once you get the feel for it......Very smooth compressor in my opinion..Although you will have to watch the head room a little bit......Its a very useable strip and you wont be dissapointed......Wit vox I find it sounds best with the preamp low.....Around like 3 ....compressor around 3 ....the gain around 6 or 7 .... im no pro....but it sounds like an amazing unit too me ....i use mine everyday .... if you get one....try a sm7 wit it....sounds very musical.... gotta crank the pre on that mic tho! ....hope this helps ....LA 610 is a good unit . Btw its a T4 optical compressor.....Isnt that the same one in the la 2a? Sounds like money too me.

[rajprods]

Thanks for the info. It's my understanding that the LA-610 and the LA-2A have the same opto cell, but the circuitry is different than the LA-2A, which makes it sound and operate differently. That's what I'm trying to get more info on.

Originally Posted by statixx

i track hip hop vox on it.... and i love it....Alot of people on here will say it sounds too dark .....Gets muddy when layering....Not very great head room......Iono......I think its all crap...For vocals....The 610 can be very in your face and the compressor is nice once you get the feel for it......Very smooth compressor in my opinion..Although you will have to watch the head room a little bit......Its a very useable strip and you wont be dissapointed......Wit vox I find it sounds best with the preamp low.....Around like 3 ....compressor around 3 ....the gain around 6 or 7 .... im no pro....but it sounds like an amazing unit too me ....i use mine everyday .... if you get one....try a sm7 wit it....sounds very musical.... gotta crank the pre on that mic tho! ....hope this helps ....LA 610 is a good unit . Btw its a T4 optical compressor.....Isnt that the same one in the la 2a? Sounds like money too me.

[SergioS]

Another satisfied la 610 SE owner here. Excellent for bass DI btw.

[Jorg]

How many of us is there?
I mean how many of these units were made?

[Emi]

I have the LA610 (the first one) and had it side by side with the LA-2A (reissue), the only difference I heard is the LA-2A is just a lil more silky and a lil bit slower than the T4 on the LA610

I love the unit! use it every day on vocals and love on bass too

[rajprods]

According to UA's site, 500 were made worldwide:

Universal Audio | LA-610SE

Originally Posted by Jorg

How many of us is there?
I mean how many of these units were made?

[rajprods]

It doesn't sound like it's that much of a difference.... Thanks!

Originally Posted by Emi

I have the LA610 (the first one) and had it side by side with the LA-2A (reissue), the only difference I heard is the LA-2A is just a lil more silky and a lil bit slower than the T4 on the LA610

I love the unit! use it every day on vocals and love on bass too

[popmann]

Well, I don't have a SE...I have the original. But, you're asking about two different things that deserve different answers, IMO.

The pre...can just be great. I use it on all my dynamics for amps...bass DI...vocals. I do have it loaded with NOS tubes, like the SE comes with stock, FWIW.

Then you want to know about the compressor compared to a LA2a. I've never used a reissue 2a--only the orignals. I've had one here and run tracks through both. At moderate and light settings they're damn near identical--at least as close as my vintage 3a and the reissue 3a. Always a bit more furry mojo in the old ones-for better or worse. BUT...if you're crushing the piss out of a vocal or bass track, the old La2a imparts this gorgeous airy sheen where the new one just sounds more squashed.

Another note on the comp...I've never had as much luck getting good tone going through it tracking when also using the 610 preamp. There's something different about the line input. I could use the Great River Me1nv as preamp...feed that into the LA610s line in, and it worked great. Using it for more than a touch of limiting with the 610 pre starts sounding smaller--the exact opposite of what happens on the line input. I can even take a 610 preamp track...feed it back out at line level and get a great comp sound. Not sure what it is about the gain staging I'm missing doing it all in the unit--but, I think this explains why so many report it being so terribly different than the 2a.

I love mine. Nothing touch it in terms of value, IMO. If you're asking is it as nice as say a Great River with an old La2a? No. It also doesn't cost $4k, so that's not really a fair question to ask. You know?

[popmann]

Although, I do want to point out that I sold the Great River. It was magical with some mics...not so much with others. The La610 is much more predictable that way...it sounds like your mic always has, but sort of softer.

IMO, for vocals, you need tubes. When I get to use a nice 67/269 or Innertube or Korby, I'm pulling out my Millenia for the pre...when I use my Um70s or Sm7 or 414eb-La610 all the way. If you have an old 2a at your disposal, I'd not go with a tube preamp. Unless you just want a super soft, old sound. Which would likely be better achieved with a ribbon anyway.

If money permitted, I'd have the GR back in a heartbeat. When it shines...it really shines.

[Mils]

I am waiting for my SE to come in any day now, and along with it I get 2 UAD plug in PCI cards as a promotion! Very sweet deal, and I've owned the OG 610, and liked it but had to sell it just because I overspent on my upgrading and well, my better looking half said....Take that back! Get rid of it! So I reluctantly did....

I'm actually glad because this new one seems like they've done a bit of work on the unit to improve it, and possible allow for a cleaner, more headroom sound. But most of all, just "that" UA LA-610 Sound!

I like to stand out and use it for R&B, and Hip hop even though I could have had an Avalon 737 which is the standard for that genre, I want my sound to be different and I know once I master my 610 SE, I will have "My own sound" and clients and my artists will dig it....I always bounced back n forth from the 737 to the 610 on my second last album and it came out nice, I cant even remember which songs I used what on!

So now I am just patiently waiting for my dealer to give me a call and say IT'S IN!!

[tapehiss]

i was wondering this as well.

is it any different than the mkII???

i know the SE uses cinemags, but don't all of the la-610's use cinemags?

[la grange]

Originally Posted by tapehiss

i was wondering this as well.

is it any different than the mkII???

i know the SE uses cinemags, but don't all of the la-610's use cinemags?

When I bought mine, there was no such thing as a MkII. and I have never been able to see the guts of the unit but there is a huge difference with MkI, that I know.
I think that the MKII has cinemag but I think the tubes are different from what I was told anyway, but you might want to get that confirmed anyway.

Oli

[paul999]

I have the La-610 and La2a reissue. They are not night and day. Emi pretty well nailed it in his post. I use them both on every session. Smooth is the word I would use to describe these.