UA LA-610 Compressor Compared to Distressor

[barryjohns]

I have a UA LA-610 and a UA Solo 610. What I'd like to know is how does the compressor section of my LA-610 compare to a Distressor?

Would the results from using my Solo 610 with a Distressor, be a huge difference?

Now for the sake of discussion, this is only about the compressor section and not the Mic Preamp part of the LA-610. I know there are many view's good, bad, and indifferent regarding mic pre-amps.

Let me know what you think, if you have experience with both.

[XHipHop]

Yeah, a night and day difference considering one has basically 2 settings and the other has...well...much more than 2.

[barryjohns]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Yeah, a night and day difference considering one has basically 2 settings and the other has...well...much more than 2.

Now come on. how many knobs does an LA2A have?

I know you're trying to help, but have you used both? From what I gather, the compressor on the LA-610 is based on components in the LA2A.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by barryjohns

Now come on. how many knobs does an LA2A have?

I know you're trying to help, but have you used both? From what I gather, the compressor on the LA-610 is based on components in the LA2A.

I'm not sure how you came to this response. And i've used both at least 50 times each.

[Aearth]

As X HipHp said.
Day and Night


Nic

[popmann]

I HAVE used both...as well as a lot of others.

It's night and day. However...it's not what I'd call "better" for a given situation. The Distressor is a flexible dynamics controller. A leveling amp is NOT--be it LA610, La2a, La3a, PRoVLA...whatever--what it's capable of is different.

[barryjohns]

So would you guys reccomend selling the LA610, buying a distressor and maybe a Great River Pre? This way I'd have two good pres (Solo 610 and a Great River). I can use the distressor with both. What do you think?

[popmann]

Why?

Just because a Distressor is capable of more flexibilty doesn't mean that it will yeild a better track.

I had one hear for a round of mixes--I kept trying it on everything...used it on a couple guitar tracks in the end. That's it.

[DAWgEAR]

Originally Posted by barryjohns

So would you guys reccomend selling the LA610, buying a distressor and maybe a Great River Pre? This way I'd have two good pres (Solo 610 and a Great River). I can use the distressor with both. What do you think?

What exactly are you looking for that you aren't getting now? Perhaps you aren't sure and want variety and options, which is perfectly legitimate.

If it were me, I'd sell the Solo 610 (why? compared to the LA-610 pre, it lacks a line in, EQ). I would not be in a hurry to get a distressor and I would not sell the LA-610. The Great River would be a great complement to the 610 preamp. Also maybe consider a RND Portico 5032 which would give you line in and basic EQ. Beyond that, I'd consider an 1176LN or similar; a 2-1176, if you can swing it. Maybe a Portico 5043 beyond that. That would be a pretty versatile setup for not a lot of $$, relatively speaking.

You really should rent or demo the gear first.

[barryjohns]

Originally Posted by DAWgEAR

What exactly are you looking for that you aren't getting now? Perhaps you aren't sure and want variety and options, which is perfectly legitimate.

This is really what it is all about.

Right now, I run everything through the LA610 and compress to tape, Vox, Electric Gtr, and Bass.

I have the Solo 610 to use with the LA610 when I record Acoustic Guitar in Stereo. The problem is that I can't use a compressor on both when I'm recording, so I usually don't record with compression on Acoustic, which I want to.

[DAWgEAR]

You have both the LA-610 and the Solo 610, so I am assuming you like the 610 vibe.

You could get a 2-1176.

One mic into the LA-610 (T4 comp bypassed, i.e. bypass engaged/peak reduction at 0 and comp gain at 5.5 which is unity, or not bypassed) and then into one channel of the 2-1176. The other mic into the Solo 610 and then into the other channel of the 2-1176. The 2-1176 channels unlinked for independent opeartion. Two similar pres into two identical comps.

There are your stereo channels for acoustic.

You can still do mono sources like vox and bass through the LA-610. Of course, you can still run vox and bass through the T4 comp and then through the 1176 comp too in series.

At some point down the road, you can add a Great River, Pacifica, or other solid state pre.

Just a thought.

[Aearth]

Just get one Distressor that will have you covered.

Nic