Purple 500 series

[Bolo]

Hey guys, im interested on buying a purple audio action fet compressor 500 series and i would like to know if someone has already tried, from what i know its kind of MC77

[drBill]

I don't think they will be available for a few more weeks.

[NathanEldred]

According to Purple, they are shipping early December.

[clusterchord]

i think that's a million dollar question right now - how will the Action compar to MC-77, and ultimately to a Urei 1176.


if it does so favorably, i think i found my dream signal chain, pairing Action with GR nv500 that i intend to replace my me1-nv with. can't wait to hear first reviews..

[Snatchman]

I'm interested also. I know on the site it says it has an output transformer, but does it has an input transformer also? I might have missed that...

[bobwarren]

I'd definitely like to hear a review. Very cool if it comes pretty close to an MC77 or 1176.

[Ciozzi]

The same here... really curious to hear some words on the Action FET compressor... by someone who tested it obviously!

[jindrich]

i shouldnt say this as the "Action" is not yet on the streets and noone has heard it, but i have a hard time believing an MC77 or 1176 can be crammed into just one slot of the 500 series. it sounds more a marketing move to me than anything else.


what an odd decision. why not putting a REAL MC77 into a 2-3 slot unit? without psu, no metal case etc, the thing could be sold for around $1,000 or so. That would be very appealling, 3 MC77 in a 3U rack for around $3k


let's wait and see (hear) though. maybe the Action will deserve its own praise.

[bobwarren]

Let's hope it does! As far as marketing goes, I guess there is enough room in a single 500 slot to cram some modeling circuits like Boss did with the Twin Reverb and the Bassman! I really don't want imitations anymore. I want hardware; the real deal!

[nynofi]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

According to Purple, they are shipping early December.

Don't you guys get new gear in advance? At least in some cases you must. Hopefully, in this one..!

[Snatchman]

Originally Posted by jindrich

i shouldnt say this as the "Action" is not yet on the streets and noone has heard it, but i have a hard time believing an MC77 or 1176 can be crammed into just one slot of the 500 series. it sounds more a marketing move to me than anything else.


what an odd decision. why not putting a REAL MC77 into a 2-3 slot unit? without psu, no metal case etc, the thing could be sold for around $1,000 or so. That would be very appealling, 3 MC77 in a 3U rack for around $3k


let's wait and see (hear) though. maybe the Action will deserve its own praise.

I understand your reluctancy. In the back of our minds, I guess we all have that " little reservation". But...API made their compressor sound good in one space. ( probably not the same design but..) I'm believing ( fingers crossed) Purple can do the same. Especially since technology has advanced since their ( API) compressor was built..I have the Biz pre, and it's made a beliver out of me. Go Purple..!..

[The Reel Thing]

Originally Posted by jindrich

i have a hard time believing an MC77 or 1176 can be crammed into just one slot of the 500 series

if you had a look into an 1176, you'd see it would be very easy to fit the circuit into an API space. Except the trannies, they would have to be about 50% smaller.

tom

THE REEL THING - Real Music Production

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by nynofi

Don't you guys get new gear in advance? At least in some cases you must. Hopefully, in this one..!

Sometimes, but usually a manufacturer usually has a release date based mostly on parts supplies (metalwork in particular), build and QC time more than anything else.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Snatchman

I have the Biz pre, and it's made a beliver out of me. Go Purple..!..

+1 Agreed. The Biz rocks!

[Inner Light]

Really looking forward to this as well.

[goldenlotus]

Sounds like it's going to be a Purple Christmas!

[Snatchman]

Originally Posted by goldenlotus

Sounds like it's going to be a Purple Christmas!

Sho' you're right..!..... Just the right size to fit in the Christmas Stockings....So all those planning on giving me gifts. Cancel all the neckties, socks, draws, and hankies!...

[Duardo]

what an odd decision. why not putting a REAL MC77 into a 2-3 slot unit?

Knowing Purple my guess is that they wouldn't have done it the way they did if it didn't sound right...and personally, I'm glad to see that it will only take up a single slot. That also makes it available to more people, as it will be compatible with the single-rackspace dual-slot chasses that are available from several manufacturers at this point...

[jindrich]

Originally Posted by The Reel Thing

if you had a look into an 1176, you'd see it would be very easy to fit the circuit into an API space. Except the trannies, they would have to be about 50% smaller.

i know what there's inside an 1176, that's why i was saying there's no way to build an exact replica into a 1slot if including the transformers.




hope the ACTION is as good as a 1176/MC77, but honestly it sounds too good to be true. as i said, lets just wait and see.

[Brad McGowan]

Um, right, and here's what an 1176 looks like if you have much more efficient packaging density and don't have transformers on the board. This is 3.7" x 6.7" (94mm x 170.2mm). This is the MNATS Rev D board by the way:

Building The DIY 1176LN Revision D

Add on a little more space for the transformers and/or use stacked boards and you can probably get it all to fit.

Brad

[Sabian576]

I know there on a plug-in kick right now, but I'm surprised UA hasn't started working on a double-wide(or single if the iron fits) 500 series 1176. I would've thought they'd jump on this bandwagon by now.

or a 110 and 610 500 series. The design couldn't take to much modification right?

[Daedalus77]

Well, as someone who adores his MC77—but who shelled out 1600 bucks for it!—I'm not so sure I'm hoping that this thing measures up.

Just kidding.

[Coldsnow]

QUOTE
"i know what there's inside an 1176, that's why i was saying there's no way to build an exact replica into a 1slot if including the transformers."

Don't forget you are taking out the power supply and it's parts as well. I read the output is changed to one of there op amps and new tranny. Not sure if it will sound like an 1176 line driver, however, I have to say I LOVE the sound of the Purple op amps. I made two preamps out of them.

[Resonant Alien]

Originally Posted by jindrich

i know what there's inside an 1176, that's why i was saying there's no way to build an exact replica into a 1slot if including the transformers.


hope the ACTION is as good as a 1176/MC77, but honestly it sounds too good to be true. as i said, lets just wait and see.

Well, there is a LOT of empty space on that circuit board, the Action doesn't have the VU meter or the large knobs, which accounts for most of the 2U high size of the 1176/MC77. There is no power supply that you have to worry about, and transformers can be made to easily fit in a single slot (obviously), so I wouldn't say it's impossible.

That said, and most importantly, Purple is not claiming that this is an "MC77 in a 500 series slot". Look at the Purple site - it says the Action is "a FET compressor.....reminiscent of the MC77".

I am a bit disappointed there is no switchable metering like on the Buzz Potion and the "real" MC77 - you only get gain reduction on the Action.

[GREENFENDR]

I tried one out at AES, and granted being on the floor of the Javitz center isn't the best place to test out outboard gear (and even a worse place to test microphones!), and I was honestly excited by them.

According to the guy from purple that I was talking to, its the same circuitry as their 1176 clone, but with a different output transformer to fit the rack. but it sounded pretty good in the 3 minute test I gave it.

I think price on it is supposed to be like $650, so even if it isn't exactly an 1176, it's inexpensive enough to have for just another flava, IMHO of course.

[Brad McGowan]

Originally Posted by Resonant Alien

I am a bit disappointed there is no switchable metering like on the Buzz Potion and the "real" MC77 - you only get gain reduction on the Action.

Really do we even need gain reduction metering? The meters on my dbx160X are somewhat broken and I love the fact that I am actually forced to listen to what the thing is doing.

I think more compressors just need a light that says "yes, I'm working". If I ever build an LA2A clone I'm leaving out the meters.

Brad

[Daedalus77]

I'm with Brad. Of all compressors, an 1176 is, in my (humble) opinion, the last compressor where you should be looking at the meter. On my MC77, it's always in GR mode, and I rarely look at it. If I do, it's usually digging so deep it scares me, until I realize it sounds fantastic.

[Resonant Alien]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

Really do we even need gain reduction metering? The meters on my dbx160X are somewhat broken and I love the fact that I am actually forced to listen to what the thing is doing.

I think more compressors just need a light that says "yes, I'm working". If I ever build an LA2A clone I'm leaving out the meters.

Brad

Yeah, I don't really care about gain reduction monitoring, but I do like having input/output monitoring. That's one of the great things about the Buzz Potion - it is actually a bit more flexible than the Action appears to be (input/output monitoring, mix knob, side chain) - although it does take 2 slots...

[Orren]

My OSA Power Rack is crying for a pair of 500-format compressors, and these look like they could be just the ticket. Very much looking forward to checking them out!

Orren

[Kim Bjäle]

Does anyone know if you can stereo link the Action?