Old school Audio

[JordanDRUM]

What's the deals with the old school audio pres? anyone use 'em? looks like a great deal. interesting tetimony, but anybody who's anybody knows you gotta take the big questions to GS!

[Critic]

OSA pres are nice. Ive used the C and L on vox, snare, kick, and guitar. The mutant has a kind of scooped sound with a nice deep bottom (40-65Hz) and unique top end that never gets sibilant or harsh but adds a nice sparkle to everything. The mutant pre has more of a wow factor out of the box bec your ear is first attracted to the cool top end but in the long run the vintage "C" pre will work better in a mix, is more unique and bigger sounding. Its also the most API sounding of the bunch (kinda API with less top). Though the bottom isnt as deep sounding as the mutant with the lunadahl transformer, the mids and low mids are probably the most unscooped of any pre Ive heard. The midrange is completely there and it does interesting things to aggressive midrangey mics like the dragonfly, 4033 and SM-7. Nicest on guitar, snare, and kick if you like the 100Hz punch as opposed to the 60Hz thud. Ultimately though its musicality is less apparent when solo'd and more apparent in a mix.

Overall though, there is something slightly flat and unexcited about OSA pres, or maybe just natural sounding, that kept me from using them on vocals. Its like all the ingredients are there but the magic aint totally happening.

[Steve Smith]

since opinions are like armpits.... here is my buck-three-ninety on the matter...

The OSA "Mutant" pre is one of the best cures for the thinner female voice I have heard.. works really well. I am also really digging it on Bass, kicks.. pretty much the kind of sources you would want a 1073 on.. IT IS NOT A 1073 OBVIOUSLY, I just find it works well in similar applications. Definately a tool to have in the shed, I am looking into a pair of C's and A's next.

[muddy]

ahem...it's a buck three eighty! as you were.


ml

[Steve Smith]

Originally posted by muddy
ahem...it's a buck three eighty! as you were.


ml

errrr.. well ,(assumes best cockney accent) " it's ten better, innit?"

[JordanDRUM]

gracias. how would a pair of C's or mutants sound on overheads?

[MJohnson]

I have 2 A's, 1 C and 2 L's and I'd checkout the A's for overhead.

Been doing guitars lately and I've been happy with both the C and L for electric, depending on the type of sound you want.

Also used an A on acoustic last night and liked that as well.

I haven't done drums or vocals yet with these, but will be doing some soon.


Mark

[CV7]

I saw on another board that they were having financial problems? someone else's opinion, I don't know, but I would rather buy from a stable outfit if that is the case.

[fishtop_records]

Originally posted by CV7
I saw on another board that they were having financial problems? someone else's opinion, I don't know, but I would rather buy from a stable outfit if that is the case.

This becomes a tangent to the audio quality question, but I have to ask:
Who isn't financially unstable in this business these days?

It does say to stay with classic designs,
or things that are either real cheap or fixable, but that is probably always
true.

[Jay Kahrs]

How many pieces of quality gear from the '40's forward is still in daily use today? All I can say is not too worry about it too much. Just try and get the schematics so someone can fix it if and when it breaks.

I've been using a pair of MP1A's for well over a year. I still like 'em a lot and they fill in gaps that my other pres won't. Today I was cutting distort-o harp and vocals with them. The vocal mic was a Sanked M260DX and the combo with an 1176 at 8:1 standing on it really hard was damn sweet IMHO. The singer loved it to, got a better performance out of him because of it and isn't what the game is all about?