Sta Level
Sta Level
A friend of mine has built a circuit modeled version of a Sta Level compressor. I do some recording with friends and let's just say we have unpredictable levels from person to person. I'd use this equipment more as a limiter than anything, which it does phenomenally well. He's willing to sell it at parts cost for $500. Worth it? It also comes with a mic pre that he built.
Apparently ART pres are not really up to the challenge of driving this thing.
Apparently ART pres are not really up to the challenge of driving this thing.
I make a living as an electrician, not recording in the basement.
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goose134 wrote:He's willing to sell it at parts cost for $500.
I'd say so!emrr wrote:It's probably $500 worth of parts.
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No this is what he says it is. He's actually a very good friend who builds things like this in his spare time. I'm getting it for cost of parts in exchange for some electrical work at his house. I've never really used outboard compressors, let alone vintage ones. Looking for thoughts on the utility of such a piece.
I guess I don't really mean a limiter. I mean hammering down vocal outbursts and such. I know it can do that in spades.
I guess I don't really mean a limiter. I mean hammering down vocal outbursts and such. I know it can do that in spades.
I make a living as an electrician, not recording in the basement.
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I use my Sta-Level more as a flavoring device than a limiter, but my my what a flavor....goose134 wrote:I've never really used outboard compressors, let alone vintage ones. Looking for thoughts on the utility of such a piece.
I guess I don't really mean a limiter. I mean hammering down vocal outbursts and such. I know it can do that in spades.
I mostly use it on bass and kicks, and it imparts a smooshy glue that just kind of melts the bass into the mix in a way that other boxes don't...
YMMV...
"You see, the whole thing about recording is the attempt at verisimilitude--not truth, but the appearance of truth."
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Thanks for that...!A.David.MacKinnon wrote:yep. I also use it as parallel compression on kick & snare. It's amazing.tonewoods wrote: I mostly use it on bass and kicks, and it imparts a smooshy glue that just kind of melts the bass into the mix in a way that other boxes don't...
YMMV...
"You see, the whole thing about recording is the attempt at verisimilitude--not truth, but the appearance of truth."
Jerry Wexler
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Oh yes! Coles 4038 - Clean Pre with Drive - into a RETRO STA Level doing some lovely enveloping. Now That is ONE amazing sound!A.David.MacKinnon wrote:Using the Sta-Level for vocals this week-end. Coles ribbon into a True pre into the sta-lavel. Sounds beautiful.
The RETRO STA level adds some THICK lush, weight to the sound that is priceless. Phil really knocked it outta the park on that one.
It has a very amazing compression quality to it, that can be effortless and pretty "buoyant". It will level off peaks with the greatest of ease...
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I can't speak to the Retro reissue. We're running the original Gates version.Mixwell wrote:Oh yes! Coles 4038 - Clean Pre with Drive - into a RETRO STA Level doing some lovely enveloping. Now That is ONE amazing sound!A.David.MacKinnon wrote:Using the Sta-Level for vocals this week-end. Coles ribbon into a True pre into the sta-lavel. Sounds beautiful.
The RETRO STA level adds some THICK lush, weight to the sound that is priceless. Phil really knocked it outta the park on that one.
It has a very amazing compression quality to it, that can be effortless and pretty "buoyant". It will level off peaks with the greatest of ease...
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