Vintech X 73i and UA LA-2A - must use live!

**IvanMike** · #1 06-08-2010, 03:11 PM

sorry but i had to post this in amps and recording gear - it's too cool.

holy crap!

I recorded through these units my guitar player bought for his studio last night. hands down the best sound i've ever gotten. The Vintech is supposedly a Neve clone that scopes out as close as it gets, and we used one channel of the 2 channel version of the UA LA-2A tube compressor. Unreal. I've played and recorded through more than i can remember including the UA 6176 (combo of the 610 tube pre and the 1176 SS compressor) and this danced all over all of them. I've never sounded this good. The Vintech needs its own external power supply but i swear if i win powerball I'm gonna play live with that setup.

JimmyM · #2 06-09-2010, 02:24 AM

man, that's a pretty bold statement to say this setup betters a 6176. that must be a happening deal!

Jim C · #3 06-09-2010, 05:48 AM

Time for a shoot out; JK, where you at bro?
Ivan be dissin on your #1 rig

**IvanMike** · #4 06-11-2010, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

man, that's a pretty bold statement to say this setup betters a 6176. that must be a happening deal!

yeah, unbelievable. We did the A/B because the 6176 was THE reference unit we've been using to record my bass for a long time. The VIntech neve clone/UA tube compressor setup killed the 6176. Trust me, I'm not dissing the 6176, far from it. But holy crap! I have very limited GAS, and only sorta, but this setup gave me a bellyache. It was that good. Didn't even touch the EQ - we used gain and one knob for compression. Instant "THE tone" - on every bass we plugged in. Sick, just sick I tell ya.

fretno · #5 06-11-2010, 06:31 AM

top of the line no question , I've been gassing for a Avedis m5 for a Neve-ish in a 500 series ooooh it will be mine

**IvanMike** · #6 06-11-2010, 05:36 PM

oh yeah it's a happening deal, but by the time you buy both units and the special power supply for the Vintech kiss 4K goodbye.

johnk_10 · #7 06-11-2010, 05:44 PM

i've tried a friend of mine's vintech x73i and an x73 in the studio, and i thought it was very nice, but i personally prefer a 6176. and IMO, an LA2-A is nowhere near as good as an 1176LN for bass. but if that's what floats your boat, that's great.

IMO, the vintech has a 'harder' sound to it, which can be great for alot of rock stuff as can an API 7600, i just find the 6176 can get a fatter, smoother tone and can be dialed in to be downright dirty if so desired. the vintech and the API aren't really designed for that. that said, i still wouldn't mind owning one just to have another 'color'.

Munjibunga · #8 06-12-2010, 12:59 AM

Soooaaahhh, then you were using the same bass you used on the 6176 on the new gear, and your ear is so golden you can accurately compare the sounds, even though they were some time apart? Just sayin' ... of course it has been demonstrated that I don't have the golden ear, so what do I know?

**IvanMike** · #9 03-25-2011, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Soooaaahhh, then you were using the same bass you used on the 6176 on the new gear, and your ear is so golden you can accurately compare the sounds, even though they were some time apart? Just sayin' ... of course it has been demonstrated that I don't have the golden ear, so what do I know?

lol - holy resurrection! But yes, I did. We did the track on both with the same bass and the difference was obvious. And likewise, I used the same bass on about 8 different "front end" pieces in this guy's studio over time so we had some pretty good "reference tracks" available. Not sayin' I have the "golden ear" either, far from it. In fact, it's tougher to tell after mixdown and mastering, but it's still there. Oddly, with the same bass, I can kinda pick out Eden/Demeter/Alembic/6176/Vintech-UA/etc on our recordings. Of course, it helps that I know when we recorded a lot of the stuff, but it's still noticeable. Does anyone but me care? Hmmmmmmm.

la grange · #10 03-28-2011, 09:27 AM

Hi Guys,
I believe you're all right and wrong at the same time.
Each time you record something, you tend to go to the gear you have used with success in the past but each song is different and might require some gear changes. According to the bass drum sound, the room sound, the guitars.
I am assuming that we are talking about the DI track and not the amp one so I will not mention mics.
The harmonic contents required for the song on the bass track will dictate the choice of pre, generally. And where you need the harmonics will lead to you valves or tranny.
as for the comp. it is the color to finalize the sound but generally it is better to keep the notes tamed with something transparent so you have room at the end to play with.
1176 or LA2A are both good tracking comp but they would not be set up as it would for your final sound when you are tracking.
In that particular occasion, the vintech with the telectronix might have been more appropriate for the track but it doesn't mean that you can forget about the 6176, or the API gear, or the Chandler gear that I use a lot on bass ( The EMI stuff).
And of course all this is generally speaking.....
Happy bantering

Oli

**IvanMike** · #11 03-28-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by la grange

Hi Guys,
I believe you're all right and wrong at the same time.
Each time you record something, you tend to go to the gear you have used with success in the past but each song is different and might require some gear changes. According to the bass drum sound, the room sound, the guitars.
I am assuming that we are talking about the DI track and not the amp one so I will not mention mics.
The harmonic contents required for the song on the bass track will dictate the choice of pre, generally. And where you need the harmonics will lead to you valves or tranny.
as for the comp. it is the color to finalize the sound but generally it is better to keep the notes tamed with something transparent so you have room at the end to play with.
1176 or LA2A are both good tracking comp but they would not be set up as it would for your final sound when you are tracking.
In that particular occasion, the vintech with the telectronix might have been more appropriate for the track but it doesn't mean that you can forget about the 6176, or the API gear, or the Chandler gear that I use a lot on bass ( The EMI stuff).
And of course all this is generally speaking.....
Happy bantering

Oli

Not disputing all that - of course you want to have as much stuff at your disposal as you can to "get the sound". At the time I was just raving. For a lot of the stuff I record with that band, this setup seems to be the best.

la grange · #12 03-28-2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanMike

Not disputing all that - of course you want to have as much stuff at your disposal as you can to "get the sound". At the time I was just raving. For a lot of the stuff I record with that band, this setup seems to be the best.

And I am sure you are exactly right. It is not your first studio experience and you know your stuff.
My point is, keep trying combination of gear before you hit the rec, keep trying until you find the WOAW set up.
You will lessen the mix engineer work and you will be heard in the mix effortlessly.
It is all good fun ain't it?

Oli

Swooph · #13 10-11-2011, 10:17 AM

I did a session last night and went through the vintech 473 rack (second time I've recorded through this rack) and I loved the way my bass sounded (american JB). Incredible product. I am currently saving up to invest in the Vintech x73 so I can use it for my live gigs. Can't say enough good things about these racks.