The Kramer Master Tape plug-in reconstructs the rare combination of an Ampex 350 transport and 351 electronics
further enhancements made by UREI engineer Bill Plunkett to create the ‘Low Noise’ version, so the archaeology is good. UA has also been encouraged
to rebuild the LA-2A levelling amplifier, patented by Jim Lawrence for Teletronix in Pasadena, California circa 1962. Again the family tree of circuitry has been thoroughly explored by UA, not least because Putnam Snr acquired Teletronix in 1967, and a careful selection has been made of the best versions, re-issues and iterations. Various independent Fairchild
remakes exist, most notably from Vintage King Audio, Mode Machines and Drip Electronics, although Drip specialises in the PCBs only: Pultec, Altec and others are also available. The DIY ethic is gathering pace, with schematics for building your own Urei 1176
available from Gyraf Audio, among many other web-based enthusiasts. Think of it as social networking for people who wear socks with sandals. Meanwhile the actual company behind Pultec in the US has been revived: Pulse Techniques is now shipping the new EQP-1A3, based on Eugene Shenk’s 1951 original. This uses original supplier components wherever possible, with no modifications whatsoever: a true labour of love in a world of disposable audio. In the UK, Manchester- based Cartec Audio has its own EQP-1A, joined now by the ‘EQ-Pre-2A’ with a second amplifier for greater mic gain. These and other vintage modules are distributed from the UK internationally by Unity Audio.
But sometimes you have to adopt the Trojan Horse method
The A800 multitrack from Studer
– and smuggle the classic circuitry aboard via a new chassis. The JDK Audio R22 dual-channel compressor is said to contain two channels of API’s classic compressor circuitry in a rackmount unit with internal power supply – the very compressor on board ATI’s Paragon console range. Well, they did say pop will eat itself… www.cartecaudio.comwww.focusrite.comwww.solid-state-logic.comwww.uaudio.comwww.waves.com
History comes in a box, nowadays. The expanses of air that fogged the Greatest Recordings Ever Made can be picked up in one hand, and a console with two postcodes can fit through the eye of a needle. These software bundles are available to apply a second coat of heritage to modern recordings, packaged in a way to give the youngest whippersnapper the vintage tingle. Waves has the Studio Classics Collection, featuring plug-ins from various other packages such as the SSL 4000 Collection (pictured), the V-Series and the API Collection. Consoles – and bits of consoles – covered include the API 550A, 550B, 560 and 2500; the Neve V-EQ3, V-EQ4 and V-Comp; and the SSL G-Channel, G-Equalizer, G-Master Buss Compressor and E-Channel. Universal Audio’s bundles concentrate on outboard as well as desks. They are: Classic
Compressors; Precision Mastering; EMT Classic Reverb; SSL 4000 Series Console; Classic EQ; Roland Classic FX; Neve Classic Console; and Neve Complete. Meanwhile Nomad Factory has come up with the Analog Signature Pack, sporting three plug- ins of classic processors for Audio Units, VST and RTAS. EQ is covered by the Program Equalizer EQP-4, a stereo unit with low and high cut, low and high frequency boost and
attenuation and two overlapping bands. Limiting is addressed by the LM-662 Dual Limiting Amplifier, based on the Fairchild 670 limiter. And compression is provided by the Studio Channel SC-226, another stereo plug-in with 4-band EQ, optical compressor and, at the heart of the shelving and bell filters, a tube simulator and Brick-Wall peak limiter.