1176 or LA2A.

1176, or GML 8900 - depending on the application.

Jay
PlugHead Productions

Purple Audio 1176 if you want to deal with a company that cares about the industry and not just the bottom line. A Distressor will still sound really great and will work on more sources overall than the 1176. Good Luck! :w:

Depending on what's needed, I reach for an 1176LN, an LA2A, an LA3A, or a Tubetech CL1B. They are all different and each is very good at doing what it does. I don't care for the EL8 when tracking vocals.

Jon

These days Tubetech CL1B, La2a or Focusrite Blue 230. Depends totally on the singer, mic and song.

I used to track vox with a Requiste Tube Pre and Vari-Mu. Thought it sounded pretty good. Still do ocassionally. Now I'm using a Cranesong Flamingo and 1176LN, both original and the new. sounds better to me for most applications.

Still researching a great 2-bus stereo compressor for mix down.
Steve

Definately Distressor. It's the most versatile.

I used to prefer the LA3a but sometimes it's better than others. The distressor works every time.

Never liked the LA2a for vocals. Bass and Kik.

Probably a Crane Song "Trakker"...it has much of the versatility of the EL-8, with better front end head room, and is quite a bit faster and easier to get set up.

Best of luck with your search.

Probably a Crane Song "Trakker"...it has much of the versatility of the EL-8, with better front end
head room, and is quite a bit faster and easier to get set up.
Hmmmm, I never considered one of these. I'll look into it. Keep in mind it's 98% for vox and I am doing mostly R&B and Gospel with an ISA110 as the pre (if this helps) The versatility is not really important...btw you are a dealer for this too, right???
Thanks a bunch

OneMan

The new Manley Slam looks interesting it has both a FET compressor (like the 1176) and an el op compressor (like the LA2a) and a tube mic pre (2 channels). That being said, my favorite is the Purple Audio 1176 on vocals. I also really like a compressor called the Peavey VCL2 on vocals. It is very similar to the Manley el op model or the LA2a and can be had for under 1K. All tube design. The combination of that warm sound and the 1176 to make it stick out works well for me.

Hey Nathan,
Did you have a falling out with UA? Seems a lot of people are? I agree that Purple is the way to go. Those guys are great.

Originally posted by coldsnow:
Hey Nathan,
Did you have a falling out with UA? Seems a lot of people are? I agree that Purple is the way to go. Those guys are great.

Hi Coldsnow,

Yes, we had a falling out. The product was good, but our company cares deeply about integrity, especially when it comes to the relationship we have with our manufacturer and how they do business. Fletcher stated it better than I could, click on the link below and prepare to be enlightened (read it more than once also):

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://groups.googl…"]Click here to read what I like to call "Fletcher states the truth"[/]="http://groups.googl…"]Click here to read what I like to call "Fletcher states the truth"[/]

Mostly UA1176, very occaisionaly with an SSL or DBX 160 patched in after it...

:)

I'll use an 1176, or a Demeter VTCL-2a when I want more color and don't need as much squash. Sometimes I'll follow the Demeter with a 160VU if I need it. I also have an Orban 414A which can be cool at times but it isn't a go-to compressor for vocals.