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Description

United Recording Electronics Industries

Insulated from the recording studio changes, Universal Audio was thriving upstairs in the first Hollywood building under the new name United Recording Electronics Industries (UREI). The manufacturing and design company had acquired the patent rights to the electro-optical LA-2A leveling amplifier. UREI also acquired National Intertel, which became the Teletronix division. From this acquisition came technology which developed into the 1176 peak limiter in 1968, and the 1108 FET preamp.

Other well-received UREI products included the LA-4 electro-optical compressor limiter, the UREI Teletronix LA-3A electro-optical leveling amplifier and the 500-series UREI graphic equalizers.

By 1976, UREI had moved their manufacturing and service center to Sun Valley, California.

UREI LA-4

There is pair of LA-4a's in my local gear-mega-store, black face. They are asking $2200 which appears to be way too much for it, from what I've been reading.

I have a lot of questions about the unit before I go in and try to evaluate it.

UREI 1178

What can these be used for?
What is their best use?
How do you wire one of these up to a console?
If you're wiring one to a patchbay, how?
The thing just has screws on the back?
How to use it?
Are they really desirable? If decide to get rid of this one would it be terribly difficult and how much?

sound difference between Urei 1176 and Urei 1178

Can anybody tell me what's the difference in sound between the Urei 1176 and 1178?(I know, the 1178 is stereo) I think there are only silverface 1178 around. Is there an difference like with the 1176 blackface/silverface? Is there something in serial-numbers that's important? Is the four- Buttons-In-Trick working with the 1178.
Hope somebody can help me.

1178 vs. . 1176?

I've seen a couple of silver 1178's for sale on Ebay, usually described as a stereo version of an 1176. Sounded pretty intriguing, except that recently on one of these forums someone (sorry, can't remember who, but I think it was someone heavy) said that the 1178 in no way sounds anything like an 1176. The implication was clearly that it was an inferior beast.

Urei LA-4, Joemeek SC2.2, ART Pro VLA, others?

OK so after I get a good mic preamp to complete the signal chain I need a good compressor. I'd like to stay under 1000 if I can. I already have the FMR so I'd like an alternative that may add warmth. THe LA-4, SC2.2, and ART Pro VLA all seem in my price range, has anyone used them? Are they warm yet don't destroy the clarity? or are there others I am missing?