Outboard-Gear
2015
dbx 676 Channel Strip and PAU 805 4-Channel Preamp
Two Solid Front Ends for Getting Audio Into Your DAW
2015
Maselec MLA-4 Stereo Triband Compressor/Expander
Unique Processor Offers Powerful Features, Superb Sound
2015
Focusrite Saffire PRO 24, 26 and 40
Early on, Focusrite earned the respect of audio pros with the release of serious, professional mic preamps, consoles and rackmounted channel strips. Some pros...
2014
Benchmark Media Systems AHB2 Power Amplifier
Innovative Design Promises Lowest Noise, High Efficiency
2014
Thermionic Culture Phoenix HG15: Classic Valve Compressor
Thermionic Culture is known for producing high-quality pro audio pieces that offer atypical sonic qualities. My first experience in using its gear amazed me...
2014
Analogue Tube AT-1 Compressor: New/Old School Fairchild-Style Limiter
I first bumped into Simon Saywood at an AES in San Francisco when he was showing off his then-brand-new Fairchild 670 copy, the AT-101....
2014
LaChapell Audio 983S Preamp: Dual-Channel Tube Gain with Personality Plus
LaChapell Audio is a Nashville-based company comprising designer Scott LaChapell and his father, a retired senior design engineer at Lawrence Livermore Labs who brings...
2014
Great River 32EQ and PWM-501: 500 Series Processors With a Learning Curve
Great River is known for its high quality, solidly built products, the flagship being the MP-2NV 2-channel microphone preamp. It offers the personality of...
2014
Q2 Audio ADR Compex Limiter F760X-RS: Faithful Reissue of 1960s Classic
The history of the ADR Compex Limiter F760X RS goes back to the late ’60s in England when Audio & Design Recording made the...
2014
SPL Crimson Interface: 6×6 USB I/O, Monitor Control, Great Sound
When SPL unveils a new product, it is often built around a one-of-a-kind new circuit. The company is probably best known for its Transient...
2014
Universal Audio Apollo 16 Audio Interface: Portable I/O with UAD DSP and FW or Thunderbolt Connectivity
My first introduction to Universal Audio’s Apollo came two years ago at Winter NAMM. I was thrilled at the idea of having a single-rackspace...
2014
Prism Sound Lyra 2 Audio Interface: Upgrade Brings Deep Features, Stellar Sound
One of the hallmarks of the Prism Sound brand has been exceptionally transparent A/D and D/A converters. Products in the company’s recent USB interface...
2014
Bettermaker and Maag Audio: Two 500 Series EQs
Over the past two years, 500 Series preamps and processors have matured in design sophistication and sonics. Processors such as the Empirical Labs DocDerr,...
2014
Solid State Logic Sigma: 16-Channel SuperAnalogue RackMixer for Your DAW
Solid State Logic’s Sigma Summing Engine is a remote-controllable 16-channel analog summing engine with a monitor section. It uses the same SuperAnalogue technology as...
2014
Focusrite Red 1 500 Series Preamp: Vertical Unit Brings Legacy Topology and Sonics
In a way, the Focusrite Red 1 500 Series Mic Pre is the modern return of the microphone preamp design and sound used in...
2014
Apogee Quartet and One Audio Interfaces: USB Audio I/O for iPad and Mac
When it comes to digital audio hardware, there seem to be two different classes: devices offering the most connections, features and best possible sample...
2014
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 511 Preamp: 500 Series Unit With the “Rupert” Touch
Rupert Neve Designs has produced a number of signature products that bring Mr. Neve’s touch to the modern age of recording. While the price...
2014
Grace Design m905 Reference Monitor Controller: Stereo Unit With LCD Display, Remote and USB Interface
When I first began making records, I quickly came to the understanding that everything in the signal path contributed to the quality of my...
2014
Warm Audio TB12 ToneBeast: Versatile, Great-Sounding, High-Gain Preamp
Getting a signature sound isn’t achieved by simply running audio through an old Neve or API console; it comes from variations of cranking up...
2013
elysia xfilter 500: Clean, Double-wide 500 Series EQ
Elysia’s latest 500 Series module is an equalizer that draws from the concepts of both passive and active equalization. The majority of the circuitry...
2013
Antelope Audio Orion 32: Multichannel AD/DA with MADI and USB I/O
I’ve been getting many clients asking if I can come to them and create a great-sounding recording environment in the comforts of their project...
