Category: Hardware Review

Stam Audio SA-2A Compressor Review

Hello, I’m Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

Today, I’m excited to share my review of the SA-2A, something I’ve been eagerly anticipating! Let’s dive right in.

The Struggle with the Gear

If you’ve been following my blog, you might know that this unit had quite a journey before it landed in my studio. Initially, I bought a faulty one with the idea of enhancing my understanding of circuits and practicing some soldering by fixing it myself.

I thought it might just be a simple fuse issue… But after blowing through about five fuses, I took a closer look at the circuit board.

Despite my inspection, I couldn’t find any blown capacitors or burnt resistors. So, I decided to take it to a repair shop after seeking advice.

The culprit turned out to be a burnt toroidal transformer, damaged by overcurrent.

The challenge was that this early version of the SA-2A used a Cinemag transformer, and Stam Audio wasn’t sure if they had any spares left.

After two weeks of waiting for a response with no luck, I asked them to send me the specifications so I could have a custom transformer made.

After installing the custom transformer, the unit finally came to life!

I purchased the broken unit in January, and the repair was completed by early July, marking a nearly six-month battle.

Of course, I was a bit busy, which contributed to the delay, but it was quite the saga nonetheless!

Measurements

As regular readers of my blog know, I like to run measurements on gear, whether it’s hardware or plugins. While measurements don’t tell the whole story, they do help in explaining things more clearly.

I find it especially useful to compare my impressions from using the gear with the measured data, which can sometimes reveal if my ears are having an off day.

The frequency response graph above shows the response with no compression applied. (Keep in mind the peaks and valleys you see are typical of analog gear.) You can see a noticeable roll-off in the high frequencies.

Here’s the frequency response graph with compression applied and gain compensated. There’s a rise in the high frequencies, and the right-hand graph shows noticeable distortion.

As the Peak Reduction increases, harmonic distortion also changes. It seems much more dynamic than using a plugin.

This is the compression curve graph. Strangely, the left side shows the settings for “Comp,” and the right side shows the settings for “Limit.” They seem switched, don’t they? Perhaps it’s just a labeling issue.

Even when using the device, it felt like the settings were somewhat reversed.

Practical Use

I tested the SA-2A on vocals and lead acoustic guitar in a project I’m currently mixing, as well as on some demo vocals for a production I’m working on. Additionally, I conducted a few simple tests.

My observations are as follows:

  1. It’s a saturation machine that adds a hefty amount of color.
  2. It can sound a bit rough, so careful EQing or the use of de-essers/multiband compressors may be necessary to tame it.
  3. As you increase the Peak Reduction, the high frequencies rise, so setting the Input Gain properly beforehand is crucial.
  4. It’s challenging to use on sources that are already colored.
  5. The lack of an Emphasis knob is a drawback.

I wouldn’t say I’m in love with it, but it certainly has its uses.

Since 2017, there’s been an option to use Sowter transformers, and it seems they’ve started custom ordering these transformers from the two companies they work with.

While the raw sound isn’t spectacular, it integrates nicely into a mix. I plan to experiment more with transformer and tube swapping in the coming months.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review. See you in the next post!

I’m always open to reviewing hardware products! If you’d like me to review a product, please feel free to reach out at joe1346@naver.com.

Lewitt LCT 1040 Microphone Review

This post is a translation of a Korean blog post I wrote on February 27, 2022.

Hello, I’m Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer. I recently had the opportunity to review the new Lewitt LCT 1040 microphone, thanks to Sound & Music, Lewitt’s distributor in Korea. They provided me with a demo unit for a week, with no other compensation.

Since I was going to be busy soon, I conducted a quick two-day test as soon as I received the unit and wrote this review. Let’s dive in!

Unboxing and Appearance

I received a brand-new, unopened demo unit, which was a pleasant surprise. The package was quite heavy. The box design was unique, with tear-off strips to open it.

Inside the box, there were two pouches containing cables, manuals, and other documents. Below them were the microphone components.

The photo was taken immediately upon delivery, and you can see some handprints, probably because it was cold.

The pouches are attached magnetically and can be easily removed. The contents include manuals, a recall sheet, and a booklet detailing the development process of the LCT 1040.

They included the names of beta testers, and I was pleased to see my name included!

Underneath the microphone, there were power cables and adapters for different types of outlets. I found this modular system quite innovative.

The control unit is entirely metal and feels hefty. The knobs are both linear and stepped, providing a smooth and convenient experience.

Pressing the “LCT 1040” label in the center allows for the remote to be detached. The remote can then be connected to the microphone using an XLR connector. This is a pretty innovative feature!

Once everything is connected, the lights turn on as shown in the photo below.

The Operational indicator blinks when adjusting the Attenuation (Pad) and Pattern settings, indicating a brief processing time. However, adjustments to Circuit, Tube, and Filter settings are immediate. There’s also a button for switching the front and back diaphragms.

The microphone cable connector clicks securely into place when inserted correctly. The shock mount includes carbon material and features a unique, easy-to-use clamping mechanism.

The pop filter and the microphone’s grill both have double layers, which shows attention to detail. The pop filter, also made of carbon material, attaches magnetically, making it easy to use.

The bottom clamp for mounting the microphone is simple and effective.

The microphone, when powered, looks like this. I think this gives you a good overview of its appearance. Now, let’s move on to the sound test.

Recording Test

For the test, I recorded both vocals and guitar. For vocals, I used a reflection filter and recorded in Clear, Warm, Dark, and Saturated modes with Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Figure-8 patterns, using three settings: FET, FET=5:5, and Tube.

(Note: FET 100% sounds consistent across Clear, Warm, Dark, and Saturated, so I grouped them under FET.)

Due to the number of recordings, I might have missed some distorted parts in the song. I hope you’ll understand. My voice was a bit worn out, too… 😢

I used a low cut at 80Hz and lightly reduced 148Hz and 179Hz where noted.

For the guitar, I couldn’t use a reflection filter, so I placed the mic in a standard holder. I recorded only in Cardioid, as Figure-8 and Omnidirectional were not necessary. I used a Guild D-150ce with new D’Addario XS Phosphor Bronze light gauge strings.

I applied a low cut at 80Hz and reduced the boominess at 138Hz and 179Hz for fingerstyle, while strumming did not require cuts. The recordings were captured directly into an Apollo x6 interface, with gain set around 53-55dB.

Impressions

FET, Clear

The high frequencies are pleasantly clear. However, the low-mid range feels slightly lacking, making the FET sound somewhat thin and sharp. Still, both the FET and Tube modes produce the expected quality sound.

Warm

The highs are a bit subdued compared to Clear, but they still maintain a presence.

Dark

The highs feel significantly reduced, which might highlight the mids and make the sound somewhat nasal. This could be useful for creating a distant or lo-fi effect.

Saturated

This was my favorite among Warm, Dark, and Saturated. It retains high-frequency clarity while boosting the lows, providing a pleasing sound without much EQ.

The frequency response graphs matched my impressions, which was quite satisfying.

Additionally, the Mix and FET can be recorded separately, which could be handy for saving FET as a backup.

Pros

The detachable remote makes it versatile for studios of all sizes. The dual-layered grill and pop filter demonstrate careful design.

The knobs provide a satisfying tactile response, and the build quality is excellent. They even included a recall sheet, which can likely be requested in PDF form.

Cons

The unit is heavy, and there’s no volume control on the remote, which can be slightly inconvenient. However, this is common for tube microphones, so it’s hard to consider it a significant downside.

Conclusion

The sound quality and attention to detail are impressive, and the price seems justified. Although the absolute price is high, considering you effectively get five distinct tones—FET, Clear, Warm, Dark, Saturated—and can blend Tube with FET, it’s a compelling value.

Buying five high-quality microphones for the price of one LCT 1040 would be challenging. Given the rising cost of equipment, with AKG C414s nearing 2 million KRW, and considering the versatility and quality of this mic, I’d choose the LCT 1040 over a Neumann U87ai. It’s also an excellent option for those looking for a secondary mic.

While I haven’t used it long enough to comment on durability or long-term use, Sound & Music offers a 10-year warranty, which is reassuring.

I hope you enjoyed this review. See you in the next post!

I’m always open to reviewing hardware products! If you’d like me to review a product, please feel free to reach out at joe1346@naver.com.

Stam Audio SA4000 mk2 Compressor Review

Hello, I’m Jooyoung Kim, an audio engineer and music producer.

Today, I’d like to share my thoughts after using the SA4000 mk2 compressor for a couple of months.

  • Appearance

The back panel is equipped with XLR connectors throughout, and the sidechain input is a stereo unbalanced connection via XLR.

The exterior is quite standard for rack equipment, with a solid and heavy build. It’s a 1U unit and features a British Mod, noticeable by the two red Carnhill transformers on the right side.

The unit is relatively deep, so I had to connect a right-angled power cable to mount it properly.

For the sidechain, I used my Send Return TRS to TS cable, converting the TRS to XLR to create an unbalanced stereo XLR to TS cable.

  • Usage

The left side shows the frequency response without the transformers, and the right side shows it with the transformers.

The difference isn’t drastic; the transformers slightly reduce the low frequencies and overall volume.

In terms of harmonics, there isn’t a significant difference except for the volume change. Again, the left side is without the transformers, and the right side is with them.

I examined the Ratio settings for any peculiarities and found that the Knee is slightly softer. The primary difference with and without transformers seems to be the volume.

In practical use, I noticed:

  1. The high frequencies are considerably tamed, making it suitable for use as a bus compressor on harsh hi-hats.
  2. Recording with the transformers engaged reduces the high frequencies, which isn’t to my taste.
  3. When gain-matched, the version with the transformers engaged sounds slightly more pronounced.

These are the main points I’ve gathered.

Among the SSL clone compressor plugins I’m familiar with, I’ve never encountered one with this specific frequency response. It has a unique character.

In particular, I find it effective with BFD drums, where overheads or hi-hats often have excessive high frequencies. Using this compressor effectively tames those troublesome areas. It would also work well on a master bus for retro-style tracks, preserving that vintage feel.

  • Conclusion

Using hardware can be cumbersome. You need to prepare recall sheets for future mix adjustments, carefully manage equipment routing, and more. Despite these hassles, hardware is employed to capture its unique color and character.

This compressor, with its distinct features, has become a regular part of my setup. I’m using it frequently.

However, I don’t want to suggest that hardware is inherently superior. Both plugins and hardware are merely tools. As long as they suit your purpose and deliver the desired tone, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a plugin or hardware.

In that sense, I’m very keen on getting a tube preamp. I’ve been eyeing Oz Design, but it’s a little-known brand, so reselling might be challenging.

That’s all for today. See you in the next post!

I’m always open to reviewing hardware products! If you’d like me to review a product, please feel free to reach out at joe1346@naver.com.

Neve 33609 Compressor Story

Hello, this is engineer, music producer Jooyoung Kim.

Recently, I saw a Neve 33609 C hardware compressor listed for 7500$ on a second-hand trading site. Since I often use the plugin version, I was tempted to buy it, which led me to share some thoughts about the 33609 on my blog.

The 33609 is widely used as a master or bus compressor. There are five versions: the original 33609, and the C, J, JD, and N versions.

https://vintageking.com/blog/2016/06/neve-33609-compressor

You can find detailed differences between these versions in the link above. Here’s a brief summary:

  1. Original 33609: A rack-mounted version of the Class A/B 2264, 32264, and 33314 (broadcast version) compressor/limiter console modules.
  2. 33609/C: This version replaces the original’s Maranair/St. Ives transformers with Belclere ones, improves the power supply, and swaps the Discrete BA440 circuits with BA640 ICs.
  3. 33609/J: Introduced in response to high demand from Japan after the C version was discontinued. It uses the same BA640 ICs as the C version, though many preferred the original Discrete BA440 circuits.
  4. 33609/JD: Created to satisfy those preferring the Discrete BA440 circuits, denoted by the ‘D’ in JD.
  5. 33609/N: The current version, featuring custom-made transformers from Maranair, closely resembling the original 33609 transformers. It includes a switchable Attack Fast/Slow option not found in other versions and retains the Discrete BA440 circuits like the JD version.

While working at a studio, I measured the 33609/C hardware with a plugin doctor program. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the exact settings used, but:

  1. The Frequency Response (FR) graph was likely tested to see how the input values affect the output.
  2. The Harmonic Distortion (HD) graph probably measured how the harmonic content changes with different threshold settings.
  3. The Attack/Release Oscillator might have been used to observe how the release values change between Auto1 and Auto2 settings.
  4. The Ratio Compression graph was likely used to check for the presence of a knee.

This is the UAD 33609/C plugin. It looks a bit different, partly due to the screen size.

Although I’d love to share more insights, I haven’t had much hands-on experience with the 33609/C hardware, so I can only show you these measurements…😢

There are so many things I want to buy. Even if I can’t afford the 33609, I’d love to get a diode bridge compressor similar to it, and an SSL 4000-style compressor. I’ve already found a potential SSL 4000-style compressor, so I might buy that soon. As for the 33609, maybe when I earn more money…

Both compressors are ones I frequently use in my mixes, and having the hardware would be incredibly useful. The SSL is clean, while the 33609 has a nice coloration.

Lately, I’ve also been eyeing a tube preamp that’s been on my mind constantly…haha. I wish I could just buy all the gear I want.

See you in the next post! 🙂