Tag: channel strip plugin

The History of the UA 610 Preamp and Introduction to the LA6176 Plugin (90% Off Until Nov. 30)

Hi everyone! This is Jooyoung Kim, a mixing engineer and music producer.

It seems like every company is releasing tempting new gear—just yesterday, Warm Audio unveiled a new series of 1176 replicas! I was planning to grab a hand-crafted Japanese unit, but now I’m seriously considering their Rev D model instead. Decisions, decisions…

Today, I want to introduce you to the UAD LA6176 channel strip plugin, which combines the 1176 compressor and 610 preamp.

Purchase LA6176 at Plugin Boutique

This plugin was provided to me as part of the UAD Spark NFR subscription. If you decide to purchase it via the links in this post, I’ll receive a small commission—any support is greatly appreciated! 😊
Let’s dive in!

The History of the Universal Audio 610 Preamp

Universal Audio 610 Console

The 610 preamp originated from Universal Audio’s custom-built mixing console, designed by Bill Putnam Sr. in the late 1950s. Most recording equipment of that era was bespoke, but the 610 introduced a modular design, making it easy to swap out broken channels.

The 610 preamp module

The console offered:

  • High headroom (+30 dBm output, equivalent to a whopping +32.2 dBu!)
  • Mic/line inputs, pad functionality, high/low EQ, and echo sends.

Only about 25 units were made, but they were used by legendary artists like Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

Reissues and Plugins

Based on this legendary design, Universal Audio released various reissues like the 2-610, Solo/610, and M610 channel strips and mic preamps.

In the plugin world, Universal Audio introduced two versions:

  • The 610-A Preamp Plugin (faithful to the original design).
  • The 610-B Preamp Plugin (modeled after the reissue).

They also released hardware like the LA-610 (a 610 preamp paired with an LA-2A compressor) and the 6176 (a 610 preamp with an 1176 compressor).

The UAD LA6176 plugin recreates the latter in software form, bringing both its preamp and compressor/EQ sections to your DAW.

Plugin Features

610 Preamp + EQ

The input section works best in Line mode when used with UA Apollo’s Unison preamps. You’ll find:

  • Input Gain control.
  • 75 Hz low-cut filter, -15 dB pad, and phase inversion switches.

The EQ section features a simple shelving design, but the High EQ acts like a tilt EQ when boosted, subtly cutting low frequencies as you increase highs.

High EQ boosted to +4.5

Comp Mode

The compressor section offers two modes:

  1. 1176 Mode (top selector).
  2. LA-2A Mode (bottom selector).

Both modes exhibit slightly different tonal characteristics, with subtle differences in low-end compression.

Even when the EQ and compression are bypassed, the plugin adds natural saturation.

At high SPLs, you’ll notice slight compression even with no additional processing.

1176 Compression

In 1:1 mode, the 1176 exhibits a very subtle knee, creating a compression ratio that feels like 1:1.01—barely noticeable but present.

In 4:1 mode, compression is tighter and more aggressive. Comparing the UAD LA6176 to the standalone UAD 1176LN plugin, their compression curves are nearly identical, suggesting the plugin replicates the 1176’s algorithm seamlessly.

LA-2A Compression

The LA-2A mode behaves slightly differently depending on the model emulated. For example:

  • The Silver model exhibits distinct compression characteristics compared to the Gray model and Tube Compressor emulations.

When used, the plugin adds more harmonic richness than applying the 1176 or LA-2A plugins individually. This makes the sound fuller and more dynamic.

Why Choose the LA6176 Plugin?

UAD has shifted its pricing strategy dramatically, offering deeper discounts during sales like Black Friday. Considering its detailed emulation of legendary hardware, the LA6176 is a powerful addition for any studio setup.

Purchase LA6176 at Plugin Boutique

If you’ve been eyeing premium channel strips, now might be the perfect time to grab this plugin at a fraction of the original cost!