So glad you mentioned that you don't care about if it sounds like yesterday. As long as it sounds good. The engineer back then made use of those vintage pieces and now we are in today's era. Different and new gear is important today and I'm happy. Thanks for this video.
+1 for Stam. Owner of Stamchild, SA-76D+ and SA-23A+ which are great clones with option of adding more. For example, SA-76D+ lets you pull the output knob to engage a tube output. SA-23A+ has two Kenetek T4B for slow (custom) and fast attack and clones LA-2A Slow, Fast, LA-3A and LA-4 in one unit 👏👏👏
I concur! I am a huge, huge fan of Stam Audio!!! I have tried most of the well known gear builders and Stam Audio is my favorite and go to. Joshua van der Stam is a brilliant and very kind individual who has a passion to make great gear.
Another DIY option I can recommend personally are the AML 500 series Neve-style preamps. Built like tanks and sound right at home next to my Stam Neve pres. Super fun soldering project if you’re looking for a challenge!
I just picked up the Warm Bus comp because I was playing with it at their NAMM booth and was getting great results with it. The trick is knowing what settings to use on this type of gear to get the sound out of it that you're looking for. I think that I'll pick up a Warm-2A next. I was going to get the 2A first, but I found the used Bus Comp for a good price, in great condition, so I went with that one first.
This channel is studio talk 💯....and Barry we would like to see your wood working incorporate with this channel...from maybe studio furniture, paper weights, guitar stands or anything made from wood thats useful in the studio...💯👍
I just bought a warm audio preamp based on one of your previous videos. It's a lot better than anything I've had before. Those other companies are at least twice as expensive and there's no way I would have paid that much for a preamp.
I like warm audio and have a WA47 which I love. I have a friend who works in electronics manufacturing and is also a music production nerd like myself. He has some nice mics, but his WA67 has been giving him some issues and he's only had it for a year. When he opened it up, he said the soldering work was horrendous and he doesn't know how it passed QC. He's having Warm fix it, but they're still charging him a 100 dollar labor fee. Though the company uses decent components, they definitely cut costs via quality control, so just keep that in mind when trying out their gear. Again, I love my wa47 and haven't had an issue in the past 13 months or so I've owned it, just sharing the experience of a close friend of mine. Edit: I'll add that I'm very interested in trying out Warm's preamps!
Just found your channel very intriguing! I to live in central Florida over by the villages, the funny thing as I watched the video I for some reason felt a connection and then found out you are in Orlando.
I have a pair of Great River MP-500NV 500 series mic preamps that really are amazing. They are classified in the "Neve" clone category but are much more than that. They are Neve-ish but do their own thing and do it extremely well. Those units are so good I wouldn't hesitate to try some of their other products. I also have 2 channels of Purple Audio MK1 Biz mic preamps. They aren't Neve or API clones but do they are kind of in their own category. Also built very well and sound good too. They fit somewhere in the middle of the Neve-API spectrum. I would love to have a MC77. An 1176 with a side-chain but not inexpensive by any means. Even pricey on the used market when you can find them. Still less expensive than an UA 1176. For what they sell for used, I might as well spend another $50 or $100 and buy a new one. They hold their value very well. I have a Warm Audio WA76, 1176 clone that I use and it works okay. It's a little cheaper build than I would like, but it still sounds better than my UA 1176 plugins which I still use often. Very cheap feeling pots and knobs but I bought it used for a good price and could sell it for what I paid for it or more. I still use my vintage Urie/Universal Audio LA-4 a lot. It's sound is a little darker but is great for bass instruments and kick drum. I also have a Warm Audio tube U47 clone. It's nowhere close to a U47 but still sounds good when used on the right source. It has a very good sounding and very transparent midrange but the top end is a bit dark. For vocals I stick a KM184 right next to it and blend it in. I lhigh-pass the KM184 and use it as a high frequency boost. THAT combination sounds wonderful. Big fat and deep midrange with plenty of sizzle. I second your opinion on Capi though my experience with them is limited. I built one of their 511, 11 space 500 series racks from a kit. It has very well made components and the PSU is dead silent with whatever module I put in it, in any slot location. I can't say that about my old 6 space, API brand Lunchbox. Any device that I put in the slot next to the PSU on the Lunchbox would always hum a little. I tried moving 3 different mic preamps and 2 different compressors into the slot next to the PSU and all of them hummed a little when installed in that location. Some were worse than others. The hum was very slight and the modules were definitely usable but for an expensive piece of name-brand API gear that hum should have been non-existant. I contacted API about it and they said they all do that. No they don't! The Capi doesn't. It was 1/3 the price and has 5 more slots. I had to build it but that was quite easy. It just took some time. All the components fit together perfectly and didn't require any messing with at assembly to make things fit. I already have 2 channels of API 312 preamps so I have that covered and don't need a clone for them. I am definitely considering a Capi BT50, API - ish EQ for tracking, but yes, they are out of stock and there is a substantial wait for the kits. There are some pre-assembled ones available on Reverb for a reasonable price but I have to save up before pulling the trigger. I just bought an SSL stereo 2 bus EQ. I would love to have an Audioscape 2 bus compressor. I have heard very good things about them from people I know and respect. Audioscape's stereo dBx 160 clone looks interesting too. There's a wait for both of those items. I have plugins until that happens.
Agree about the gear, though Stam's 1073-5T was advertised as having a lead time of 4 weeks in July 2022 which is when I ordered mine, and it's close to April 2023 and there's still no sign of them, so it would appear the issues with that are still ongoing. They stated in February the units need a few days of burn-in. They're worth the wait I bet, but this is just so people know.
"Good talk", Barry! I'm a pro session guitarist producer and composer in NYC. I never liked a u87ai on my 61 Gibson acoustic. I got Stam Audio SA-87i (1972 U87 clone) & it's amazing! I also have a Stam SA-47 mk2, & with no eq, it's mix ready on male vocals. Joshua is also a real musician & singer. Great ears, & obsessed with sonic authenticity...
I have a Warm Audio 251 Microphone, it sounds great. I am saving to buy som gear from Stam Audio. A lot of time you have to pre-order but they give a bug discount if you order that way. I will definitely check out the other two manufacturers. Bary, it would be great if you did a video or two just showing the gear you have, your signal chains and such. Great video . Thanks for doing what you do.
Stam audio and heritage audio are top notch. I own an stam audio ssl bus compressor mk2. It’s really good. They improve upon the originals and makes it sound just as good. Heritage audio also makes great stuff hopefully get some of those later down the line. Heard great things about audio scape too. Also CAPI is OP. Did some A/B tests and it’s just insane.
Heritage is not top notch. They're seriously lacking in build quality (i don't know a single studio with properly working 73 jr's) and what the put in some of their clones vs what they charge for them is a joke.
Yeah I’m definitely sold on #Audioscape I’m on the list for a piece of gear. Hopefully now that they’re in they’re new big building they’ll be able to get us people who are waiting out gear. Friendly awesome company!!!!
Nice job Barry….. i lived a few blocks from Brent when he started up, he cannibalized an old Neve board he had in his garage….. i had a couple of his pre amps and he racked a 2254 for me….. same with chandler… the one thing you noted that i hope people take to heart….. is that some gear is a consumable, just like a car or a computer…. And other gear…. Its an asset, like a tube Tech, a Chandler Zenner, or an Avril 2254- you posses it and then someone else with use it after you gladly…. Thats What the Audioscape, Retro and Stam pieces are….. yes they cost a bit more, but when you are ready to move on….. you are going to get most if not all your money back…. And depending on the piece ….. probably more than you paid…. You left Retro off your List and you also left Wes Audio….. while they don’t make clones in the sense of aesthetics…. They package a bit differently but the channel path and transformers all track to the originals… Cheers
While the mentioned mfg's may make good gear so does Warm. I have the WA73-EQ, WA412, EQP-WA, WA76, Bus-Comp and WA87 r2. Everything I have works really great and maintains it's value. Golden Age projects also makes good gear, I have the Comp-2A. Just read the sound on sound reviews, watch Joe Carrell, Andrew Masters, etc they love their warm equipment in addition to all the others mentioned.
People can read into it however they want. I’m not going to talk negative about them, but I would never recommend them if that is what you are hinting at.
Audio-Scape is a fantastic company. Everyone at Audio-Scape is friendly and helpful. We Love their Optp-Comp. The company's repair service is Top-Notch. We had a sticky meter in an LA-2A. Called the company, sent the gear, it was back in a week!', no charge. Great Service, fantastic products. Their 1176 Rev. A sounds Amazing. Love that bluestripe air on vocals. The box even has that "rattle" when you push it! Audio-Scape makes fantastic recreations of vintage gear. They do precisely what they say they are going to do. Very reliable company which stands by it's word.
Thanks Barry for such solid advice for home studio musicians and producers. I'm still building my outboard gear in the 500 series rack/lunchbox format for most part, (also use plug-ins and DI quite a bit). Audioscape is just up coast from me thanks for recommendation.
Barry, This a great video! How far away are you from the RME TotalMIx videos? I got this nice RME UFX III and having a hard time with it. I am slowly understanding it but like to see what you have. Thank you for the videos.
I had a pair of WA12s and a WA76 which both went faulty after a few years of light use. I've seen other people in forums say that their gear was faulty new out of the box. I definitely agree with you that you should save up a bit more money and get a better product from another company.
WARM have been known to be guilty of using extremely thin circuit boards and thin traces on the boards which also makes them virtually unrepairable. Lesson is - you get what you pay for.
@@roryyerama5496 I managed to burn off a circuit trace trying to replace some transistors in my WA12 and had to send it off. I also had to remove an SMD diode in my WA76, but thankfully that went okay both times I had to do it. Glad to have sold those units now.
Capi and Stam both good. Capi you usually must build, Stam you must wait forever. Warm I can not support due to reliability issues and going for cheapest build possible.
@@Martin-kn6vc I would put Capi and hairball leagues above warm, and slightly above stam. Modern API in general is not my favorite sound but their build quality is second to none. My friend has a pair of Lola's that I used to have at the studio and I loved them!
So, you're basically saying that Warm Audio have become the "Walmart" of cloned gear manufacturers. Workable in a pinch, but you don't want to admit that you're really using them since they exist in the "almost but not quite there" realm of replicas. Thanks for sharing!
@@benthompkins I'm going to assume that maybe some people are getting their palms greased for their efforts. One thing about Barry is that he don't BS about stuff which is why I keep coming back to listen to what he has to say.
Warm calls their products clones but they're really not. When you put any of their gear up against what it purports to imitate, Warm gear falls flat every time. I totally agree on Audioscape. When you figure price vs quality, Audioscape is as good as it gets. Their gear is damn close to the original and spot on in some cases. People who have a hard time ordering should contact the company directly and asked to be invoiced for a piece when it's next being built. I've bought a lot from them and have never done the 8pm scramble. Stam is still problematic. That is not behind them yet. Promised deliveries are still too often late and quality control is an issue (there's always plenty of Stam gear on Reverb). Besides that, the owner is petty af and he lies to his customers A LOT. CAPI gear, like Audioscape, is also top notch. If API is on anyone's wish list, CAPI is a great option for saving a few bucks. I'm going to plug a couple of mic clone options that are very much worth considering. Serrano 84 ...for well under $1k these are very close to the vintage Neumann KM84. Beesneez BU67 ...the closest mic I've heard to a vintage 67 ...and that includes the Neumann reissue.
I personally love Warm Audio and get great results from. Then again if anything were to mess up, I live right down the street from them in Austin lol. Tonebeast, WA73 EQ stereo preamp and a CX-12 mic.
I have both the mic pre (solid) and the WA-73, about the only instrument I find that EQ useful on is snare, where to me it shines. Give the heritage audio, HA 73 a chance for me it’s a much more useful EQ. For it does have an additional band and that does make a difference. As well as the EQ curves differ from both of them.
I had a some 1073 mic pres that Brent Averill rack mounted years ago when he was doing it in his garage. I made the mistake of selling them when sessions were getting slim for awhile in the late 90s. HUGE MISTAKE. I could sell them for thousands now. Best vocal and bass sounds I ever got.
As far as entry level interfaces go for the home studio person just getting started, I think The Universal Audio Volt, with the included 76 compressor has the best sound quality for interfaces around and under $500. I'd say the sound quality is quite good regardless of classification. Universal Audio really delivered with their Volt interfaces.
It's a gimmick. Doesn't sound like or have any resemblance to a 76 in design or features because it's NOT one. Although these interfaces look nice aesthetically and they sounds good, the "compressor" is not a reason to buy one. In fact there are better interfaces out there with more useful features than anything in the UA volt range.
I have loads of physical outboard and tons of emulations . Bottom line is the plugins are so close and sometime better AND have total recall. A no brainer.
Outboard is phase 3 of my current plan which is in phase 1, but.... I have been paying attention to this as I definitely want to add some colored Pre's as mentioned. Colt Capparune has highlighted CAPI as well, and this all is telling me that the clients really don't care about brand as long as - like you say "it sounds great". Thanks for the recommendations - I will definitely check them out. I like the simplicity of Seventh Circle as well and have heard good things, but alas no 500 series that I know of. I believe they are mostly DIY as well. On the budget side (and not for clones), what do you think of Fredenstein? I am looking at their all in in one re-amp solution at the moment.
Barry totally agree with you on CAPI, they have awesome units, I have built 6 of the VP28 pre amps 4 of his BT50 eq’s 2 of his LC40 eq’s plus 2 of his LC25 eq’s they definitely are a challenge to build but there is lots of build info on there site. The cost saving’s made it possible to get that many units. Stam have great pieces of gear also, but the wait was quite stressful. They actually have some units in stock nowadays, so I guess back when I bought they were going through growing pains and Covid related delays?
@@TheThinker43 What didn’t you like about them? I would be quite surprised they aren’t that good. That being said I haven’t tried them. I did build 2 of the 1176 blue stripe Hairball rack units which are good. I would like to get 2 of the CAPI compressors but they haven’t had stock.
@@Rusty123R I bought the vp28’s the graphics lc40 and parametric wich I can’t remember the model. I could not believe how good the eq’s and preamps were. But the compressor was flat/lifeless/complete tone sucker…literally free plug-ins are beter .. maybe I got two duds but I doubt it..
@@TheThinker43 Did you build the compressor or did you buy it built? I am pretty sure his design is a 1176 style compressor it should be pretty aggressive . Maybe there is something not working on the unit?
Sound advice Barry and I agree with you completely. I have never been impressed with warm audio at all. Consistent quality matters to me even if I have to pay a few dollars more. Buy once cry once.
I gotta mention acustica nebula 3rd party devs, really a sweet spot for a bedroom producer like me. I haven't done a/b tests but the word is they're close to the hardware units, 80-90% close. good enough for me!
Audioscape, CAPI and Stam are top notch! The WA67 is my go-to mic for Rock vocals. it's very similar to the U67. That said, it arrived w/a loose screw bouncing around in the head basket & possibly damaging the capsule. Always inspect any tube mic then let it burn in for a couple of weeks.
It was funny to hear you speak about BAE 1070s. I always liked BAE more than the original. I don't think I have found a BAE product but they are sometimes more expensive than the original.
Stam Audio make amazing products. Unfortunately their shipping times are still terrible. Took 5-6 weeks to get a pair of compressors. But I will say wow the products are worth the wait. Just practice ALOT of patience and ensure you won’t need the products in a timely manner. Lindell Audio is another underrated company. They make really affordable gear that is exceptionally good.
Thank you for this! I’m looking to get two channels of 1073 pre + eq. Would you say getting two Stam Audio 1073eq+ are worth the extra cost compared to a Heritage audio HA73EQX2 elite?
These other manufacturers are still boutique...warm audio is mass produced. That's why you see warm audio on reverb... Most ppl haven't even heard of Capi.
Have a couple WA 12 500 series, WA2A, WA76 and WA73 w/EQ and so far so good with the exception of a bum VU meter on the 76. I'm sure the touch and feel is not up to par with other clones but listening to audio comparisons, don't hear much difference. Maybe if you operate a commercial studio using the gear everyday, Warm Audio may not be the best choice for reliabiltiy or longevity. I don't know but I had a Blue Robbie Pre for less than 2 years that crapped out on me and that was considered higher end than Warm Audio.
Capi, Warm, HA are all good. Can't say same things with Stam. Stam might have improved their capability with manufacturing, scheduling, communication, order handling etc. Who knows whether things would regress to its sorry previous state? I took me years to get my refund (not in full). Thanks for the great video.
Thanks for this video-these are brands I’ve never heard of. Any thoughts on Great River? I made an EP about 15 years ago, and used the ME1-NV (which I have since sold) for a lot of the tracking, and was very happy with the results. I’m trying to build out my home studio again, and looking for a solid preamp to track vocals and DI guitar and bass. Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated!
@@BarryJohns Great! I'm looking to get back into recording again, and the Great River ME1-NV is something I terribly regret parting with. Do you happen to offer any kind of consulting services on home studio gear? I know you don't recommend any specific pieces (which I agree with your reasoning on why you don't do that). However, I was thinking more along the lines of advising on which pieces of gear to prioritize based on end goals. Just curious to see what you'd charge for an hour call because I think it might help speed up the process and save money in the end. Keep up the great work with your channel--I really get a lot of value from your content!
@@benthompkins Absolutely! I just keep hearing about QC and longevity concerns with Warm Audio, which is a tad worrisome. But I’ll have my hands and ears on my units in a few days, then I’ll make my own judgements 😜
@@TheThinker43 way better, hum, I wouldn’t say that. Better, yes, with the cost, only you can say for your needs. Bottom line I think the majority of people should just stick with plugins, the difference is there with analog, but if you are not doing serious stuff that goes out to a lot of people, may not be worth it unless it’s within your budget.
I`ve been recording and purchasing gear since 1991 and when I started, I purchased cheap gear because it was what I could afford. I eventually sold all of that gear or threw it in the garbage (yes, it was that bad). Today, I save up and get the real thing. If I were starting out today, my advice would be simple: save up (or use monthly payments) and get yourself a channel strip. The Avalon 737, the Rupert Never Shelford Channel, the Manley Core or VoxBox are all excellent pieces that you will not regret purchasing. I know its tempting to fill up your rack space with cheap gear (Warm, Behringer, etc...) but you`ll eventually regret those purchases and end up selling that gear so save yourself the aggravation. I`m not familiar with Audioscape, Stam, or Capi but whenever a clone is that much cheaper than the original, corners are cut. Audioscape seems to be doing things pretty legitimately but I cannot be certain until I hear it for myself and touch it.
CAPI makes a 32-2 summing mixer. What is it for and why/how would you use it in a digital recording environment? I'm one of those old douchebags who was a recording engineer in LA during the 70s, and we didn't use these summing devices because we had consoles. I just don't understand how or why such a unit would be used today.
What about Black Lion? :o I am just starting out with analog gear but I am old enough to remember that being the only option. I have an RME UFX+ and Octamic XTC and I am looking to get choice sound for rock/jazz from a 12-piece custom Ludwig Legacy kit. Nothing but boxes of SM57s and Beta52 right now. So...beyond removing transformers from the SM57s (nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk) what should be my next step? Analog preamps? Better mics for overheads and room? (Yeah I am using 57s for overheads and Beta 56 for ROOM until next paycheck.)
Black lion is amazing, it’s just they don’t cover the variety and range of all the products that the other manufacturers do. That said everything they make is incredibly good.
Has anyone here ordered anything recently from Stam audio, and received it within a reasonable time frame, let's say within 1-2 months? Would be curious to hear anyone's recent experiences with stam audio and how quickly they got their product.
I'm really sorry to hear, we need to keep improving to offer a better service and are taking baby steps towards it so we can have units in stock in the near future and no wait times, my apologies for not being able to deliver your unit in a timely manner, no excuses, I hope we can make up for it soon
I'm looking for a Neve preamp clone to give me the best overdriven direct in guitar sound. Anyone have any experience with clones that do a great job at this?
Check out the Neve Portico 5017 approximately $1,000 it's a true Neve product and it sounds awesome. I see this thread is 6 months old, you probably already made a decision. I'm curious what you got?
Still trying to figure out why everybody wants all of this clone gear when the reality is that back in the 70s and the glory era of music production nobody used any of these brand names at least not in the New York area. We were using stuff like mci Harrison and yamaha dbx and amek never saw a Neve in any Studio that was producing the music that was going around the world coming out of New York. Did not see ssl until the late 80s.
Ok I’ve got my helmet on…..how come companies like UA, Neve, Pultec, etc…haven’t sued the bejesus out of these “copycats”?? Hey I own a BAE 1073 so….still curious as to why. AudioScape has interested me but anytime I check the site say “sold out” so….kind of a turn off. Brings back memories especially here in Florida(2005-2007) where you had to put your name in a lottery to purchase a new home(we all know how that turned out😮).
For those especially into 500 format I would mention these two: JLM Audio (Australia) and Sound Skulptor (France). If you know how to solder, you can save even more by buying the kits.
I agree that the clones are usually pretty close, but the plugins hell no. Plugins are not anywhere close to what you get from the analog gear. For example, UA LA2A plugin is nowhere close to the sound you could get from Audioscape LA2A.
Thank you for mentioning us among such great audio manufacturers. I am humbled and honored Barry. Greetings from Chile.
So glad you mentioned that you don't care about if it sounds like yesterday. As long as it sounds good. The engineer back then made use of those vintage pieces and now we are in today's era. Different and new gear is important today and I'm happy. Thanks for this video.
I don’t need a subscription for outboard hardware, and these days, that’s an inherent value 😊
Barry’s putting in that work, he’s in the zone with these post!
If he's gonna talk, he should also let us listen to some audio samples.
+1 for Stam. Owner of Stamchild, SA-76D+ and SA-23A+ which are great clones with option of adding more. For example, SA-76D+ lets you pull the output knob to engage a tube output. SA-23A+ has two Kenetek T4B for slow (custom) and fast attack and clones LA-2A Slow, Fast, LA-3A and LA-4 in one unit 👏👏👏
I concur! I am a huge, huge fan of Stam Audio!!! I have tried most of the well known gear builders and Stam Audio is my favorite and go to. Joshua van der Stam is a brilliant and very kind individual who has a passion to make great gear.
Another DIY option I can recommend personally are the AML 500 series Neve-style preamps. Built like tanks and sound right at home next to my Stam Neve pres.
Super fun soldering project if you’re looking for a challenge!
The fact he left off AML is a crime
@@AKA47 I agree...
Aml makes the worst 1073 clones
I just picked up the Warm Bus comp because I was playing with it at their NAMM booth and was getting great results with it. The trick is knowing what settings to use on this type of gear to get the sound out of it that you're looking for.
I think that I'll pick up a Warm-2A next. I was going to get the 2A first, but I found the used Bus Comp for a good price, in great condition, so I went with that one first.
This channel is studio talk 💯....and Barry we would like to see your wood working incorporate with this channel...from maybe studio furniture, paper weights, guitar stands or anything made from wood thats useful in the studio...💯👍
I just bought a warm audio preamp based on one of your previous videos. It's a lot better than anything I've had before. Those other companies are at least twice as expensive and there's no way I would have paid that much for a preamp.
I like warm audio and have a WA47 which I love. I have a friend who works in electronics manufacturing and is also a music production nerd like myself. He has some nice mics, but his WA67 has been giving him some issues and he's only had it for a year. When he opened it up, he said the soldering work was horrendous and he doesn't know how it passed QC. He's having Warm fix it, but they're still charging him a 100 dollar labor fee. Though the company uses decent components, they definitely cut costs via quality control, so just keep that in mind when trying out their gear. Again, I love my wa47 and haven't had an issue in the past 13 months or so I've owned it, just sharing the experience of a close friend of mine.
Edit: I'll add that I'm very interested in trying out Warm's preamps!
Just found your channel very intriguing! I to live in central Florida over by the villages, the funny thing as I watched the video I for some reason felt a connection and then found out you are in Orlando.
I have a pair of Great River MP-500NV 500 series mic preamps that really are amazing. They are classified in the "Neve" clone category but are much more than that. They are Neve-ish but do their own thing and do it extremely well. Those units are so good I wouldn't hesitate to try some of their other products.
I also have 2 channels of Purple Audio MK1 Biz mic preamps. They aren't Neve or API clones but do they are kind of in their own category. Also built very well and sound good too. They fit somewhere in the middle of the Neve-API spectrum. I would love to have a MC77. An 1176 with a side-chain but not inexpensive by any means. Even pricey on the used market when you can find them. Still less expensive than an UA 1176. For what they sell for used, I might as well spend another $50 or $100 and buy a new one. They hold their value very well.
I have a Warm Audio WA76, 1176 clone that I use and it works okay. It's a little cheaper build than I would like, but it still sounds better than my UA 1176 plugins which I still use often. Very cheap feeling pots and knobs but I bought it used for a good price and could sell it for what I paid for it or more. I still use my vintage Urie/Universal Audio LA-4 a lot. It's sound is a little darker but is great for bass instruments and kick drum. I also have a Warm Audio tube U47 clone. It's nowhere close to a U47 but still sounds good when used on the right source. It has a very good sounding and very transparent midrange but the top end is a bit dark. For vocals I stick a KM184 right next to it and blend it in. I lhigh-pass the KM184 and use it as a high frequency boost. THAT combination sounds wonderful. Big fat and deep midrange with plenty of sizzle.
I second your opinion on Capi though my experience with them is limited. I built one of their 511, 11 space 500 series racks from a kit. It has very well made components and the PSU is dead silent with whatever module I put in it, in any slot location. I can't say that about my old 6 space, API brand Lunchbox. Any device that I put in the slot next to the PSU on the Lunchbox would always hum a little. I tried moving 3 different mic preamps and 2 different compressors into the slot next to the PSU and all of them hummed a little when installed in that location. Some were worse than others. The hum was very slight and the modules were definitely usable but for an expensive piece of name-brand API gear that hum should have been non-existant. I contacted API about it and they said they all do that. No they don't! The Capi doesn't. It was 1/3 the price and has 5 more slots. I had to build it but that was quite easy. It just took some time. All the components fit together perfectly and didn't require any messing with at assembly to make things fit.
I already have 2 channels of API 312 preamps so I have that covered and don't need a clone for them. I am definitely considering a Capi BT50, API - ish EQ for tracking, but yes, they are out of stock and there is a substantial wait for the kits. There are some pre-assembled ones available on Reverb for a reasonable price but I have to save up before pulling the trigger. I just bought an SSL stereo 2 bus EQ.
I would love to have an Audioscape 2 bus compressor. I have heard very good things about them from people I know and respect. Audioscape's stereo dBx 160 clone looks interesting too. There's a wait for both of those items. I have plugins until that happens.
Agree about the gear, though Stam's 1073-5T was advertised as having a lead time of 4 weeks in July 2022 which is when I ordered mine, and it's close to April 2023 and there's still no sign of them, so it would appear the issues with that are still ongoing. They stated in February the units need a few days of burn-in. They're worth the wait I bet, but this is just so people know.
"Good talk", Barry! I'm a pro session guitarist producer and composer in NYC. I never liked a u87ai on my 61 Gibson acoustic. I got Stam Audio SA-87i (1972 U87 clone) & it's amazing! I also have a Stam SA-47 mk2, & with no eq, it's mix ready on male vocals. Joshua is also a real musician & singer. Great ears, & obsessed with sonic authenticity...
I have a Warm Audio 251 Microphone, it sounds great. I am saving to buy som gear from Stam Audio. A lot of time you have to pre-order but they give a bug discount if you order that way. I will definitely check out the other two manufacturers. Bary, it would be great if you did a video or two just showing the gear you have, your signal chains and such. Great video . Thanks for doing what you do.
I have 25-30 stam items. The 670 is out of this world. Mic locker full of stam. They kick asssss
Stam audio and heritage audio are top notch. I own an stam audio ssl bus compressor mk2. It’s really good. They improve upon the originals and makes it sound just as good. Heritage audio also makes great stuff hopefully get some of those later down the line.
Heard great things about audio scape too.
Also CAPI is OP. Did some A/B tests and it’s just insane.
Heritage is not top notch. They're seriously lacking in build quality (i don't know a single studio with properly working 73 jr's) and what the put in some of their clones vs what they charge for them is a joke.
AML’s version of the 2254 diode bridge compressor is one of my favorite pieces ever
Yeah I’m definitely sold on #Audioscape I’m on the list for a piece of gear. Hopefully now that they’re in they’re new big building they’ll be able to get us people who are waiting out gear. Friendly awesome company!!!!
Nice job Barry….. i lived a few blocks from Brent when he started up, he cannibalized an old Neve board he had in his garage….. i had a couple of his pre amps and he racked a 2254 for me….. same with chandler… the one thing you noted that i hope people take to heart….. is that some gear is a consumable, just like a car or a computer…. And other gear…. Its an asset, like a tube Tech, a Chandler Zenner, or an Avril 2254- you posses it and then someone else with use it after you gladly…. Thats What the Audioscape, Retro and Stam pieces are….. yes they cost a bit more, but when you are ready to move on….. you are going to get most if not all your money back…. And depending on the piece ….. probably more than you paid….
You left Retro off your List and you also left Wes Audio….. while they don’t make clones in the sense of aesthetics…. They package a bit differently but the channel path and transformers all track to the originals…
Cheers
While the mentioned mfg's may make good gear so does Warm. I have the WA73-EQ, WA412, EQP-WA, WA76, Bus-Comp and WA87 r2. Everything I have works really great and maintains it's value. Golden Age projects also makes good gear, I have the Comp-2A. Just read the sound on sound reviews, watch Joe Carrell, Andrew Masters, etc they love their warm equipment in addition to all the others mentioned.
You’re such a talented man, Mick. Brilliant.
WesAudio is coming up on this list strong with it’s Digital Callback features of clones.
Highly recommend @WesAudio You can't go wrong.
Very fitting you have Klark Teknik on your thumbnail but yet didn’t mention them at all in the discussion… Very fitting lol
People can read into it however they want. I’m not going to talk negative about them, but I would never recommend them if that is what you are hinting at.
Audio-Scape is a fantastic company. Everyone at Audio-Scape is friendly and helpful. We Love their Optp-Comp. The company's repair service is Top-Notch. We had a sticky meter in an LA-2A. Called the company, sent the gear, it was back in a week!', no charge. Great Service, fantastic products. Their 1176 Rev. A sounds Amazing. Love that bluestripe air on vocals. The box even has that "rattle" when you push it! Audio-Scape makes fantastic recreations of vintage gear. They do precisely what they say they are going to do. Very reliable company which stands by it's word.
I absolutely agree!
Thanks Barry for such solid advice for home studio musicians and producers. I'm still building my outboard gear in the 500 series rack/lunchbox format for most part, (also use plug-ins and DI quite a bit). Audioscape is just up coast from me thanks for recommendation.
Here some gear pushing, ok you can get those from me, I build them all and used them too! AML, CAPI, HAIRBALL, JLM, SSK. great shit man! for sure.
I've been waiting since December for my Stam Pul Tech.
Barry, This a great video! How far away are you from the RME TotalMIx videos? I got this nice RME UFX III and having a hard time with it. I am slowly understanding it but like to see what you have. Thank you for the videos.
LOL. a Return on investment in a recording studio LOL...... thats just hilarious.
I had a pair of WA12s and a WA76 which both went faulty after a few years of light use. I've seen other people in forums say that their gear was faulty new out of the box. I definitely agree with you that you should save up a bit more money and get a better product from another company.
WARM have been known to be guilty of using extremely thin circuit boards and thin traces on the boards which also makes them virtually unrepairable. Lesson is - you get what you pay for.
@@roryyerama5496 I managed to burn off a circuit trace trying to replace some transistors in my WA12 and had to send it off. I also had to remove an SMD diode in my WA76, but thankfully that went okay both times I had to do it. Glad to have sold those units now.
Capi and Stam both good. Capi you usually must build, Stam you must wait forever. Warm I can not support due to reliability issues and going for cheapest build possible.
@@ezrashanti A lot of people love the CAPI stuff. I've built some mic pres from Hairball Audio which sound great too!
@@Martin-kn6vc I would put Capi and hairball leagues above warm, and slightly above stam. Modern API in general is not my favorite sound but their build quality is second to none. My friend has a pair of Lola's that I used to have at the studio and I loved them!
These are the best 3 clone companies for sure. Perfect choices, Barry. The only flaws are the ones you stated.
So, you're basically saying that Warm Audio have become the "Walmart" of cloned gear manufacturers. Workable in a pinch, but you don't want to admit that you're really using them since they exist in the "almost but not quite there" realm of replicas. Thanks for sharing!
@@benthompkins I'm going to assume that maybe some people are getting their palms greased for their efforts. One thing about Barry is that he don't BS about stuff which is why I keep coming back to listen to what he has to say.
I haven’t tried their other gear, but Sebatron makes a great 4 channel mic pre that doesn’t break the bank.
I bought warm audio tone beast and wa76 when they were really popular…I like the sound better than plugins
Great list Barry and as always an enjoyable vid to watch! Thanks!
Florida company... Vintech x73i makes neve 1073 Clone that's awesome!
Big fan!
100% - the first clone i ever purchased not made by Brent Avril- the vintech x81…… great piece …. Wish i still had it
Great vid again Mr Barry.Audioscape is nice I got the 3a when you said it sounded great and I love it.
Warm calls their products clones but they're really not. When you put any of their gear up against what it purports to imitate, Warm gear falls flat every time.
I totally agree on Audioscape. When you figure price vs quality, Audioscape is as good as it gets. Their gear is damn close to the original and spot on in some cases. People who have a hard time ordering should contact the company directly and asked to be invoiced for a piece when it's next being built. I've bought a lot from them and have never done the 8pm scramble.
Stam is still problematic. That is not behind them yet. Promised deliveries are still too often late and quality control is an issue (there's always plenty of Stam gear on Reverb). Besides that, the owner is petty af and he lies to his customers A LOT.
CAPI gear, like Audioscape, is also top notch. If API is on anyone's wish list, CAPI is a great option for saving a few bucks.
I'm going to plug a couple of mic clone options that are very much worth considering.
Serrano 84 ...for well under $1k these are very close to the vintage Neumann KM84.
Beesneez BU67 ...the closest mic I've heard to a vintage 67 ...and that includes the Neumann reissue.
I would also add IGS to this too
Barry, nothing on AML? Man you need to check that company out. Just my humble opinon but, they are wirth checking out.
You mean AMs ?
The AML ez1073 is one of my all time favorite preamps…
I have the Heritage Brit Strip and love it BUT….I really wish it came with a traditional send/return to insert a 1176/la2a pre-eq
I personally love Warm Audio and get great results from. Then again if anything were to mess up, I live right down the street from them in Austin lol.
Tonebeast, WA73 EQ stereo preamp and a CX-12 mic.
I have both the mic pre (solid) and the WA-73, about the only instrument I find that EQ useful on is snare, where to me it shines. Give the heritage audio, HA 73 a chance for me it’s a much more useful EQ. For it does have an additional band and that does make a difference. As well as the EQ curves differ from both of them.
Don’t tell me what to buy but it’s nice to know what to avoid. 😊
I had a some 1073 mic pres that Brent Averill rack mounted years ago when he was doing it in his garage. I made the mistake of selling them when sessions were getting slim for awhile in the late 90s. HUGE MISTAKE. I could sell them for thousands now. Best vocal and bass sounds I ever got.
That was a huge mistake, live and learn…..
This is the review I’ve been waiting for!
As far as entry level interfaces go for the home studio person just getting started, I think The Universal Audio Volt, with the included 76 compressor has the best sound quality for interfaces around and under $500. I'd say the sound quality is quite good regardless of classification. Universal Audio really delivered with their Volt interfaces.
It's a gimmick. Doesn't sound like or have any resemblance to a 76 in design or features because it's NOT one. Although these interfaces look nice aesthetically and they sounds good, the "compressor" is not a reason to buy one. In fact there are better interfaces out there with more useful features than anything in the UA volt range.
Great video. I am looking for 500 series preamps compressors and eqs. I already browsed through Capi but was unaware of Stam audio.
Be aware you’ll wait a very long time for Stam.
I have loads of physical outboard and tons of emulations . Bottom line is the plugins are so close and sometime better AND have total recall. A no brainer.
Outboard is phase 3 of my current plan which is in phase 1, but.... I have been paying attention to this as I definitely want to add some colored Pre's as mentioned. Colt Capparune has highlighted CAPI as well, and this all is telling me that the clients really don't care about brand as long as - like you say "it sounds great". Thanks for the recommendations - I will definitely check them out. I like the simplicity of Seventh Circle as well and have heard good things, but alas no 500 series that I know of. I believe they are mostly DIY as well. On the budget side (and not for clones), what do you think of Fredenstein? I am looking at their all in in one re-amp solution at the moment.
Barry totally agree with you on CAPI, they have awesome units, I have built 6 of the VP28 pre amps 4 of his BT50 eq’s 2 of his LC40 eq’s plus 2 of his LC25 eq’s they definitely are a challenge to build but there is lots of build info on there site. The cost saving’s made it possible to get that many units. Stam have great pieces of gear also, but the wait was quite stressful. They actually have some units in stock nowadays, so I guess back when I bought they were going through growing pains and Covid related delays?
The capi’s eqs and preamps are awesome …but that compressor they made is pretty aweful
@@TheThinker43 What didn’t you like about them? I would be quite surprised they aren’t that good. That being said I haven’t tried them. I did build 2 of the 1176 blue stripe Hairball rack units which are good. I would like to get 2 of the CAPI compressors but they haven’t had stock.
@@Rusty123R I bought the vp28’s the graphics lc40 and parametric wich I can’t remember the model. I could not believe how good the eq’s and preamps were. But the compressor was flat/lifeless/complete tone sucker…literally free plug-ins are beter .. maybe I got two duds but I doubt it..
@@TheThinker43 Did you build the compressor or did you buy it built? I am pretty sure his design is a 1176 style compressor it should be pretty aggressive . Maybe there is something not working on the unit?
@@TheThinker43 sounds like they aren’t calibrated properly?
Sound advice Barry and I agree with you completely. I have never been impressed with warm audio at all. Consistent quality matters to me even if I have to pay a few dollars more. Buy once cry once.
Thanks for the tips Barry.
I would love to hear the music that you produce with all that gear!
I don't know who is the best but for sure Stam is the most innovative (76 ADG, 76 tube, pultec tube/solid state, neve clone with "old/new circuit...)
Add Hairball to that listz especially for their 1176s!
Yep!
I gotta mention acustica nebula 3rd party devs, really a sweet spot for a bedroom producer like me. I haven't done a/b tests but the word is they're close to the hardware units, 80-90% close. good enough for me!
Stam audio sounds the best.
My Wa87r2 is a great mic, but be warned it’s heavy for a desktop boom. It does work with the Warm Audio boom.
This was a great video I just subscribed thanks for your knowledge!!
Audioscape, CAPI and Stam are top notch! The WA67 is my go-to mic for Rock vocals. it's very similar to the U67. That said, it arrived w/a loose screw bouncing around in the head basket & possibly damaging the capsule. Always inspect any tube mic then let it burn in for a couple of weeks.
I own 2 CAPI V28s, a Audioscape LA2A, and 2 Sound Skulpter M73. Working on a few Link Audio 500 Series projects. Great stuff.
It was funny to hear you speak about BAE 1070s. I always liked BAE more than the original. I don't think I have found a BAE product but they are sometimes more expensive than the original.
Just subscribed to your channel. Point spot on! Thanks.😕🎶👍🏾
Great video! What do you think of Heritage Audio 1073 or 81a?
Stam Audio make amazing products. Unfortunately their shipping times are still terrible. Took 5-6 weeks to get a pair of compressors. But I will say wow the products are worth the wait. Just practice ALOT of patience and ensure you won’t need the products in a timely manner. Lindell Audio is another underrated company. They make really affordable gear that is exceptionally good.
I have waited longer than 1 year for my gear, I am currently still waiting! 😂😂😂😢
Great advice. Thanks!
Thank you for this! I’m looking to get two channels of 1073 pre + eq. Would you say getting two Stam Audio 1073eq+ are worth the extra cost compared to a Heritage audio HA73EQX2 elite?
I would like to know this too.
These other manufacturers are still boutique...warm audio is mass produced. That's why you see warm audio on reverb... Most ppl haven't even heard of Capi.
Have a couple WA 12 500 series, WA2A, WA76 and WA73 w/EQ and so far so good with the exception of a bum VU meter on the 76. I'm sure the touch and feel is not up to par with other clones but listening to audio comparisons, don't hear much difference. Maybe if you operate a commercial studio using the gear everyday, Warm Audio may not be the best choice for reliabiltiy or longevity. I don't know but I had a Blue Robbie Pre for less than 2 years that crapped out on me and that was considered higher end than Warm Audio.
Same here. I have two Warm mic pres and a WA CX-12. I've never had an issue with my ToneBeast or WA73 EQ stereo preamp
Could you do an episode like this but for cloned microphones? There are too many and hard to go demo.. Where should we start?
STAM for the win!
If you don't have to wait 6 months beyond when they say they would send it.
Capi, Warm, HA are all good. Can't say same things with Stam. Stam might have improved their capability with manufacturing, scheduling, communication, order handling etc. Who knows whether things would regress to its sorry previous state? I took me years to get my refund (not in full). Thanks for the great video.
Golden Age Premier 73, incredible pre for very little money!
Agreed!
Thanks for this video-these are brands I’ve never heard of. Any thoughts on Great River? I made an EP about 15 years ago, and used the ME1-NV (which I have since sold) for a lot of the tracking, and was very happy with the results. I’m trying to build out my home studio again, and looking for a solid preamp to track vocals and DI guitar and bass. Any suggestions from anyone would be appreciated!
I have the ME-500 and it’s my favorite Neve style preamp I own.
@@BarryJohns Great! I'm looking to get back into recording again, and the Great River ME1-NV is something I terribly regret parting with. Do you happen to offer any kind of consulting services on home studio gear? I know you don't recommend any specific pieces (which I agree with your reasoning on why you don't do that). However, I was thinking more along the lines of advising on which pieces of gear to prioritize based on end goals. Just curious to see what you'd charge for an hour call because I think it might help speed up the process and save money in the end. Keep up the great work with your channel--I really get a lot of value from your content!
If you're looking for SSL style gear, I've got some Link Audio Gear that is really nice.
Heritage is really good, too.
Yes!!!!
Great channel, so informative, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Audioscape FTW.
I’d say Capi surpasses API in just about every instance.
I’ve ordered a new WA273 and WA2A, my first outboard gear, and now concerned if I made the right move 😅
WA2A is very good, I recommend the Heritage Audio HA73 EQ.
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HA73EQ--heritage-audio-ha73eq-elite-mic-preamp-with-eq
@@benthompkins Absolutely! I just keep hearing about QC and longevity concerns with Warm Audio, which is a tad worrisome. But I’ll have my hands and ears on my units in a few days, then I’ll make my own judgements 😜
@@BarryJohns do you think the wa2a is better than the UA plug-ins ?
@@TheThinker43 way better, hum, I wouldn’t say that. Better, yes, with the cost, only you can say for your needs. Bottom line I think the majority of people should just stick with plugins, the difference is there with analog, but if you are not doing serious stuff that goes out to a lot of people, may not be worth it unless it’s within your budget.
@@BarryJohns I may have had some duds … I found the cla 1176 and Ua LA2A to beat out warm on everything I shot out
Great advice, thank you!
Definitely not warm audio. If your gonna go for affordable clones then my go to would be audioscape and capi. That’s about it
I`ve been recording and purchasing gear since 1991 and when I started, I purchased cheap gear because it was what I could afford. I eventually sold all of that gear or threw it in the garbage (yes, it was that bad). Today, I save up and get the real thing. If I were starting out today, my advice would be simple: save up (or use monthly payments) and get yourself a channel strip. The Avalon 737, the Rupert Never Shelford Channel, the Manley Core or VoxBox are all excellent pieces that you will not regret purchasing.
I know its tempting to fill up your rack space with cheap gear (Warm, Behringer, etc...) but you`ll eventually regret those purchases and end up selling that gear so save yourself the aggravation. I`m not familiar with Audioscape, Stam, or Capi but whenever a clone is that much cheaper than the original, corners are cut. Audioscape seems to be doing things pretty legitimately but I cannot be certain until I hear it for myself and touch it.
Maybe the og gear is just overrating itself like noymann mikes.
You guys forgot the king and that BAE audio !
CAPI makes a 32-2 summing mixer. What is it for and why/how would you use it in a digital recording environment? I'm one of those old douchebags who was a recording engineer in LA during the 70s, and we didn't use these summing devices because we had consoles. I just don't understand how or why such a unit would be used today.
Great video
thnx!
What about Black Lion? :o I am just starting out with analog gear but I am old enough to remember that being the only option. I have an RME UFX+ and Octamic XTC and I am looking to get choice sound for rock/jazz from a 12-piece custom Ludwig Legacy kit. Nothing but boxes of SM57s and Beta52 right now. So...beyond removing transformers from the SM57s (nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk) what should be my next step? Analog preamps? Better mics for overheads and room? (Yeah I am using 57s for overheads and Beta 56 for ROOM until next paycheck.)
Black lion is amazing, it’s just they don’t cover the variety and range of all the products that the other manufacturers do. That said everything they make is incredibly good.
Has anyone here ordered anything recently from Stam audio, and received it within a reasonable time frame, let's say within 1-2 months? Would be curious to hear anyone's recent experiences with stam audio and how quickly they got their product.
I got a microphone within about 2.5 weeks I think?
@@soap.f thanks for your response, was this an order you placed in 2023?
@@NatureSleepSerenity yessir
Just received it
@@soap.f great to hear, many thanks my friend!
Sorry to say, I got "burnt" by Stam Audio over the last 3-7 months. 6 promised delivery dates missed.
This has been a problem with them for years if you go back and look at the gearslutz forums.
I'm really sorry to hear, we need to keep improving to offer a better service and are taking baby steps towards it so we can have units in stock in the near future and no wait times, my apologies for not being able to deliver your unit in a timely manner, no excuses, I hope we can make up for it soon
@@joshuastam7704 That you would take the time to respond says a LOT ! Thank you
What about BAE ?
I mentioned BAE several times.
@@BarryJohns Yes you did! (As non-budget clones) - At first I thought you might be mentioning BLA LOL.
I'm looking for a Neve preamp clone to give me the best overdriven direct in guitar sound. Anyone have any experience with clones that do a great job at this?
I have a AML 1084 for sale.
JHS Color Box? (I am skeptical, but I know that a lot of people use them).
BAE the best come in my opinion.
@@trebleboost7 I have that and it’s fine. But it still feels more like a guitar pedal than when I say, use the UAD neve plugin directly.
Check out the Neve Portico 5017 approximately $1,000 it's a true Neve product and it sounds awesome. I see this thread is 6 months old, you probably already made a decision. I'm curious what you got?
Really a BAE 1073MP (no eq) at $1200 isn't much more than a WA or Heritage 1073. Especially considering what your getting
Still trying to figure out why everybody wants all of this clone gear when the reality is that back in the 70s and the glory era of music production nobody used any of these brand names at least not in the New York area. We were using stuff like mci Harrison and yamaha dbx and amek never saw a Neve in any Studio that was producing the music that was going around the world coming out of New York. Did not see ssl until the late 80s.
Ok I’ve got my helmet on…..how come companies like UA, Neve, Pultec, etc…haven’t sued the bejesus out of these “copycats”?? Hey I own a BAE 1073 so….still curious as to why. AudioScape has interested me but anytime I check the site say “sold out” so….kind of a turn off. Brings back memories especially here in Florida(2005-2007) where you had to put your name in a lottery to purchase a new home(we all know how that turned out😮).
Thoughts on Black Lion?
Outstanding
Are you selling your warm audio gear 😅
For those especially into 500 format I would mention these two: JLM Audio (Australia) and Sound Skulptor (France). If you know how to solder, you can save even more by buying the kits.
Do you think BAE sounds better than Vintech ?
Both are amazing.
I agree that the clones are usually pretty close, but the plugins hell no. Plugins are not anywhere close to what you get from the analog gear. For example, UA LA2A plugin is nowhere close to the sound you could get from Audioscape LA2A.