Universal Audio

In episode 3 of the Get To Know Your Gear series, the guys from Blorp Corp get to know/pimp the Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II Vacuum Tube Microphone/Instrument/Line Preamp.

This video demonstrates UA’s Moog Multimode Filter plug-in. 

Universal Audio, a manufacturer of vintage audio hardware and DSP software plug-ins for digital audio workstations, has released the first in a new series of audio educational DVD’s.

Developed by UA in association with Keyfax New Media, Studio On Screen Vol.1 is aimed at Beginner to Intermediate Level DAW users interested in learning about the use of UA products via an audio-visual journey exploring all the steps a song goes through from demo through tracking, mixing and mastering to a record-company-ready CD master. The DVD is available immediately from UA’s online store my.uaudio.com/DVD at the promotional launch price of $29.95 until December 31st 2006 (a $10 saving from the regular MSRP of $39.95).

“The market is flooded with videos which promise to teach you how to produce music “like the pro” or “mix it like a record.” Said UA’s President, Matt Ward. ” The only problem is that a lot of customers don’t know the basics of how mic pres, compressors and EQs function. So, when we here at UA set out to make our first educational video, we wanted something which would fill in these blanks for a novice or intermediate engineer/producer while still providing enough tips and tricks to interest more seasoned pros. ”

UA Studio On Screen Vol.1: Recording & Mixing From Demo to Finished Master

• Recording Techniques: Mic Positioning, DI, Gain-Staging, Compression
• UA Hardware: 2192, 6176, 8110, LA-610 & SOLO/610 use scenarios
• Tracking Techniques: Audio industry engineering/production pro’s interviewed
• Mix Session examples: UAD powered plug ins. & Steinberg Cubase SX
• CD Mastering Session: Tutorial demonstrating Precision Series UAD plug-ins

Recording and Mixing from Demo to Finished Master takes viewers on the journey of a song; from its modest beginnings in a Solo/610, UAD-1 Project Pak fueled bedroom studio, to a professional recording studio, flush with UA mic pres and compressors and a UAD-1 stuffed DAW all the way to Coast Recorders in San Francisco, where Michael Romanowski masters the track using only the UAD Precision Mastering plug-ins. While this video is centered, on UA products, the concepts and applications presented will be of great interest to all desktop recording customers, whatever gear they use.

Universal Audio has unveiled the Desktop Console System (DCS)- a new concept and product line which initially includes the DCS Remote Preamp and DCS Monitor Master. The DCS modular family of products each combine a base-unit with a DCS-Link(tm) connected remote controller and can each be used individually or interconnected to form a multi-unit console. The first DCS product, the Remote Preamp, is scheduled to begin shipping in Q1 2007 at a price TBA.

“The Desktop Console System (DCS) is a modular product family designed to upgrade and enhance DAW’s by elegantly combining the most useful large console features into a compact “micro-console” form factor. ” said Mike Barnes, VP Of Marketing for UA. “By collaborating with Scott & Rob Silfvast, two of the original founders and ex-executives of Euphonix, UA is poised to bring high-end console quality and pro features to project studios needing console features but with limited workspace and budgets.”

Key Features Of DCS Remote Preamp (Dual Pre & Cue Mixer)

• Dual Mono Or Stereo transimpedance Mic Pre/DI
• Mid-Side (MS) Recording with decoded monitoring
• Headphone amp with 3x Cue mix, Reverb & EQ
• Digitally controlled analog signal path via DCS-Link(tm)
• Remote up to 300′ from base station via CAT-5 cable

” By collaborating with UA, we have combined heritage, sonic excellence and our joint industry experience to design a modular series of desktop studio products. The DCS products uniquely take the best features and working methods of large-format consoles and allow these to be easily integrated into today’s more compact DAW-based studios.” said Scott Silfvast, Product Consultant and co-Founder of Euphonix. “Each DCS unit provides a unique solution for the DAW-based studio that helps to interface the analog part of the studio – humans, mics, instruments, headphones, speakers etc with the computer.”

Key Features Of DCS Monitor Master (Speaker & Cue Controller)

• Mixing/monitoring/recording premium-quality “console master section”
• 100% digitally controlled analog signal path via DCS-Link(tm) interconnect
• Five stereo inputs (three analog, two digital) and five stereo outputs
• Features such as mono sum, dim, mute plus L/R solo, phase and swap
• Flexible talkback & Reference grade 24 bit 192 kHz DAC

More information is available at the Universal Audio site.

Universal Audio has announced the development of the 2-LA-2 Twin T4 Leveling Amplifier. Based on the classic LA-2A design, the new 2-LA-2 offers two linked or independent channels and two T4 optical compression cells per channel, greatly expanding the uses of the original LA-2A. The 2-LA-2 will ship worldwide in Q1 2007. Final pricing will be announced at the time of first customer ship but as with the 2-1176, will offer a significant discount over purchasing two classic units.

“The 2-LA-2 is a feature-enhanced stereo evolution of the classic LA-2A sound redesigned to fit neatly into a 2U rack.” said Mike Barnes, VP of Marketing for Universal Audio. “Uniquely, the 2-LA-2 offers twin T4 cells (one fast and one slow) on each channel which means the 2-LA-2 can be used in conventional dual mono “classic” mode or in fast recovery mode as a stereo bus or drum group compressor which opens up many potential new uses of the LA-2A sound in recording, broadcast and live sound markets. ”

2-LA-2 Key Features

• Sound and circuit of the original Teletronix LA-2A
• Matched slow and fast optical T4 modules
• Linked stereo or dual mono operation
• 2U Rack, Custom UA Transformers, audiophile components
• Designed by original UREI(r) engineer, Dennis Fink

“With ten tubes and four T4 gain reduction modules, the 2-LA-2 is a real breakthrough in optical compression.” said Dennis Fink, Chief analog designer on 2-LA-2. “The real design challenge was to retain all the essence of the “LA” sound within a brand new circuit layout and squeeze it into the desired standard 2U rack. While the 2-LA-2 is not an exact component clone of our classic hand-wired LA-2, this new product created a great opportunity to evolve the next generation of the LA optical compression sound. By adding some extra unique features such as the twin socketed T4 cells on each channel, the 2-LA-2 even allows hardcore tweakers to substitute T4 modules to “tune” compression.”

More information is available at the Universal Audio site.