Plug-ins are a marvel of modern technology, but sometimes you simply want the tactile thrill of twisting a knob and pushing a button. That’s where hardware comes in. But that’s expensive, right? Not necessarily. Home studio gear from companies like ART and Black Lion Audio are absolutely capable of delivering studio-quality analog character at a budget-friendly price. And, thanks to respected manufacturers like Golden Age Project, Warm Audio, and Klark Teknik, you can get your hands on contemporary re-creations of many high-end studio classics for a fraction of the cost of the originals. In this article, we’ll explore some of our favorite pieces of value-priced analog gear. And, because we really want to offer you the most for your money, we’ll focus on gear you’ll be happy to keep in your rack even as you move up to the more expensive stuff.
Mic Preamps That Won’t Bust Your Wallet
If you find the built-in mic preamps on your audio interface to be sterile and boring, then adding external preamps is a guaranteed way to add spice to your recordings. Even if you’re on a budget, there are a number of high-quality preamps out there to expand your sonic palette.
The ART Pro MPA II has long been a hot item for home recordists as it offers two expensive-sounding channels of tube preamplification along with a bevy of pro-level features — all for a reasonable amount of coin. The Pro MPA II is a versatile piece of gear able to capture sources both with a clean, warm sound as well as with serious tube-fueled texture. It also sports an attention-grabbing look, thanks to a slick front panel and backlit VU meters.
Recordists searching for a classic British console sound will get lots of mileage out of a 73-style preamp, such as the Golden Age Project Pre-73 MKIII or Black Lion Audio B173MK2. The Pre-73 MKIII delivers a mighty 80dB of gain, which is a must-have for dynamic and passive ribbon mics, and it easily tackles line sources and DI’d instruments. The B173MK2 is loaded with a CineMag transformer-coupled input and discrete Class A circuitry for plenty of low-noise headroom. Both preamps can be driven into vintage-tinged coloration, and both feature a half-rackspace form factor, enabling you to mount two units side by side. Want to add extra sonic sculpting to your British-inspired signal chain? Try adding a Golden Age Project EQ-73 MKII or EQ-81 MKIII to your rack. These hardware units are based on the onboard EQs from legendary British consoles, giving you three or four bands, respectively, of vintage-style sound shaping.
For an American-style console sound, you can’t go wrong with the Warm Audio WA12 MKII. This preamp yields a vibey warmth that really makes tracks sit well in a mix. You also get impedance switching for added tonal options along with a full range of high-end features. Available in orange and black, the WA12 MKII is chock-full of classic hardware flavor. If you want even more tonal options, then you can spend a bit more and get the Warm Audio TB12 Tone Beast, which includes multiple discrete signal paths, enabling you to swap different transformers, op-amps, and capacitors with a flip of a switch. Not only does this unit give you tons of flexibility, but it’s also a great way to train your ear to recognize how various components color your signal.
Classic Compressors with Real-world Price Tags
Compressors are an essential part of audio recording and mixing; thus, you can never have too many in your rack. In addition to providing you with the satisfaction of twisting physical knobs, outboard compressors enable a latency-free way to process your signal on the way in so you can get the sound you’re aiming for right at the source.
An ideal companion to the ART Pro MPA II preamp we discussed above, the ART Pro-VLA II is a 2-channel vactrol opto tube leveling amplifier with a killer sound that belies its modest price tag. The Pro-VLA II sounds so good, in fact, that many professional recording facilities keep one in their rack right next to their high-end gear. This unit is packed to the gills with features, too. Not only does this generous feature set make the Pro-VLA II a very versatile piece of gear, but it’s also an effective way to teach yourself how various compression parameters affect your sound. To top it off, its sleek black housing and analog VU meters look amazing in any rack.
Big-budget studios are replete with time-tested pieces of kit from Urei, Teletronix, Neve, and dbx, to name a few. While these expensive units are out of reach for most home recordists, there are “clones” out there that will give you a similar sonic flavor without emptying your wallet. The Klark Teknik 1176-KT, Warm Audio WA76, and Lindell Audio Lin76 are FET-style limiting amplifiers with a sound, performance, and look reminiscent of the late-’60s compressor used by pretty much every professional studio facility on the planet. The Klark Teknik 2A-KT and the Warm Audio WA-2A are tube optical leveling amplifiers based on the sonics, behavior, and aesthetics of a ubiquitous mid-’60s compressor renowned for its smooth-sounding dynamic control.
The Golden Age Project COMP-54 is based on a legendary British console manufacturer’s revered studio limiter/compressor. Strap a pair of these 1-channel units on your master bus, and your mixes will take on an entirely new dimension. There’s also the dbx 266XS, which just might be the ultimate bang-for-your-buck compressor. While the 266XS is not a vintage dbx 160 sonically, this 2-channel compressor/gate features the company’s famous soft-knee behavior, supplying you with just enough classic dbx flavor to get the point across.
Cost-effective Sonic Sweeteners for Your Studio
One of the pro studio’s secret weapons is a 2-band tube program equalizer. Unfortunately, these units generally cost upward of $4,000. But, like so many other mythical pieces of studio hardware, there are plenty of lower-cost modern equivalents, such as the Klark Teknik EQP-KT and the Warm Audio EQP-WA. These units sport a similar appearance to the fabled hardware that inspired them, and they both impart an ear-grabbing quality to anything you run through them. Want to make your mix really come alive? Run it through a pair of these equalizers. They can really liven up vocals and individual instruments, as well.
Want to add incredible stereo dimension to a source? Fire up a Klark Teknik 3rd Dimension BBD-320, and you’ll have all the multidimensional mojo you can handle. This BBD-style analog stereo chorus processor is a spot-on re-creation of the legendary Spatial Sound Processor that’s graced countless recordings. Want to nail the chorus-drenched clean guitar tone from the ’80s? The BBD-320 will hand it to you on a silver platter and do it without draining your bank account.
If you’re searching for a way to add detail and sparkle to a lifeless track, then try running it through a BBE 882i Sonic Maximizer. This audio-enhancement processor is the modern incarnation of a device that’s been used in studios for decades. Many users describe this unit’s process as “pulling a blanket off a sound.” While it’s not something you’d want to apply liberally to everything, in small doses a Sonic Maximizer can rescue a dull-sounding track in a way a standard EQ simply can’t.
Don’t Forget the Rack!
While browsing gear is a lot more fun than shopping for furniture and accessories, you’ll need a couple of items to get your new hardware up and running. Luckily, Sweetwater stocks a wide variety of studio equipment racks ranging from small, basic designs to high-end, custom-built designs. You’ll also need a suitable power conditioner to keep your gear powered up and running properly plus rack screws to mount your gear safely and securely in your rack.
Questions? Give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. We’ll be happy to share our expert knowledge with you and point you toward the right hardware for your needs. Not only do we have the largest selection of the latest and greatest gear you’ll find anywhere, but also our Gear Exchange is your premier source for used-gear bargain shopping.
