We’re excited to welcome Chameleon Labs to Sweetwater! Chameleon Labs bills itself as a company that produces “value-conscious audio.” Their products’ high level of performance does indeed bely their affordable prices, but things really get interesting when you realize just how high Chameleon Labs has set the bar. Inviting comparisons with such legendary gear as the Neve 1073 is not for the faint of heart; however, that is the name of the game at Chameleon Labs.
A prime example is the 7602 MKII, Chameleon Labs’ version of a ’70s British console preamp with powerful 3-band EQ. While taking full advantage of modern analog precision circuitry, the 7602 MKII serves up distinctly Neve-like sonics and operation. The X-MOD upgrade adds a Carnhill transformer — the same one used in the 1073. It’s little wonder that many of today’s top recording engineers have made the 7602 MKII their go-to mic preamp.
If you crave the supremely musical sound shaping of the classic LA-2A but don’t particularly want to take on a second mortgage, Chameleon Labs offers their 7802 stereo tube optical compressor. They’ve based their 7720 stereo bus compressor on VCA designs found in the high-end large-format consoles of the ’80s and ’90s. In keeping with the affordable classic-performance-with-modern-functionality theme, the TS-1 MKII is a tube mic with interchangeable omnidirectional and cardioid small-diaphragm capsules, which — and here’s the kicker — may be switched out for the included large-diaphragm capsule.
So that’s Chameleon Labs: innovative, warm and punchy, great-sounding gear with a vintage vibe — and an exceptional value.
