Millennia STT-1 Origin Channel Strip Reviews
The STT-1 Origin is a perfect go-to channel strip when you need a massive selection of tones without compromising audio quality. Not only is the complete signal path of the STT-1 Origin totally discrete, but it features Millennia's exclusive Twin Topology design that combines two completely separate and discrete amplifiers (one solid state, the other tube) into the same chassis. The STT-1 Origin's signal processing section also offers completely independent tube and solid state paths, and the input transformer is bypassable — giving you control-freak dominion over your sound. Capturing the vitality of musical performances with STT-1 Origin is almost effortless.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Simply awesome
This thing has mojo in spades. Bass direct is divine. Vocals have amazing fidelity. Acoustic guitars are amazing. The eq section is like Pultec. Turn up any knob and it still sounds musical.
Here is a secret technique: engage all eq buttons, record flat - no eq. It acts like sticking a Pultec in line with no eq. It just makes the signal explode with musicality.
It's the most important part of my signal chain along with my mics. The opto compressor sings when you squish it. Love me some squishy, clear, vibe driven vocal compression.
Although I've sung on many tracks and kinda dislike my voice. The STT-1 makes me sound better and gives me confidence that I don't suck but actually I am quite good with my song writers voice.
In a house fire I'd take my acoustic guitar, two mics and STT-1 first. That tells you all.
So Clean and Still Warm
I have a pair and absolutely love them. I can fill a book on how much I love these things. And like other reviewers I love feeding a bass in to the D.I. and sending one unit to the computer and the other to a compressor without using a mult on a patchbay. I send full mixes through them without everything flat and it adds a really nice warmth to the mix. Expensive but worth every penny!
Nothing Like It!
Smooth as silk! Warm like velvet! EQ & Compression are amazingly musical! Can they build a 24 channel console out of these? :)
If I could only have 1 Mic Pre,
My first and Last
Ive had this unit for about 4 years. its my first mic pre ever and i wouldn't want any another mic pre(i actually want another one of these so that i have a pair). it took time for the analog knobs to grow on me but now that they have i'm getting more and more amzing results. i went from runing my vocals throught this unit into some plugins to the only thing on my channel strip is reveb and delay. this Unit is def. the biggest part what makes my music sound amazing. It also has upgraded tubes
Millenia Collection
Just added another STT for a stereo pair. Two Origins give me 2 ch of everything Millenia: vacuum tube mike preamps, HV3 mike preamps, NSEQ tube and solid state parametrics, tube and solid state compressors, DI and de-esser. I like Millenia for ultra-clean work, tracking, mastering, and instrument DI. If you want thick color, look elsewhere. These things are like perfectly clean mirrors.
Straight To Track
I have a couple of these and they are great. You have a million options, it seems. I especially like recording the pre's direct outs and sending the main outs with EQ and Compressor to do my monitor mix. You have the famed Solid State sound, plus you can have their tube sound for lots of variety. Very clean with a ton of headroom. It is built like a tank and has been working for hours and hours around 3 years now. Definitely a winner in my book.
My favorite
I have used the millenia stt1 for more than 5 years ...it's awesome. The compressor is unequaled and the sound as clear as water.
I wish I had ten of these!!!
I don't give perfect scores often but if you want true versatility in a pre-amp with using an emulation, this is your beast.
The only problem with this pre is that it makes me want more of them but it is well-worth the price if you are tracking single sources. You can use this on ANYTHING. The solid state circuitry is super transparent for recording VO with a U87. Add a great tube mic (we have the Elux 251) on the tube circuitry and you are instantly transported back in time. With so many combinations possible, it would be hard to find a situation where this pre couldn't deliver.
The construction is solid and you can tell from the very first control you adjust. Millenia went the extra mile and made every push-button switch a relay - no audio passes through these buttons. The gain and output knobs are super smooth for finite adjustments.
My only small complaint is that there is no input metering, only a clip indicator. However, the brightness is variable depending on how much you are clipping and it works very well. The rest of this unit is so impressive that this small issue didn't get a half point deduction.
We have the Avalon 737 & 2022, a four channel UA unit, the Liquid Channel, and a Langevin dual channel - the Millenia STT-1 is my goto pre-amp on every project unless I need multiple channels.
Get one, you won't be dissapointed - you may end up buying another.
League of its own
This was a very smart purchase, and I tend to 'buy and sell' equipment as much as I went through girlfriends back in high school. I've had a couple of other popular channel strips (Avalon 737, Liquid Channel, UA 6176), and all of those have moved on...all pretty much replaced by the STT-1. They all had their strong points, but this guy really gave me the sonic range/clarity that I was waiting/hoping for. I do believe it really brings out what the microphone was meant to do. I swapped out the stock tubes for the Telefunken and Tesla and that made the difference between the solid state and tube path more dramatic. Don't want such a big open sound? Turn off the transformer option and it's a whole new palate of sound. For the cost, it's well worth it. Only downside I know if is that you can't use the de-esser and the compressor at the same time. The compressor is very decent, and the eq is really good. This is my first review of gear. It's definitely a high end strip.
