Examples Page
Please note: These are improvised jams done while testing preamps. I have fun doing this, but I simply cannot take the time for the punch-ins and re-recording of parts necessary to make them "finished" pieces of music. I am not too embarrassed by their flaws, so here they are ...
Most examples have a little reverb and a gently applied peak limiter on the stereo mix. There is no EQ, compression, nor other more complex effects like noise reduction or aural exciter. Most tracks are recorded through an inexpensive LDC mic. A few were recorded through a Mojave Ma-100 small condenser. I also use a Shure 58 where noted, because it is so well known. Electric guitar and bass are recorded DI. The preamps were fed into a Lucid 24/96 ADC and recorded in my DAW.
These were recorded through a few
different rebuilt Ampex 601 preamps:
Acoustic
fretless bass, acoustic guitar, ride cymbal
Acoustic and electric Guitar
Acoustic guitar,
electric bass, cymbal, percussion
Guitars w/ hand drums
Guitars,
nature sounds, percussion
Acoustic
guitars, tenor sax, percussion, elec bass
2 classical
guitars
This was recorded with a Gates thing I
used for a mic preamp chassis:
A humorous
sloppy jam with sax, Tbone, percusssion, voice, fretless bass
These are examples from rebuilt Ampex
350 electronics:
Funky jam
- electric bass and guitar were DI thru the 350
Bass, 2
guitars, percussion
This is from a very modified Ampex PR-10
electronics:
Percussion,
guitars, clarinet, fiddle
LAmpex examples: (The LAmpex is a 601 preamp and LA-2A clone, built in the 601 chassis)
This version is completely dry. No EQ
or processing of any kind except conversion to mp3:
Salary
Salt (dry and raw)
This version has some basic effects applied:
Salary
Salt (w/FX)
Voice 1(description of features)
Voice 2
Classical Guitar
Acoustic
guitar
(recorded through a Studio Projects C-1 mic
using an external phantom power supply. No EQ, effects, or processing
except for a touch of reverb.
The LAmpex was showing about 5 to 10 dB of peak reduction on the meter
and was set to "limit" mode.)
Some more 601 preamp files:
Voice test file (192 kbps mp3)
Demonstration and description of features.
Note: From the 2:08 minute mark on, the mic is the Studio Projects
C-1.
Music test file (192 kbps mp3) .
acoustic guitar x 2, electric guitar plugged into the mic input with a
matching transformer, bass guitar plugged into the line input. By the
way, at the end I simply moved the guitar closer to the mic for that
long sustain. Pay special attention to the obnoxious string slaps of
the acoustic. The reproduction of those slaps shows off the transient
response and headroom of the preamp.
Music test file #2 (192 kbps mp3)
acoustic guitar x 2, tenor sax, trombone x 2,
cabasa (The sax, t-bones, and cabasa were recorded with the built in
mic pad turned on.)
No EQ, noise reduction or other trickery.