SweetWater Retro Instruments/Pultec EQ Shootout

The Pultec Sound

The sweetest thing about a Pultec is how you can alter the frequency spectrum in such a drastic and desirable way. I remember the first time I used one (on a Russ Taff record in the 1980s). I was floored by how I could add all the presence and brilliance I wanted without any sibilance or harshness.

How was that possible?

And I could grab as much warmth and fullness as I desired without the bottom end getting muddy or thick. Again, how does it do that?

The Retro Instruments 2A3 distinguishes itself by offering two channels in one unit and also adds a switchable subsonic filter (40Hz or 90Hz).

 

 

Find out more about the Pultec EQ Shootout at SweetWater Sounds post

Vintage King And Retro Instruments 175B

Vintage King wanted to create something special to celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, so they teamed up with us at Retro Instruments to release a reproduction of the 175-B compressor. There will only be 100 of these limited edition 175-B recreations available worldwide and they will be sold exclusively through Vintage King.

Why bring back the 175-B? Simple. It’s a classic compressor that has been a staple since its release. Designed by Bill Putnam, the product was created to make up for the lack of compressors created specifically for recording studios. It’s huge and clear sounding tube circuitry and aggressive nature has made it a favorite of many engineers on drums, guitars and vocals.

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Retro Instruments DOUBLEWIDE II Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
San Francisco, CA. November 8, 2018 – Retro Instruments, Inc. has just released the DOUBLEWIDE II, the long-awaited update to the original 500-Series DOUBLEWIDE tube compressor.

Retro is known for building authentic tube-based recording equipment for over 12 years. Phil Moore, Retro Instrument’s president and chief designer says: “we listened to our customers ideas and advice and developed our next-generation 500 series compressor, the Retro Instruments DOUBLEWIDE II!”


The DOUBLEWIDE II is a single-channel compressor that installs into two slots of a standard 500 series rack yet it requires only 130-milliamps of current—just like the original Retro DOUBLEWIDE compressor. Also retained from the original are the gray painted front panel, high-quality US-made Simpson gain- reduction meter, and hand wiring throughout (no troublesome ribbon cables). DOUBLEWIDE II’s excellent build-quality is apparent starting with the American-made PC board and extends to the durable and attractive stainless steel case and, don’t forget, we only use Cinemag’s highest-quality input and output transformers for authentic tone and weight plus the complete freedom from external interference and noise.

During initial user testing and comparison, the DOUBLEWIDE II immediately exceeded all expectations with increased flexibility and control that many original DOUBLEWIDE users have demanded. With both faster attack and release (recovery) times now possible, the DOUBLEWIDE II excels at energizing vocal tracks as well as controlling bass, guitars and drum tracks in an elegant and transparent way or go extreme and radical—or dial in anywhere in between!

Our beta testers/recording engineers found the new DOUBLEWIDE II nearly magical for processing all percussive sounds easily; it’s capable of tight, sonic consistency all the way to explosive, full-bodied impact on snares, kicks and tom-toms. With the addition of the new stereo linking feature (in a 500 racks that support linking), two DOUBLEWIDE IIs are just amazing for drum overheads, pianos, stereo pads, backing vocals; the list grows daily with new uses coming in from our customers.

Media Contact: Len Estrada Media Relations T 209-810-3344 info@retroinstruments.com

We hope you join this list of happy and satisfied Retro Instruments customers who depend on the awesome sound and processing power of the new DOUBLEWIDE II 500-Series Tube Compressor!

 

Sound On Sound Review: Retro Instruments STA-Level

By Hannes Bieger

Published December 2014

Is Retro’s recreation of the legendary Gates Sta-Level more than just a reissue?

Trawl through old interviews and you’ll find that plenty of big-name producers offer nothing but praise for the Gates Sta-Level compressor. It was one of the most successful and enduring compressors of the post-WWII era, and its unique sonic qualities mean that it remains in demand today, although for a rather different application. Second-hand units change hands only rarely, and for a high price. Retro Instruments, though, offer a version of the Sta-Level, which remains true to all the important aspects of the original design, while also incorporating some very useful additions.

Bettering The Sta-Level

As with Retro’s take on the Urei 176, the build quality is flawless. It combines the heavy-duty nature of studio kit from the ’50s with a few key qualities of a well laid-out modern design. In fact, Retro took everything that was good on the original unit and enhanced it, to make the compressor more suitable and more convenient for daily use today. XLR connectors, a standard IEC outlet, the possibility of coupling two or more units, facilities on the rear panel for..

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Vintage King: Review Retro Instruments REVOLVER

VINTAGE KING REVIEW

With the release of their latest creation, the Revolver, Retro Instruments has done it once again by reviving a beloved studio staple and updating it for the modern workflow. Just like other Retro Instrument releases in the past, the vintage vibe extends far beyond the Revolver’s classic looking exterior.

Based on the legendary modded Altec 436, the Revolver is a dual-channel, all tube compressor that has been hand-built in the USA with that classic British tone. It’s also loaded with expanded features, making it a compressor that works in any stage from tracking to mastering.

More at Vintage Kings website

 

Larry Crane Tape_Op Review Retro Instruments Revolver Dual-Channel Compressor

Reviewed by Larry Crane at Tape Op magazine


I’ll begin this review with a confession; in over two decades of mixing albums I’ve rarely mixed through a bus compressor. Why? The more I kept hearing that I “had to” in order to get good results, the more I balked at using one. I’d tried out the stereo compressors that I owned and was never quite enthused enough – plus I was getting decent mixes without a mix bus compressor, so why did I have to change my style of working? But when Phil Moore at Retro Instruments sent me his new Revolver two-channel tube compressor to try out, I realized…
Read more at Tape Op magazine

Sound on Sound – NAMM 2018: Retro Instruments Retro Revolver

Sound on Sound Review
Dual-channel tube compressor based on EMI-modified Altec model

The EMI-modified Altec 436 compressor (known as the RS124) has earned its place in recording history, in no small part due to its connection with The Beatles’ recordings at Abbey Road. Read more