Universal Audio LA-610 Review by Alex Scott
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Today we are going to be taking a look at the Universal Audio LA610. The UA LA 610 is a great piece of analogue hardware that is preamp compressor combo. Check out our Universal Audio LA-610 review.
If you’re interested in purchasing Universal Audio LA-610, you can do so here with a great price: imp.i114863.net/7POxg
It is a complete tube channel strip all in one box and it sounds awesome. It has a great vintage “old-school” kind of vibe to it.
This unit includes a classic UA 610 preamp on the left, and a compressor on the right that very closely resembles the LA2A compression circuit.
This is a classic tube audio powerhouse. The brushed metal front definitely gives it a vintage look as well. If you want to know more and see how it sounds, be sure to watch our Universal Audio LA 610 review!
What what are your opinions of the UA LA-610? Do you like Universal Audio hardware? Do you like “all in one” boxes like this one? We would love to hear your thoughts. Let us know in the comments below!
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Starting on the left (preamp) side of the unit there is an impedance selector knob which also functions as your input selector. To the right is an “instrument in” jack.
Above that is a phantom power switch, phase inverter switch, and a 15db pad in case you are working with a louder signal. In the top left corner is a coarse gain control set up in 5db increments.
The largest knob on the left side of the unit is a fine control knob. An EQ section is to the right of the fine tune control knob. It’s simple, yet surprisingly versatile.
There is a high shelf and low shelf control switches followed by stepped control pots. This type of EQ can produce some really nice light and airy qualities in your sound.
Moving on the right (compressor) section there are two large knobs. Those are the peak reduction and gain controls. On the top right of the unit is the metering toggle knob which switches what the VU meter is measuring.
On the bottom right is a compressor mode knob followed by the master power switch on the far end.
The Universal Audio LA610 has some really great vintage qualities in it. It is a nice piece of analogue audio equipment. It goes from crispy to gooey and provides a wonderful warmth that you can only truly get from analog tube gear.
This thing is an awesome all around solution. It is surprisingly flexible. You can get a lot of different tones and sounds out of it. Great for vocals, bass, guitar, and piano.
Anything really that you want a nice vintage sound. It runs at around $1500-$2000USD which can seem steep. But, remember, you are essentially getting two different units in one box.
That makes the price seem much more reasonable. For what it is and what it can do, it is an appealing professional option.
I’m Alex Scott, an award-winning musician, engineer and producer based in Denver, Colorado.
I’ve had the honor of working with many Grammy award winning and nominated artists and producers over my decade-long career as a professional in the music industry.
I’m also an educator here on Consordini.
Over the last ten years, I’ve worked on hundreds of projects, from producing records with independent and major-label artists to working on indie video games, commercials, films, TV shows, and just about anything you can imagine.
I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned from my years of professional experience. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more great content like this, including reviews, tutorials and vlogs about all things music.
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Пікірлер: 71
My god, I've been sorting through 737s, Neves, Warms, Focusrite looking for this sound... and here it is. Amazing, that hi-fi radio vocal.
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
It's a great sounding unit for sure. Glad I could help in your quest!
Awesome unit indeed! bought a solo 610 a few years ago, great for tracking bass & guitars, loving it.
Klasse gemacht, sehr ansprechend und toll erklärt. Habe dieses LA-610 MK II Weltklasse Gerät seit vielen Jahren neben meinem Avalon VP 737 als erste Wahl für Gesangsaufnahmen. Mein großes Kompliment für dieses Video! Beste Grüße, Horst Lemke, Musikproduzent, Germany
This is an amazing Channel Strip. I highly recommend getting a few of them.
GREAT PRODUCT REVIEW! Well worth investing the time to watch the entire video!
@oinkooink
2 жыл бұрын
Hey stop in any time Bryan.
Thank you for this excellent demonstration!
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome!
I love it, Going to buy one. I use the 610b plugin on my UA setup. I really love as much tube stuff I can get for digital recording. Thanks for the video
I have one, and I am in love with this preamp!!!!
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
Me too! Thanks for watching.
Cool review man.. very thorough and really helped with my decision making process about possibly buying one!! Nice one 👍
@oinkooink
2 жыл бұрын
Happy I could help Tim.
Really appreciate this video man!
@consordini6258
3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
i wish you reviewed every piece of outboard gear ever
Great understandable video.
Thank you for demonstration. Question: What is the difference on the LA-610 and the mkII series? Also when did they upgrade on the series? Thanks...
Awesome review! What is your vocal chain, I mean mic and ADC or interface?
It's been my workhorse for over a decade. Never fails to deliver that glue and sauce, with tons of gain and impedance range to drive n color any mic you feed it. Often it seems like the compressor is working some even when bypassed, though, and it's actually too much midrange "goo" for many guitar amps through some mics, annd for some vocalist/mic combos. The input level is always something of a mystery, too :)
Great stuff thanks..
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic unit use for my voice over work and other vocals. The unit I have is the La610 (MKII) It is so versatile more of an art using it that is helped by the science in the circuitry. Any time I hear a bad review on it, it makes me wonder about the ears of people using it. I understand that there are so many plugins these days that make it easy to get you "50%" of the way to what someone may like but I have found greatness in the patience of learning to use the unit and have seen a very deep versatility that is not about numbers but about the cumulative position of each knob on the unit for every given incoming signal. It definitely has a "sound" and character and it ultimately may not be what someone wants as that is very relative. I love how I can make it super clean or super PHat and everywhere in between with so much more healthy gain than I can get coming in through my interface(UA Apollo Twin).
@AnthonyMartinsRock
4 жыл бұрын
@@consordini6258 I find that every single time I use it that I'm using it a bit differently. Truly a versatile unit.
@kingpencowboy7977
4 жыл бұрын
I do hip hop vocals for my own self i own this also pre 73 mk3 plus modded by Revive audio amd the Gap.comp 54 also own koe meek strip as well as art and eureka by presonus I love the la610 and actually was e expecting to buy it to sell because I got it for so cheap but can not make my self part way with it i have a DEEP voice and it doesa marvelous job and i change the settings every single time i use it lol im new at engineering but its super irreplaceable and i own an APOLLO TWIN duo mk2 but my plug ins don't come close
@AnthonyMartinsRock
4 жыл бұрын
@@kingpencowboy7977 yes I feel the same way as I ran my unit through an Apollo Twin mkii duo as well. The only pre that I find can match the la610 is the UA 6176 as it has the pre but a little more flexibility with the compression/limiting.
@kingpencowboy7977
4 жыл бұрын
Anthony Martins Rock which one would you choose out of the two for strictly vocals if you could HAVE only one of em??
@AnthonyMartinsRock
4 жыл бұрын
@@kingpencowboy7977 Hey bro, if I could have either, I would have the 6176 as you can tune the unit to LA610 attack release though you can't go the other way around. I love the LA610 as I own one and use it every other day. The LA610 is a 610 pre amp with an LA2A bolted onto it. The 6176 is 610 Preamp with an 1176 limiter bolted onto it. I use my LA610 applying no more than about 3 dB of gain reduction in compression. The way I work is to apply another 3 dB of reduction through an 1176 after my LA610. (hardware LA610 goes into UAD Apollo) then 1176 in console connected to Protools.
Great demo and description! I’m so torn between this and the API!
@consordini6258
3 жыл бұрын
Ooh, that's a tough one. Really depends on the tone you like - fat, warm and old-school vs aggressive, punchy and clean. Both amazing pres though.
Is the neve 1073 warmer ? Which would you prefer for vocals ?
Awesome review! How is it , that you are using the unit in real time, almost like a plugin, with pre recorded vocals? That was really cool. Can you then actually apply that to the track once you dial in on a desired tone? This seems like a better way to fine tune the settings, than doing it as the artist is in the booth. Furthermore...As you were making adjustments, it’s my understanding that the signal is tangibly being altered [permanently] right? You can’t undo what analog gear does to the signal.. So do you just hit undo in pro tools to get the vocal take back to normal, and then re route it through the 610 however you did that? Just ordered one today , pioneering into the analog world, this was very helpful and appreciated. I’m quite excited about using mine!!
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
Hey, thanks for the kind words! I'm using it as essentially a plugin in Studio One using the Pipeline feature, which allows you to insert analog hardware exactly like you would insert a plugin. It's running it through in real-time. I can print the sound to a new track, or just run it through in real-time. Either way, the original file is never permanently altered.
@its42.wavbitch
3 жыл бұрын
@@consordini6258 can you do this on Logic Pro as well?
@millermottla
3 жыл бұрын
@@its42.wavbitch yes
@samuelpillay6509
3 жыл бұрын
@@its42.wavbitch Hi , yes you definitely can
I actually just bought this exact unit at an auction. Super lucky to get it a good price. Does anyone know the differences between this version and the Mkll? I know color and VU meter are one thing but any other differences that you may know of? Thank you everyone! Excited to try this pre out and compare to my other pres.
I use the mic pre by Great River.. no eq or comp… love the sound but no tweaks except for input which sort of adds compression and thickness.. just wondering if the UA would work in tandem with GR?
I have an Saffire Pro 40 interface that I’m using an LA610 with. When I use the saffire control tracking it sounds beautiful but when I use daw tracking in ableton it sounds awful. Even at super low levels it sounds metallic or phased or something. For connections I have it going out of output 3 into the line of LA610 back into the first input of the saffire. Im not sure why but when I’m using saffire control tracking if turn the volume up on line one it sounds like how it does with daw tracking so I think there’s some setting in ableton I’m missing? Can I only send individual tracks to it from ableton? Anyways hope this makes sense, would appreciate any help!
I have a tlm 49 would you recommend this preamp with that mic for rap and hip hop recordings thank you 🙏 🔥
Hi, how do you connect your line out of your interface to the line input of the la 610? Are you using a reamp box or straight with trs to xlr cable?
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
No reamp box needed - those are only necessary for working between different impedance ratings, i.e. the Hi-Z input on a guitar amp vs a line input. Since an interface and the 610 are both line-level, just a normal cable is all you need.
@tillherence299
4 жыл бұрын
@@consordini6258 thanks
Can you use this for rap vocals and r&b ?
I recently purchased one of these from Guitar Center used. When I turn it on it makes a "click" type sound as it powers up. I also have a solo 610. It does not make this sound. Being that it is a used piece I was wondering if this was normal. Thanks for any response.
@miketozier4936
4 жыл бұрын
@@consordini6258 Thanks.
How do you like this for warming up keyboards and synths?
@consordini6258
4 жыл бұрын
It'd be great for that, definitely.
great review. I'd love to try this on saxophone. Have you ever used it in this application?
@billstotts2346
3 жыл бұрын
I have the solo 610 for my saxes, and yes, it sounds awesome. I am constantly told how good I sound. I call it my secret weapon.
@RickySweum
3 жыл бұрын
@@billstotts2346 Nice, good to hear. This bit of kit is definitely on my "to buy" list. Thanks.
still sounds very tone processed before hand?
Sorry about this beginner question, but what if I want to use something like this on a stereo instrument/mix? Do I have to get two of these? Or is this not the best tool for that job? For instance, what if I have a bunch of synths/drum machines/whatever hooked up to a mixer, and i wanted to just add some color/compression to the whole stereo mix? Anyway thanks for the demo!
@wardout5695
4 жыл бұрын
You could use two, that's what I do but you can also do it a channel at a time, left channel then right channel separately but for synths and drums Id get a Universal Audio 1176Ln first or seriously consider the Universal Audio 6176.
Can you Use just the compressor without the preamp, with another pre or just as an insert??
@consordini6258
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, definitely. It has a line in, which you select using the impedance knob. That runs it through the full circuitry but at line-level. Might get pretty colored with another pre in front of it, but hey, tubes!
@maik9938
3 жыл бұрын
Oh that's cool!! Thanks for the answer.
Does the "microphone go to the Universal Audio LA-610" OR does it go to the audio interface and get routed to this... Where would this get placed in a simple home Computer, Interface, preamp, mic setup?
@consordini6258
3 жыл бұрын
This is a preamp, so it's what powers the microphone. Microphone > preamp (LA-610) > interface > computer. Hope that helps!
@TheRangeControl
3 жыл бұрын
@@consordini6258 But here's the thing... I don''t always want to use the UA pre-amp. So I am wondering if it is for any reason "bad practice" to route it as an effect send with the DAW? (not trying to be argumentative, I genuinely am new and don't want to wreck my "newly" bought used gear... But, I can't find videos of preamps used as sends anywhere).
@slavesforging5361
3 жыл бұрын
@@TheRangeControl That's how he was using it in this video more or less. he wasn't running it in paralell, but he was feeding the signal out of his DAW into the 'line-in' instead of putting a microphone directly into the 'mic-in' . Essentially meaning it can be used as a mic pre-amp for tracking/recording, or as a plugin on a previously recorded track with the flip of an input switch on the front. or even as a flavored Line-amp after another mic pre if you really wanted to. (which is probably how i would use it, since i'd put it on my 2buss output of my analog mixer). so long as it has a line level in, you can use the piece of gear as an effect in your DAW. that's why most solo mic pre's won't get used that way. instead they'd use a line amp. which is basically the same thing, but made to accept the higher level input of a line level signal. (which is the signal strength of anything that has already been pre-amped: like a keyboard, headphone jack, mixer output, interface output, etc.).
my birthday gift 2021 feb
I like when a person does a really cool test, without talking too much horseshit...and just lets YOU hear and judge how a piece of gear really sounds like. I like you sir, and I just ortered a pair of these babies...because you said "OVERHEADS"...and i had an errection.
@michaelyolch79
2 жыл бұрын
BAHAHAHA!!!!
@shaft9000
11 ай бұрын
bwahaha "an O/H erection" :D ...don't underestimate how good a mono overhead can sound in some rooms, though
It's fantastic when the background music stops!!!!! In general, honestly, why.
i hear nothingggg! nothhhhing! i can do better with a cup and a string and a ukulele in a muddd pit! .....ok I just ordered it.