EQ Magazine - December 2008 - (Page 68)

GEAR HEAD ANAMOD AM660 PRICE: $1,295 STRENGTHS: Most audiophile-sounding compressor in the group. You have to try hard to make it sound bad. Adds a smooth, buttery layer to drums, bass, and guitars. LIMITATIONS: Slight changes in knob rotation can lead to big changes in sound. Pricey. CONTACT: www.anamodaudio.com While the current rage seems to be digital models of vintage gear, Dave Amels and Greg Gualtieri are making analog models. That’s right, modeling gear with gear. The AM660 is the duo’s stab at recreating the Fairchild 660 limiter. From the kidney bean VU meter to the retro-looking knobs, this guy looks like someone zapped a Fairchild with the shrink ray. Controls include input gain, threshold, and eight preset attack/release combinations called “Time Constant.” A bypass button allows for quick before and after comparisons. The AM660 possesses a very hi-fi sound and gave excellent results on nearly anything we ran through it—provided we spent the time to choose an appropriate time constant. It was also one of the only units that could tame some of the weird square wave synth patches Soy Sos brought. It was a standout on electric bass, especially when the player had extreme jumps in volume. (I believe someone called it the “last word on bass compression.”) Unless pushed, the AM660 didn’t sound like it was compressing, which I found most impressive. If funds permit, a pair of these could take your recordings (and your career) places. CONCLUSIONS I want to thank Kyle Smith, Dave Hidek, Dom Misja, and Soy Sos for their help with this roundup. And again, a special thanks to Mercenary Audio for the lunchbox loaner. But most of all, I want to commend the manufacturers on creating such unique and well-crafted products. Depending on your production needs, I would have no reservations about recommending these units: They might come in a small package, but they all pack a wallop of sound. cording at the Learn audio reof Recording Conservatory s. Arts & Science need 4.4075 Call today! 888.60, AZ 85282 pe 2300 E Broadway Rd | Tem ) rt, AZ 85233 (satellite facility 1205 N Fiesta Blvd | Gilbe .html m/eq , you career in audio recording If you’re serious about a ted to your school that is as commit to attend a recording success as you are. teaches you ording Arts and Sciences The Conservatory of Rec eight world-class ing equipment in on state of the art record foot live sound room. labs, and a 6,000 square studios, six ard ed Gold and Platinum aw You’ll study under season what it takes to succeed. know winning instructors who Smaart, in Pro Tools, Logic Pro, EAW helps You’ll earn certifications e a laptop package that receiv Waves, and more. You’ll access CRAS Connect you follow along in class, delivery system), (our web based curriculum ional access r educat and gives you 24 hou e. And before you even while you’re at hom plete as internship graduate, you’ll com ose. at a location you help cho When it comes to audio… ool.co www.audiorecordingsch . LET WE ARE THE EXPERTS E MIX. US HELP YOU GET IN TH 68 EQ DECEMBER 2008 www.eqmag.com http://www.anamodaudio.com http://www.audiorecordingschool.com/eq.html http://www.eqmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of EQ Magazine - December 2008

EQ Magazine - December 2008 Contents Talk Box Sounding Board Punch In My Morning Jacket Guitar Trax Bass Management Key Issues Drum Heads Vocal Cords Mix Bus Cheat Sheet Cakewalk Sonar 8 Propellerhead Reason 4 Indie 500: Lunchbox Pres and Compressors 500 Series Preamps 500 Series Compressors Gadgets and Goodies Sounds Room with a Vu

EQ Magazine - December 2008

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