Yeah, it's no secret but it starts to get really expensive for a comp that's just a clone and proudly labels the fact.

I have POM building me one with an original o12 ouncer and a Sowter to choose from on a REV A PCB.

It'll be interesting to see whether it makes much difference and how much.

Having owned many OG Revisions including the OG Rev A. I must say I prefer having new matching ones for stereo work and reliability. YMMV

I've also ordered 2 x Stam SA-76's as they have Sowter transformers too and I just like Sowter.

The Splice is excellent BTW and I would recommend it for the blend alone.
As is the Mohog.

Ha-ha yes "secret" was the wrong word - I kinda meant the "best approach"

I do want to get into the 1176 thing - I currently use a Retro STA Level for tracking my voice which is great (big girth and very forgiving - sounds lik there's a joke in there) but it has a very definite sonic footprint and sometimes I'm looking for something different.

I'd really like to experiment with the 1176 > LA2A sound for tracking vox.

Yeah that's a winner but a lot of colour. Used that combo for years. I like high quality vari mu's with an 1176 clone these days.

My Retro STA Level is a vari mu so I guess it might sound good in series with an 1176 clone.

Do you think as I already own a Retro STA Level that an LA2A is not worth owning and a bit of a double up?

I want to spend money on owning gear that sounds different to gear I already have - if it's too similar then it's a waste of my limited resources.

Try it with an 1176 first, I don't have a Sta Level but I hear they are very good so I don't see why not. I use a Mercury 66 or an Amtec 099 usually with a Purple until now.

Thanks - as ever - great info.



Just had a look - Wow that Amtec 099 and Mercury 66 looks fantastic - and I thought a Retro STA Level was expensive - yikes those are not cheap units.

Thanks for these Paul, very helpful (along with the Serp/Moh). Might have to grab a Mimas. A lot of positives going for it.

Great thread.

I would like to hear some of the pro's take on the Awtac 500 Series compressor. Not as flexible in its attack times but with true blend and a useful drive knob to add hair...it is quite the comp in my opinion.

Well I hope that all audios are level matched. Mohog seams here more finished sounding, actually it sounds like a record already while Serpent seams to luck some sweet details that both modes of the Mohog pushed very nice in front. And yes, you can hear that "hair" on provided Mohog samples. Between Serpent's black and blue mode I liked more black on this dry vocals and you can hear that original Urei D revision action with little bit of tightening the source but still gets in front nuances very nice. Although Mohog sounds here better to me I could not judge out of this samples which to buy first because Mohog is revision F replica and Serpent is revision A and D replica which could sound maybe better on some other vocals or sources especially if in mix. On the other hand the Serpent has the mix knob and some other features so it opens totally another possibilities of shaping the sound so it's really hard to say which unit I would prefer more without comparing my self turning the knobs and feeling the action and hearing it's impact on the sound with both units. To be honest I don't care how much I am limiting on the vu meter, it's nice to see it but it's sound that tells me did I got the shape I want so actually it's questionable to test the same sources between different units with same ratios because they could just have a different action so one ratio for one unit doesn't need to work with another unit and we are talking about the smallest moves on the knob here that somethimes really can make a difference..

P.S. Did someone had a chance to compare some of these compressors with Pete's place bac 500? I am interested in that one too but still not decided jet with which one to go first for my home studio.. too many options..

Hey man, just found this, and I've been pondering a Mimas or a Serpent. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on Mimas now, since you said you probably hadn't driven it much for the example. I downloaded these, and it seems a tad week, compared to the Serpent. What do you think now that it's been a bit?

I love them. I drive them hard and use them for automation on vocals and they work perfectly. Being able to automatically switch settings, add saturation and all buttons in mode for different sections of songs is terrific. I have a rack full of Mimas, Dione's and the Eq's and they all sound great.

Hey Paul, was the Serpent Splice used in your files the Rack version?

The Splice sounds really good, also liked the Purple and Mimas. Perhaps the Mimas a little too clean - but as you mentioned it maybe wasn't driven as hard. Mohogs good too, although maybe a little too saturated for what I am currently looking for.

anyone got experience with the Wes Audio Beta76 ?

Yes it's the rack version.

Thanks, seriously thinking of getting one in. Do you still have yours?

I have a pair, which get used religiously.

Paul do you have a mohog 76 you wanna sell me? Lol. I'm still trying to find the most vintagey (lack for a better word) 76 style compressor I can get my hands on without shelling out for one of the originals. The Mimas 500 sounds damn good on that female vocal you provided though a couple years back. I'm giving that some serious thought now too.

The Mohog 76 doesn't sound "Vintagey".
Its really clean sounding.

The attack and release is a little "spongy" feeling which gives it a "vintage" feel, but it will never be confused with an original A-F (And you are talking to a guy who uses one for tracking vocals just about everyday).

To be honest all the 1176 copies/reissues are clean sounding, but the 1176 if you aren't smashing it is a clean sounding compressor to begin with.

Clean with the Carnhill transformer?

Even with Carnhill which to be honest i never ever use.

Different strokes, I guess. I never use the Edcor.

I never put it side by side with vintage 1176s, but from my audio memory with some old Es and Blue Stripes, I actually like the Mohog better. The vintage ones were dirtier in the upper midrange and treble,, but not necessarily thicker.

The Mohog would be a new F version so it would be cleaner/leaner compared to a n A or D/E. And the A because of the noise always felt like it had a certain electricity or buzz while a D/E is smoother/bassier.

I do like the Serpent Splice as a mix tool for a vocal.
The A version/2:1 ratio/Side chain/mix balance are all really useful for a vocal.
I prefered more for mixing then tracking as its really new/fast sounding.

I jumped on the Mohog 76 and have one being sent to me this week. Being defunct they're very hard finds nowadays. Pumped to get this one into the home studio!.

I know the Mohogs shine on vocals. Anyone else liking them on bass guitar? Finally hooking mine up for use next week.

Yep, they are great! Carnhill all the way. I track bass with them and mix with the Mo3A.

Hey Paul,

Just curious here - how did you end up liking the Stam Rev A sound vs Serpent Splice's Rev A?

I have the Stam SA76 and like it a lot but considering maybe selling to save up for the Serpent, which would also replace/let me sell my Warm (Revive mod) on the Rev D side of things and save me some space. Don't wanna get rid of a rare unicorn though lol.

Thanks,

David

I couldn't be bothered to wait for the Stam.
Recently I just got a BLA Bluey which sounds really great on vocals, very similar to the Splice Blue setting. The Splice is more versatile but the Bluey is much easier to look at and use.

You still use the Mohog 76, Paul? I'm currently loving it.

Yes it's a great version. I use a pair.

Ah nice, glad you're finding the Bluey a nice fit! Heard good things, thanks for the insight there.

Non-Rev A side of things / to replace my Warm which has issues, I had liked the Rev D sound, now considering F for that sizzle. Heard samples of:

Wes Audio Beta 76 (based on F I think)
Audioscape Rev F

Both sound really nice to me, could be great for hip hop/pop vox. Hard to get a sense from the varying chains used in the website and yt samples, but it seems like:

WesAudio: bit more refined, detailed, smooth / elegant in the mids / upper mids
Audioscape: tad more aggressive / crispy, more punch + emphasis on the highs.

Leaning toward Audioscape for the less options, set it forget it, less pricey too.