Beatles Altec compressors

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 9:03 pm

hey there davedog and treena,
geoff emerick went on to say that "the fairchild couldn't take the bass signal, because the attack time was too fast". i know we all hold our tube gear quite dear, but wouldn't it be a hoot if the the compressor that gave us(played a major role, paul had a lot to do with it) one of the all time classic bass sounds was the lowly solid state altec ? 1591a.

come on, come on, come on, come on(sounds like a hook) somebodies gotta know! but take a good look at that picture that's not any 436/438 i've ever seen. then again i haven't seen them all.
jules

Respected Past Moderator Joined: Mar 13, 2001 Posts: 1256

Quote:

Originally posted by Julius Borges:
[QB wouldn't it be a hoot if the the compressor that gave us(played a major role, paul had a lot to do with it) one of the all time classic bass sounds was the lowly solid state altec ? 1591a. [/QB]

Well along those lines comes this...I hung with Geoff through a mix and he was using an 1176 on the BASS.
want to know the settings? they were enlightening to me because he was using it(the 1176) very much the way that Bones Howe (Another '60's era Engineer/Producer) used the same device...with-out knowing of the other.

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 10:39 pm

Hey Recorderman,

I definitely would like to know. I've seen some people do some weird things with 1176s.

Thanks,

Sean

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 10:52 pm

:w: Gentlemen you might find this interesting.
RECORDING THE BEATLES

:h: Treena

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:14 pm

altec 1612a is a nice solid state compressor with a few knobs.

check recordingconsoles.net, click on the "outboard" section on top, click on altec on the side, and then take a look at some altec pictures. hopefully you can find a match.

Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2003 11:34 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by XHipHop:
altec 1612a is a nice solid state compressor with a few knobs.

check recordingconsoles.net, click on the "outboard" section on top, click on altec on the side, and then take a look at some altec pictures. hopefully you can find a match.

I did and I found this . :h: Treena

outboard <img src="http://www.4sync.com/rc/rc/altec1612A.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.4sync.com/rc/rc/Altec1592A-SS.jpg" alt=" - " />

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 4:46 am

hello recorderman,

please tell us about geoff's 1176 settings. it would be a great insight.

thanks, jules

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 4:49 am

treena,

thanks for the heads up on the upcoming beatles recording book! it looks like something more than just a few of us might buy.

jules

Respected Past Moderator Joined: Mar 13, 2001 Posts: 1256

Quote:

Originally posted by Julius Borges:
hello recorderman,

please tell us about geoff's 1176 settings. it would be a great insight.

thanks, jules

Hey Julius.

What's cool (for me) about Geoff's and Bones Howe's approach to the 1176 peak limiter, is that they use it as such...a peak limiter. Alot of the time people use it as a compressor (4:1).
Geoff used it on bass.
attack=2 (medium slow; aka 9 o'clock)
release= 7 fast; aka 5 o'clock)
ratio=8:1
hitting it pretty good ; 6db gaoin reduction on average.

So this sounds pretty similar to what he was doing with the altec. If he had an 1176 in 67 I bet he would have used it. The slow attavk allows the top to stay in there and still be able to squeeze it really good.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:54 pm

I'm not sure that's true, as Geoff was very much a valve gear type (always felt the transistor mic pres didn't sound as good as the older EMI desks with valve pres).
And he was always a big 'Fairchild on the vocals' fan as well.

I still, personally, feel the Altec 436 is a much better sounding bass guitar limiter than an 1176.
And I agree slowish attack is the key.

I know AIR had (has?) a 436 and I'm willing to bet that's what he used at Abbey Road as well.

Respected Past Moderator Joined: Mar 13, 2001 Posts: 1256

Well it's my conjecture based upon my observation of some mixes of is I attended. I've never used an altec on bass myself so I can't comment on that. But I'll have to look around now when I get a chance. :p:

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 12:42 am

hummmmm...I personally know where theres a pristine 436...theres a whole rack of that era Altec...4 channel mixer...amp...monitor...436...power supply...5 grand no scratches...

Respected Past Moderator Joined: Mar 13, 2001 Posts: 1256

Quote:

Originally posted by Davedog:
hummmmm...I personally know where theres a pristine 436...theres a whole rack of that era Altec...4 channel mixer...amp...monitor...436...power supply...5 grand no scratches...

let me guess..a school? When I was in college our A/V department used that stuff.

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 1:27 pm

Hi everyone - YES, this question will be conclusively answered in our book with (as my friend and writing partner Brian says) "enough detail to sicken anybody". It definitely IS a mysterious piece, but just sit tight and all will be answered...

thanks,
Kevin

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 2:34 pm

com'on kev!!

throw us a bone, we're the ones that're gonna buy your book. don't be a tease!!!!!! give us this one little fact just to prove your books got the juice we're all looking for. we'll be your friends. it's nice having friends. it beats having people cheesed off at you.

be nice and tell us, PLEASE.
there i said PLEASE.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. IT'S KILLIN ME, I JUST WANNA KNOW!!!!

regards, jules

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