. . "Located below the iconic Capitol Tower in Los Angeles, Capitol Studios is arguably the most recognized studio in the world — and much of its legend can be traced to its hallowed, subterranean echo chambers. From Ray Charles to Frank Sinatra, Beck to Muse, these underground spaces continue to provide gorgeous hi-fi ambience that is simply unmatched. Now, after years of R&D and close collaboration with Capitol Studios — including unprecedented access to four legendary echo chambers 30-feet beneath the studio — Universal Audio proudly presents the Capitol Chambers plug-in, a startling end-to-end recreation of the most popular echo chambers ever created, exclusively for UAD hardware and UA Audio Interfaces."
I have been playing with the demo since it was announced - probably the fastest I have ever downloaded a new UA release!!
This sounds gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. It sounds like, well, like a chamber. No, really, it does, not the digital representation of a chamber, but a real chamber, and it is not 1-dimensional like most convolution reverb plugins..
At $350 it is a little rich for my tastes, but I may have to figure out a way. I mean it sounds that good. I'd put it up there with the EMT 140 plate and the Ocean Way Rooms.
I'll probably wait for a sale - I mean I should wait for a sale...
siiiigh... it does sound VERY nice. I think some of it in the video is psychological though (it always is with UAD), that superb voice they use which is the most jaw-dropping moment... well I know its stating the obvious but it wouldn't sound like that with me singing on it. My hype-o-meter is twitching a little with this based on my past experiences. The EMT 140 is very good for example, but I don't find it in another league from anything else I own.
I will concede that the UA EMT 140 was the first plate emulation I used that really and truly sounded like a plate. I haven't really listened to any other plate reverbs because I am really quite happy with this one. I suppose there could be an even better plate out there, it just isn't a dream I need to chase at the moment. That, I would guess, does make me biased, or at a minimum, lazy.
The Capital Chambers is the first chamber reverb I've heard that really and truly reminds me of working with chambers. The difference between the UA and many fine impulse responses I've used is significant, to me anyway.
Is it worth $350? Not to me, not today. If I had the cash lying around I'd buy it. If I had a project that demanded a great chamber I'd buy it. But that's sort of the difference between plugin processors and effects and instrument libraries. It is far easier to rationalize that library X would make this upcoming project easier or better or both. It is a tad more difficult to use that reasoning on a processor, and even more so for effects.
Possibly I simply have "enough" processors and effects, while I am still building my library collection? Possible I guess.
Thomas's idea of using the 3+1 deal is tempting, but I'm not sure there are three other plugins, at any price point, that I want. And I'm afraid to go look in case there are<G>!
Amazing accomplishment! And it will go on sale some day, so I may wait. Or I may not. ARGH!!!!
wst3 wrote: ↑Jun 01, 2019 8:43 am
Thomas's idea of using the 3+1 deal is tempting, but I'm not sure there are three other plugins, at any price point, that I want. And I'm afraid to go look in case there are<G>!
Amazing accomplishment! And it will go on sale some day, so I may wait. Or I may not. ARGH!!!!
Just buy it already
I've got a pair of Townsend L22's and will follow Thomas and use the 3+1 (and a voucher) to get the Capitols, the Putnam mics plus two other plugs for $374.
That's a deal thats hard to turn down.
In other news I just received a Otari 1/2" tape recorder, 8 channels.
I know they did a 2-track 1/2", maybe one can mod the 8 to a 2.
Yeah, that is a good deal indeed Anders! L22s huh, been lusting for one for a while, will have to wait a bit longer. Just bought a house and I have a whole floor (approx 100 sqm) that is going to be turned into my first studio where I can actually build a proper vocal booth and a BIG control room, tired of closets
I think I might have to get the 3+1 though, been 18 months since they had that offer. Capitol Chamber, Studer A800, Antares AutoTune Advanced (yes *I* need tuning, badly!) and Softube Vocoder is in my cart at the moment... Just need to pull the trigger...
The back half of the basement is reserved for a more-or-less proper studio, plenty of space, no funds.
I have an L-22 and I can not recommend it highly enough. I think perhaps I will write a proper review, but for now...
The microphone itself is worth the price. It sounds gorgeous, the patterns are all extremely well behaved, and it leans towards pretty neutral. It takes conventional processing really well, the only other microphone in my locker that is this well behaved is a TLM-193. Of course the rest were not purchased to be well behaved<G>!
The models range from mind-blowing to subtle but very useful. I have used most of the microphones that are modeled. some extensively, some not so much. My impression is that these models are very accurate, leaps and bounds beyond any other microphone modeler I've tried (Slate, Antares, something else I've forgotten, which says something!) I did end up getting both the UA-only model packs. Not sure I absolutely needed them, but I've had fun using them. The basic (native) model pack is extremely well thought out.
The thing I like second most about it (the basic microphone is my favorite feature) is that I can make insane changes post-recording. I can change the polar pattern, I can change the proximity effect, I can change the placement. I can change the microphone for heaven's sake!!!
Now I've been at this for a long time, and I recognize that selection and placement are second only to the room itself for getting a great track. And I find that with the L-22 I can get close on placement and deal with all the rest after recording. It is pretty darned amazing.
The user interface itself is really useful, and really usable. Can't think of a thing (other than the dark theme maybe) I'd change. I almost never say that.
And then there is the ability to make a stereo recording with a single microphone. Pretty snazzy. Works really well for acoustic guitar.
I do not believe one needs a UA interface with Unison to get great results with the L-22. It probably helps, and I use it most of the time, but I've made fantastic recordings with the L-22 feeding a Millennia Media HV-3C.
The current street price appears to be about $1500, I've heard you can get one for $1400 if you do a little begging and grovelling. I paid more than that for my TLM-193, which is a great microphone, but not nearly as flexible. And forget about getting a U-67 for that price.
Speaking of - two of the emulations I use most often are the U-67 (my desert island LDC) and the Coles 4038. Both are as close to the real thing as I can imagine, and I also imagine that their U-67 was probably in better shape than any that I used.
All four of the 414 models sound great, and I'm not a huge fan of the 414 (I have an older one that I find a tad harsh on most sources.)
The 451 model is also spot on, but the size of the microphone makes placing it a little tricky, and I have a pair of 451s, so I do tend to use them instead.
What else the shock mount works very well, and is pretty easy to position. The case seems appropriate to protect a $1500 microphone.
All in all one of the best purchases I've made, and I will get a second one - one of these days, when I am done buying libraries and plugins.
Right now my impression is that the Capital Chambers will provide me with more opportunities for polish than another microphone. If I had a better space to record I might reverse those priorities.
While the 3+1 for $400 is generous, I'm having a difficult time finding three more plugins I really want. It isn't that my collection is huge, but it does cover my relatively modest needs. I will have to look further.
As mentioned previously - I should "just buy it". I'm just too cheap to do so, I have to think these things through!
wst3 wrote: ↑Jun 02, 2019 11:09 am
I have an L-22 ...
While the 3+1 for $400 is generous, I'm having a difficult time finding three more plugins I really want. It isn't that my collection is huge, but it does cover my relatively modest needs. I will have to look further.
Sadly (not really, I've gotten good use from them) I have all three of those.
The microphone collections are brilliant, just quirky enough to be different. In hind sight, if I could only get one I'd go with the Putnam collection, I probably use that more than the others. The ELA-M-251 RCA 44BX models are stellar. I also really like the U-67 in this collection. So yeah, just amazing. (I've never had the opportunity to use a 251, but now I think I have a clue as to why they are so sought after!)
The DFC is in a class all its own, at least with respect to modeled channel strips. It is very different from the usual fare (Neve, SSL, etc). It is also a bit of a bear to get one's head around, but well worth the effort.
Obviously I am still learning, but I can see me using the DFC almost exclusively for library tracks. TBH, thus far I've been less impressed with it for tracks I've recorded myself. But that could absolutely be me misusing it.
If I were going to go for the 3+1 deal I think I'd be getting:
Capital Chambers - that's a definite!
Manley Variable Mu - I had a chance to use the hardware, and I demo'd the plugin. It is pretty cool, no, very cool, but mostly for financial reasons I've never pulled the trigger.
Thermionic Culture Vulture - another one where I used the hardware first, and then tried the plugin. I'm not a fan of distortion boxes, but this one is different. Very musical. But I can get the same effect with half a dozen other plugins. Well, close, not exact.
Century Channel Strip - I had a lot of fun with the demo of this one. It did lovely things to recorded and library based tracks.
V76 Preamplifier - I did fall in love with this one when I tried it, I have a pair of V376s in hardware, and they are remarkably similar in vibe, if no tone.
Catch is, the only one I really really want at the moment is the Chambers - the rest remain "nice to have"s
