UK Sound has announced that it is now shipping the 1173 mic pre compressor, the first in a line of economically priced sonic equipment from the BAE Audio imprint.
The new 1U space rack unit — the first to combine the synergies of two timeless circuits, the 1176 compressor and 1073 preamplifier — was previewed earlier this year at Musikmesse in Frankfurt and will be on display at NAMM 2018 in Anaheim next month.
Analog within reach
“UK Sound is addressing an increasingly important market need for emerging engineers and producers,” commented Mark Loughman, founder and managing director of UK Sound. “In an industry where software plug-ins have become omnipresent and the defacto status-quo, our mission is to re-introduce analog gear as an affordable and superior alternative to lackluster digital emulations. With our new 1173, we have created the first manifestation of this promise.”The 1173, which is designed to appeal to experienced musicians, producers and engineers looking to diversify their sonic palette while still delivering tried-and-true analog warmth that BAE Audio customers are used to, is the result of a design collaboration among Los Angeles-based producer Warren Huart and gear designer Michael Stucker, produced and manufactured by UK Sound. The new product brings together the combined synergies of two timeless circuits: the 1073 preamp and studio FET compressor — at an affordable price. The marriage of these two classic pieces of analog gear opens up an entirely new sonic palette in the studio, either as a standalone piece in a project studio, or as a unique addition to a heavily fortified rack of outboard gear.
Brave new world
The 1173 owes its unique character to its combined 1073 preamp and FET compressor circuit. It features the recognizable FET compressor controls for input and output gain and the time-honored compression ratio options of 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, and 20:1. Attack and release controls allow users to tailor the compressor’s action to for any given source. While the 1073 preamp helps bring depth and clarity to audio on the front end, the FET compressor is able to manage peaks, adding control and thickness to the signal. Drums, bass, vocals, and synths are among the many sound sources that will benefit from the 1173.
The UK Sound 1173 is priced at $1,200 USD and shipping now.
More information: UK Sound
