Max as studio outboard for vocal tracking?

[KeysAndGuitar]

I’m considering adding a UAFx Max to my home studio outboard. Is Max suitable for this role?

I was seeking an 1176 reconstruction to add to my tracking setup, which currently includes a GAP Premier ‘73 and a pair of GAP Comp 3A LA3A reconstructions. So far I’ve been happy with the results, except for insufficient control over vocal transients, hence the desire for an 1176. I have limited space and budget, which makes a “real” 1176 somewhat out of my range.

Of late, I’m considering the Max. If it would work as “outboard” it would add a lot of sonic power to my rack for a low price and very little of the precious space in my small racks. I’ve got the necessary inline transformers to match impedance and level balanced vs unbalanced.

Is it realistic to expect the Max to perform like a real-life analog 1176 in a 1073->1176->LA3A vocal chain, picking off the excessive transients before the LA3A does its magic?

Or is Max really meant just for guitars and basses?

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Yes, realistic to expect that (LA2A, not LA3A). Important that you remember to keep the Preamp knob at zero, which bypasses the 610 emulation.

 

[KeysAndGuitar]

Thanks @Eric Dahlberg! I like the sound of the LA3A, so I’d probably use the Max in 1176 mode and patch it back into my Comp 3A’s. Of course, part of the attraction of the Max is the option to use 610’s and LA2A’s, which I don’t own.

Another question:

Does the UAFX Control app display a gain reduction meter?
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Update: I see UAFX 1.13 added gain reduction metering. Wow!

 

[KeysAndGuitar]

As I said in another thread, our local dealer agreed to let me try the Max and return it if I couldn’t integrate into my setup.

After some trials and tribulations, I’m happy to report that it is in fact working quite nicely.

I leveled the impedance difference between my GAP ’73 and the Max HiZ input with a Whirlwind Little Imp I had on hand, and I’m now hearing the magical effect (on my voice) of an 1176 before my LA3A clone (GAP Comp 3A). I’ve also enjoyed bypassing the Comp 3A and trying the tube warmth of the LA2A emulation in the Max pedal.

Wow! I’m way ahead. Now I’ve got a pair of UA 610’s, 1176’s and LA2A’s. Yowza!