Warm Audio WA-2A, anyone use it?

[poetnprophet]

Hi, I've been thinking about adding a good comp to my signal chain. I almost only record vocals, my current chain is:

Hulk 990 Mic -> Golden Age Pre-73, -> ART Pro Channel II (comp/eq only), -> Motu, -> Reaper

When mixing I'm all inside Reaper. I am using Waves CA-2A on vocals all the time, it really has the smooth sound I'm looking for, so I thought having the real thing in the signal chain might be good.

So, curious if anyone has any experience with this unit or other 2A clones, or other optos. Any drawbacks, etc?

[karbomusic]

I thought about picking one up but haven't yet. I do have two WA-87 LDCs which is what turned me on to Warm Audio.

[poetnprophet]

How is that mic? I am happy with the mic I have now, but you know how that goes, haha.

I was also looking at Stam Audio, who makes some vintage clones of the 2A and others. Similar price, too.

[karbomusic]

I was looking for a set of LDCs that didn't have that airy peak in the 8-12k region which many have - this one is more flat there, possibly less flattering but more natural sounding since I already had plenty of other LDCs with that peak in the high end.

[grinder]

How do you find your WA-87's Karbomusic?

Impressed beyond reason?
Impressed?
Genuinely pleased?
Pleased?
Moderately pleased
Okay?
A little disappointed?
Disappointed?
Use them because I have them?



Grinder

[karbomusic]

Originally Posted by grinder

How do you find your WA-87's Karbomusic?

Impressed beyond reason?
Impressed?
Genuinely pleased?
Pleased?
Moderately pleased
Okay?
A little disappointed?
Disappointed?
Use them because I have them?



Grinder

I think the best answer is they fill a whole I didn't have in my mic collection. So I'm genuinely pleased if I'm using them for what I need them for. FWIW, those are the only mics used in these recordings which are live aka M/S config/single take about 24-30 inches back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3tyRVmqU9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU_U4CDOuLM

They also don't do a bad job on drum overheads.

[grinder]

Thanks for that Karbomusic yes you do have to try these things to know I do have some reasonable mics already.
To purchase two of these that does say something though.
Among my collection I have two Lewitt LC 650's which I am only just recently getting to know. The same can be said for my one Rhode K2.

Grinder

[karbomusic]

I remember hearing really good things about the Lewitts.

[poetnprophet]

Originally Posted by karbomusic

I think the best answer is they fill a whole I didn't have in my mic collection. So I'm genuinely pleased if I'm using them for what I need them for. FWIW, those are the only mics used in these recordings which are live aka M/S config/single take about 24-30 inches back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3tyRVmqU9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU_U4CDOuLM

They also don't do a bad job on drum overheads.

Wow, pretty sweet dude and the mic sounds great...especially so far back from it. do you have any processing on that recording?

Also, does the mic come with that particular shock mount?

[karbomusic]

Originally Posted by poetnprophet

Wow, pretty sweet dude and the mic sounds great...especially so far back from it. do you have any processing on that recording?

Also, does the mic come with that particular shock mount?

It does come with those shockmounts and nice cherry wood cases.

There is some processing, some CLA-2A on the track itself but only knocking none to 1 dB off. SSL G on the master hitting a little harder maybe 3dB, reverb and there is also very light JS: ozzifier chorus and some analog delay but it is subtle. I hoped that would sound good but not too obvious.

It's a project I worked on end of the summer into the fall because I was a bit burned out on multiple takes, editing and slicing and dicing and other studio tricks, I wanted to take a break and force myself to just play and sing a song from beginning to end with no post edits. I'm glad I did it, I think I wept openly a few times by making a mistake during the last 5 seconds of an otherwise great take. That's also why "we just disagree" begins with that lo-fi accidental losing of the pick, I staged that but it was about my journey of not being able to make a mistake.

[poetnprophet]

very nice, dude. nice performance and sweet sounding mic, it's definitely going on my list for this year. I have the Hulk 990, which is supposed to sort of mimic the U87 as well but purposefully brighter in the top end. It makes the sweet spot for driving the preamp pretty small (without eq), and I do want something a little more versatile.

thanks for sharing!

[karbomusic]

Thank you sir, and before I forget, nice to have you on board aka happy 1 year forum anniversary.

[poetnprophet]

ha, thanks...and thanks to a great community