Hi all, I have been looking for some rack gear to add some saturation/color but I can’t really find what I am looking for in 19” units (unavailability combined with really high prices makes a lot of it unobtainable atm). So I am thinking I might just go with a 500 series rack and some modules instead. There also seems to be a lot more variety going this route.
If I do go this route I am also probably planning on getting 1 compressor and maybe 1 eq as well (along with a saturation/color module). I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for me to check out as I start to dive in…
Anything from https://www.soundskulptor.com gotta be handy with the soldering iron but nothing too crazy. I would go with a preamp that takes line level or a tape sat.
Elysia and Wes audio make good 500 series stuff. Elysia Karakter is a good saturation. There is a plugin of it too. You could try the demo first before commiting to the hardware.
Sadly the plugin has nothing to do with hardware unit (which I adore). Not trying to debate on which is better: analog or digital. Just my humble opinion. In that particular case hands down, the rack unit wins. Having said that I love elysia’s comp & eq plugins.
I must admit I’m a bit weird when it comes to sat & dist (due to aliasing) but ITB anything from Kush will make you smile. On the budget friendly side of plugin check out Klanghelm.
In 500 series, Looptrotter makes a unit called “SA2RATE” that is an awesome “saturater/color” box. Its a single channel module for 500 series and retails for around $600.
If you have the 19" rack space they make a dual mono/stereo version called “SA2RATE2” and its amazing as well. I believe its under $900
To me it sounds excellent. On everything from mono bass synths, to electric guitar it pretty much makes everything I run through it sound better. Great value too
they makes the modules pre-assembled too available for order. There is a pretty hefty up-charge for assembly, but even still, the sound skulptor modules assembled are an awesome value.
The tape saturator module has that “silkiness” to it…know what I mean
The DocDerr is another stellar module from EL. Its formatted like a channel strip style module so its really easy and intuitive to use. I have one in my travel 500 rack and use it for lots of stuff. Another super easy to set and have everything you run through it sound better!
Its especially nice since its basically a whole outboard stack for an instrument/mic at a really affordable price. I like it because to me its a bunch of modules in one!
Thanks for the recommendation I will definitely check it out.
I have been pricing out a 500 rack and modules and the price ends up being comparable to the 19” stuff anyway (especially if I just want one unit) so it doesn’t seem like there is much savings to be had going the 500 route after all. I swear I remember it being cheaper before…