Serpent Audio Chimera 500-Series Opto Compressor Quick n' Dirty
In this video, Sound Pure pro audio expert David Barrett describes the many benefits of the Serpent Audio Chimera 500-Series Opto Compressor.
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Sound Pure's Take
While not as popular with the clone-building community as the LA-2A, the solid-state opto LA3A offers a very similar simplistic design and smooth, natural sounding compression, but with a more transparent tonal palette that lends more flexibility. As an LA3A clone, the Serpent Chimera follows through with that standard but offers a bit more “meat” to the signal. In every source we heard the Chimera on, this added thickness and color was a welcomed addition that made a vocal “pop” with more focus and edge, a kick drum “thump” with more thunder, and a rhythmic acoustic guitar become more rounded and, well, interesting sounding.
The Chimera provides just one degree of control up from the simple original LA-3A units, making it slightly more powerful yet still easy enough to use as a tracking compressor without spiraling into a never-ending gear dialing sessions. Comp/Limit switching gives you a more aggressive voicing while the high-frequency sidechain boost turns the unit into more of a de-esser, and not just for vocals (think aggressively bright overheads or even electric guitar amps).
Watch & listen
251 Style Vocal Mic Shootout: Telefunken 251E v. Bock 251 v. Upton 251 v. Neumann M149
Also in this recording TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik ELA M 251E Microphone Bock Audio 251 Tube Condenser Microphone Upton Microphones 251 Multi-Pattern LDC Tube Microphone Millennia HV-3R Digital 8 Channel Mic Preamp Bricasti Design M7 Reverb Processor SoundToys EchoBoy - Delay Plug-in
In this video we present a 251 style vocal microphone shootout using the Telefunken 251E, the Bock 251, the Upton 251, and the Neumann M149. Can you tell which one's which? If you are interested in hearing the results an... Read more
In this video we present a 251 style vocal microphone shootout using the Telefunken 251E, the Bock 251, the Upton 251, and the Neumann M149. Can you tell which one's which? If you are interested in hearing the results and/or getting ahold of the audio files from this shootout, give us a shout, we'd love to hear from you!
From Serpent Audio
The Serpent Chimera is a faithful replication of the classic LA3A design, available for the first time in 500 series. Featuring an all discrete circuit design, class AB transistor output, true T4B optical cell, and transformer balanced input & output, the Chimera delivers that thick, rich, & smooth opto compression sound that you're looking for. Built like a tank with zero compromises, the Chimera is Pro Audio at its finest, with Orange Drop and Elna capacitors, full steel enclosure & cover, Hard Bypass, Sifam VU meter, and PCX Power Monitoring* feature. The Serpent Chimera is Made In The USA to the highest of production standards
-All Discrete Transistor Design
-Transformer Balanced Input & Output
-True T4B Optical Cell (User Replaceable/Upgradable)
-CinemagInput Transformer
-Custom Wound Output Transformer (Made to Original Specifications)
-Full Steel Enclosure & Cover (for maximum signal shielding)
-Infamous "Mod" Incorporated
-Hard Bypass (Relay Controlled)
-Stereo Linkable
-HF Sidechain Boost (for De-Essing)
-Compress/Limit Mode -Sealed Pots
-Sifam VU Meter -PCX Power Monitoring*
-VPR Compliant (100mA total power consumption)
-Made In The USA
Free 3-Year Warranty
Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
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