Universal Audio Debuts 6176 Channel Strip

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Universal Audio, manufacturer vintage audio reproductions and DSP powered plug-ins debuted their new 6176 channel strip to attendees of the Audio Engineering Society Convention in Los Angeles. The 6176 combines Universal Audio's two most successful products-the 2-610 microphone/instrument preamplifier and the 1176LN compressor-into a single "channel strip" product.

The 6176 features several improvements over the standalone 2-610 mic preamp and 1176LN compressor. "While we're known primarily for painstaking reproductions of vintage gear," said Universal Audio Chief Analog Designer, John Hinson, "with the 6176 we allowed ourselves to add new features and take advantage of components with superior specs over the originals. For example, the mic preamp now features a 15db pad and a beefed-up power supply that tightens up the bass. The compressor section still has the twenty micro-second attack time and program dependency of the original 1176, but it is much quieter. Vintage character with modern specs is what we were going for and I think we've hit it. It's the best of both worlds."

The 6176, a single, horizontal rackmount unit, has a suggested US retail price of $2,495 and will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of 2002.