So we’ve completed a good portion of what we set out to do with this LA 610 mod. The next thing on our list is to add signal routing and bypass capability.

This will allow our friend to use his LA 610 mic preamp, EQ, or compressor in standalone mode, and route the EQ to either pre or post compression.

For this portion of the LA 610 mod, we’re going to create a bypass switching arrangement for the mic/line circuitry. This will disable the input section right up to the “level” pot, so there will still be input trim control if the EQ is used by itself. The next addition will be a routing switch that places the EQ in either a pre compressor mode or post compressor mode. This is a feature that offers greater flexibility for tonal variation if desired. Finally we will be adding a switch to bypass the EQ section. If both the EQ bypass and the mic/line bypass are engaged, just the compression section of the LA 610 will be in the signal path.

We think this is a fun feature set for our LA 610 mod, and it serves to change the way the LA 610 can be used in a studio setting. But we’re not finished just yet–we want to add one final touch.

We realize that some folks like the LA 610′s ability to saturate quickly–there is often a confusion that “vintage,” “tubes,” and “distortion” are three terms to be used synonymously. While that’s not necessarily so, we decided to add a type of saturation feature we call “growl” to this pair of LA 610′s we’re working on. It’s a concept we borrowed from the old EMI 12413 and Siemens U273 limiters.  Think of it like a sort of “level-loc-meets-transformer-saturation” behavior. It’s a great way to add some grit to drum tracks, or a “Raw Power” kind of sound to vocals.