Retro Instruments are a boutique manufacturer of tube equipment with the Sta-Level being their best known compressor.
Retro Instruments – vintage vibe, modern approach
Retro Instruments is one of the companies coming to mind when it comes to … well… retro audio gear from the US. Phil Moore, founder of Retro, was in love with the old Gates Sta-Level. Its recreation became Retro Instruments' first product.
One by one further products joined the Sta-Level, all of them tube devices. In case you have spotted Series 500 units: Yes those have tubes as well. If you buy Retro Instruments products, you can be assured they are without exception high end: The equipment is being manufactured in the US by hand to the highest standards, using best parts and receiving utmost quality control.
When Phil finished the Sta-Level, he was in need for a company name. He then decided: Retro just „looked right“ on the unit! That's a straightforward, proper explanation! It is probably not too much of a coincidence Retro and Gates both have five digits.
Classic audio gear like the Sta-Level, the Pultec-EQs or the 176 have all become legends for a reason. Nonetheless Retro Instruments has got the modern production environment in mind. Therefore they are not dead against improvements for the sake of originality. If it helps using the unit, if it helps in technical terms (like noise) or if things have to be manufactured differently today, Retro Instruments does not hesitate to do so. The results are always absolutely magnificent units almost everybody loves who has tried them out.
As all Retro Instrument devices have classic role models or are heavily influenced by classic gear, they sound like yesteryear's classics. But if you buy Retro Instruments, you will be glad to hear the come without negative side-effects like too much noise or unwanted distortion.
• Retro Instruments Sta-Level: mono tube compressor, recreration of the classic Gates Sta-Level, known for warm and rich sound
• Retro Instruments 176 Limiting Amplifier: mono tube vari-mu limiting amplifier, based on the Universal Audio 176
• Retro Instruments Revolver: stereo tube compressor based on the Altec 436, with lots of handy add-ons
• Retro Instruments 2A3:stereo Pultec-EQ plus subsonic filter
• Retro Instruments Powerstrip Recording Channel: mono tube channel strip consisting of preamp, Pultec-EQ and vari-mu compressor
• Retro Instruments Doublewide I: single channel compressor, using four 6BJ6 tubes
• Retro Instruments Doublewide II: single channel compressor, 12AT7 and 12AU7tubes, stereo linkable
• Retro Instruments 500Pre: microphone tube preamplifier based on the Gates Sta-Level gain stage
Retro Instruments Doublewide I vs. Retro Instruments Doublewide II: Mk I uses four 6BJ6 tubes, whereas Mk II comes with a single 12AT7 and a single 12AU7. Attack and release can be set quicker and slower on the newer, Doublewide. Also, the first version is not stereo linkable, the second is. Both Retro Doublewides can be ordered!