Revive Audio

01/16/2026

Working on several classic Revive modifications to the Vintage Yamaha M-406 this last few weeks. We used to do a lot of vintage Yamaha consoles but mostly rack units now here and there.
The consoles are so heavy and the wood casings often didn't survive mail in shipping from customers so....

Most of these vintage designs are on 24v rails using Toshiba chips which have some really cool distortion. The M406 is no exception with transformer inputs and inductor based EQS they are really special.
We modify the power supply for lower noise, longevity (lets face it, they need it at this age). New bulbs, Clean the controls, Modify the master section for lower noise and apply insert points that can be used as either and insert or an unbalanced mic pre output.
Customers have always raved and since initially offering them over a decade ago, DIY guys have been posting and doing them as well for hobby and audio recreation (the Direct outs).

Simply cant be beat, each pre is like a vintage API with a touch more distortion making them cool for just about anything all at a price that wont break the bank and your music loves.

01/09/2026

Well its confirmed!!! the last of the Gen 2 VLA units have sold out from every retailer. Now, customers are asking the question "Will you be modifying the VLA III"
That remains to be seen. Things have to be able to meet our criteria for performance improvements before we do an offering so ....TBA.
www.reviveaudio.com

This marks over a decade of performing modifications to these cool comps with a wonderful review of our modifications in Tape OP publication in 2018 for these guys.

We will still be offering the service to Gen 1 and Gen 2 if you have one.
A bit more difficult to match channels in stereo mode at higher compression levels due to the variances of Opto based cells and the tolerances being so wide on the pots, We wonder how Gen 3 will be compared to Gen 2 which proved to be more difficult at 7-15db of compression, but its not like 2a and 1176 are much different.

So in other news!
New modification offerings are on the way for The budget conscience Behringer 676 and The UA version as well. Seems like folks here in Nashville and elsewhere don't like either preamp but like the comps so.....

12/15/2025

Wrapped up some 163, 164s this week. Very in Vogue right now these classic 163,164 auto compressors I guess as I have two more coming in after the holidays. I have always loved them since the early days, They are unique and vibey.
Very cool boxes with a lot of good distortion when compressing heavy at above 8-10db rms. Perfect for overheads IMO and other stereo sources you would like some character for (164) If mono, Vocals and bass as well as acoustic guitar are nice with a little snap in the top end.
Post mod they are very clean in terms of noise floor with great bandwidth and an almost Fet vibe like a classic Rev A but without the transformers.
Cold in Nashville today but not as cold as Idaho where I spent the first 12 years of business.
Stay warm, make some music.
www.reviveaudio.com

12/11/2025

We have been doing a lot of Rev A, Dual 1176 from Warm lately and this one is no exception to the rush. A good box stock, but the performance post mod is excellent and customers seem to love it. Much better headroom, lower noise, more dynamic range, bandwidth and vibe.
Hope everyone is doing well and getting close to done with their holiday shopping.
We are looking forward to some exciting new modification releases in 2025 and other announcements.
Stay Warm and keep making music! Music IS life
www.reviveaudio.com

11/26/2025

And so it begins!
Black Friday sale on the Website starts now!
Ends the 30th, short and sweet.
www.reviveaudio.com

11/17/2025

Thank you for a wonderful year! from Revive Audio. As you know small business owners do the work of three people and get paid for one. We have been working 7 days a week all year and as a result need to take a long break at the end of the year this year as its taken its toll.
Head over to to our Reverb store to catch a Black Friday deal if so inclined. Looking forward to working with you all again in 2025.
Jason @ Revive Audio LLC
Closed: 12/17-12/31--2025

09/22/2025

Working a Neve 8816 summing mixer. These have a # of issues that pop up from long hours of use and SMD caps that go bad as well as some other issues. We are cleaning up the audio path, lower the noise and fixing some issues that they commonly have. This one has a new meter coming from the UK that the customer is sending us. Cool units.
Also a Classic Orban 418A dual channel limiter, very 1176 ish but with a little less control but VERY vibey post mod.
www.reviveaudio.com

09/06/2025

Working this week on a classic ADR Express Limiter, a transformerless, all Discrete, dual channel, Compressor/Limiter. VERY cool vibe stock and modified, forget it, Crazy cool compression and tone, can be pumpy or subtle with a touch of cool crunch when hit hard. Killer for drums to say the least.

A 70-80s classic that is nearing the 50 year mark in the studio world. Pretty damn rare but not the rarest of ADR.
Tactile switches, logic and lovely Nihm battery that if left too long without replacement can corrode the hell out of the pcb so pop the hood if you have one. Varta makes a great replacement.

www.reviveaudio.com

08/30/2025

Hope y'all are ready for a great Labor Day weekend. Here is part of our work load for this week, soon to be listed or shipped back.
This year I want to thank each and every one of you who have supported our small business over the years, you are the best.
Labor Day sale on Reverb is in force!

We do our absolute best to take care of customers issues, if you ever have an issue most know that you just reach out and we send a return label and take care of it.
If you ever wonder whether a review is true that is negative online (and there are three I found today over the years) simply send us an email, I will gladly provide all communications, name redacted from them. The level of dishonesty out there is astonishing and I am fully transparent. I get you want power and to be famous, we all do.

Hilariously I saw one guy who said he met me this week here in Nashville and said he thought I was dishonest. The only person I left to meet this week was to buy something from and had to decline as he either did or did not know it was misrepresented, but the pic online doesn't look like the guy I met.
I rarely leave the shop to meet with people but have for Jody Stevens, Jason Aldean's sound guy, Mark Lewis, Kevin Skaff, Barry Weeks, Anthony Focx, Kip Allen and a number of other notables and local Audio enthusiasts.

Anyway, You can always call, send an email etc. We are not perfect (We have done close to 8,000 modifications at this point) but don't hide anything so just send an email for any info on reviews for clarity including all communications, unlike our government I like complete transparency:).
Here is a link if you wanna read the dish, you have to pay money to post a comment (membership) but I don't have the desire.
https://groupdiy.com/threads/revive-audio.89995/
Party on, that is all.
Jason Lambson, @ Revive Audio LLC

www.reviveaudio.com

We offer new products such as our Vintage Audio line as well as many popular modifications for compressors, mics, and mic pre-amps.

08/02/2025

So its Back to School time!
Save 10% off most items in our Reverb store for the first week+ of August!
Get the piece you need, the piece you've been missing in your chain with all of that wonderful Revive Audio mojo!

Shop Revive Audio on Reverb

07/24/2025

Orban, originally a broadcast line (some studio mentions) they have made there way into a lot of studios as they were retired from broadcast use.
The designs are robust, sound great and have a lot of cool crossover features that are equally at home in either.
We have done a truckload of them over the last 15 years and last week before break I was knee deep in a 674A, a very cool and unique looking EQ with fabulous sound.
With the modifications they rival some of the highest quality designs ever made and have mojo for days. Prices do NOT seem to be slowing down as the climb ever upward.

Check out the sweet Cinemag Retrofit as well on the back panel.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from Revive Audio!

Wrapping up a classic 161-to 160Vu conversion. A new VCA, Full recap and full mods+alignment.
The 161 and 160 are identical other than the balancing portion of the circuit is not populated on the 161. Both use the classic 200 series RMS and VCA (209) on this one.
New lamps and a great patina and she's alive and well, ready for another 3+decades of musical fun.