IMO the models sound pretty good/close, but the hardware is still winning in the vibe/soul department - the plugs sound usable, but without the last little dusting of magic.
Maybe it's just me but I'm kinda confused with Brian's explanation. If -18dBFS = 0VU then why would you boost the signal going into the plug-in by 18dB if Steven's drumloop is right there at 0VU? This would defeat the whole idea of having a proper calibration in the plug-in because if you go over that (which you did) then it'd stop behaving like the unit you modeled and it'd distort tremendously (once the signal touches the plug-in). Like I said, maybe it is just me but if you actually matched it then -18dBFS is NOT 0VU in your plugin (or the unit you modeled was heavily modded and uses something unimaginable like 0dBFS = 0VU).
As far as I can see, in your plug-in, +18dBFS = 0VU. That'd be insane (though I could be totally wrong in my assumptions).
To get the cla76 to sound like slate's hardware ua1176 blackface with ratio 4:1 I had to choose the bluestripe cla76 with a ratio of 20:1, same fast attack fast release settings.
With the LA2A, I got the cla LA2A sounding incredibly close to slate's hardware LA2A with very little effort.
So I'm wondering if because the CLA76 blackface is modeled on the urei hardware rather than the ua reissue, this is why i can't match it? The cla76 blackface seems clean, punchy and with less apparent smashing of the signal at the same settings.
For what it's worth I prefer the waves emulations to the IK versions. They seem to capture more of that low-end bloom/saturation that you hear on a compressed kick with hardware, rather than the lesser software compressors which leave the kick sounding pointy and digital.
if different analog units sound different then whats the point of matching the plugs with a specific hardware unit? i have the cla plugs and they rock, watched the video demo of IK and i was like wow, these sound great too.
1176/LA2A Hardware - IK vs Waves -Who sounds the closest?
First test was "The Same Exact Settings as the Hardware" Test or "SESAH" (Same Exact Setting As Hardware)
I focused on the first sentence behavior "Restless and rusty compiled my day" (I think that's what it's saying)
I pulled up my Waves Version for this (RTAS).
1176 Test - Vocals
Waves - Had the same exact aggressive feel. From the air in the beginning to each word. Waves even had a little more then this Hardware unit as it was actually bringing out words clearer and more define. The word "Compiled my day"
It brought out the beginning of that word "Compiled" more in a pleasing way.
T-Racks - It had a non-aggressive feel and didn't have the same air like this Hardware unit to me. Too smooth and didn't bring out anything. Was more like a regular compressor. The tone was there but, not the feel of the Hardware.
So for being closest sounding to the Hardware unit with the settings in exact knob positions - Waves was far better.
-------------------
Second test was the RMS/By Ear test that was done,
T-Racks - The plugin did exactly what the Hardware unit did on that "Compiled my day" word by ducking some what the C in Compiled. Though it doesn't have the air that this original has, it did sound as good.
Waves - It still beat it at aggressiveness. It also just sounded more like the unit in tone
So Overall, the Waves plugin sounded the closest to this Hardware unit in compressing Vocals and in tone as the Hardware unit.
--------------------
LA2A Test - Vocals
"SESAH"
Waves - It sounded exactly like the hardware. Maybe a little lighter, didn't have the low mid like the Hardware unit and maybe a little brighter but, sounded exactly like it as far as compression tone and the way it handled transits. WOW… Very Impressed.
T-Racks - It had somewhat the same aggressiveness as the original but a tad bit darker. Actually, you can tell that the IK version is a little more bass heavy.
The Hardware had a brightness to it that T-Racks didn't quite capture but, did sound super close to this unit.
So Overall, Waves again won this for sounding closer too the actual unit for Vocals.
-----------------------------------
1176 Test - Drums
"SESAH"
I love the way the 1176 smacks the hell out of some drums and smooths out the transits. Amazing….
Anyway,
T-Racks - Didn't close close to the aggressiveness of the hardware. The tone is somewhat there but, when your looking to smack the drums and you turn to a plugin and you know how the original hardware unit sounds and you remember your special settings on this unit. If you do these same setting to the plugin, you would probably go, "This Aint It" and move on to the next plugin.
Waves - Dam, too much!!!!!! Too much pumping on this one. It may have a chance on the RMS version as I hear the sound but, way over compressed! Was CLA's unit that aggressive? I think they really overshot this.
So if I was to pick between the 2, of course I would go for the one that doesn't totally destroy the drums so, it would be the T-Racks but, both of these, with the same settings as the Hardware didn't even come close. Sorry.
----------------------------------
RMS/By Ear Test - Drums
1176 Test - Drums
T-Racks - The plugin didn't quite mush the kick like the original as it kept the transits but, it was good.
Still didn't sound like the original but, I have to say that it did have the tone somewhat.
Waves - I did mess with the to try to get it close and found that it is so aggressive that I would be here all night trying to get this plugin to match.
I did get really close and it did sound a lot like the hardware but just not as smooth on the transits. I even went up to 96k to see if that smoothed it out, and it did a little but still
not as smooth.
So, if I had to pick one for the drums, it would actually be very hard. I never got the chance to see how close I could get it to sound like that hardware unit so, I'm not sure how ong it would take. With the Waves, I see that I could probably get it very close but again, it would take some serious time. I think that's why people just buy the hardware units because you can quickly dial it in what you need and it's there. With plugins, you can get it, it just takes time. I'll Have to say, it's a tie, seriously. If your looking for smooth then T-Racks, if your looking for aggressive, then Waves.
-------------------------------------
LA2A Test - Drums
Waves - Again, sounded too aggressive with these settings. It has the same tone but grabbed a lot more. Had some really nice air on this plugin as well for the drums.
The LA2A does not have a fast release, and Waves version obviously does. Nice but not the same sound.
T-Racks - WOW, sounding almost exactly like it. A little more lowend like Low mids but, the sound was there. If you use the LA2A for drums, and you need another one, this is it.
My overall about these plugins are, they are cool for what they are. I do think the Waves 1176 is a lot closer on vocals but not on drums with same settings.
For the LA2A, when you match the volume, they really sound close, in fact, dead on.
Of course, no one has done an RMS one for the Waves plugins yet. I think Slate said he would. I would put it down for you guys if I had the time. Maybe at a break or something so you guys can hear what I'm hearing.
These samples were great test samples for this. Good looking out Slate…
So for me, I don't use the LA2A for drums. WHen I compress drums, live that is, I usually use the API or SSL. That's just me though.
I think these plugins are good and if you don't have the CLA bundle then I think you should check these out.
I think I will hold out until I see what plugin they model next. If they don't have any plans on bringing out any model in the near future then I may get the LA2A.
Sorry in advance for any misspelled words, phrases or not using the right meaning/s at the right times. So get over it and back to the post at hand!!! Thanx....
I boosted the input volume via Sonalksis FreeG to Black76, and suddenly it distorted like the hardware track by Steven.
Attack and release are the same. Not sure how much gain reduction in the original hardware version, so I adjusted the level by ears.
CLA76 black can't give so much overdrive even I cranked the input and output to max and trimmed the volume down with FreeG. But Blue might be able to achieve more aggressive overdrive.
Well, thanks for nice shootout.
I really like the sound of plugin Black76 in first vocal samples. It is obvious that real unit 1176 that you have, has different sound and character. What is normal between two units, who knows from which years? That is quite normal.
On the other vocal example White 2A and your hardware LA2A I noticed that breath on White 2A is stronger than on the Hardware sample, what's mean that is pushed more into compression. But sounds really close to hardware.
Been mixing on the IK`s today again, and with some extra gain they sound smooth and full.
Gone is the ptfppt treble I often get with other compr-plug when driving them a little. Do they sound just like the la2a and Purple I sold some years ago? Don`t remember and I don`t care, but I can clearly remember the feeling of fullness and giving the sound a richness other compr-plugs are lacking - not only louder...
The closest is maybe Nebula Snap - nice full wide sound when running Ratio at 2:1.
And like vicnest mentioned - it can give more than enough distortion if that`s needed.
Thanks for the comparisons Steve. I like the original best. The first test,
with the same settings, but different gain reduction, IK version of it was
2nd best, very close, smooth. The one set for similar gain reduction was
very close to the hardware, both in having the unwanted high mid edge.
My first post. I really like the Black76 on snare. Much better than CLA if the signal is hot. I agree about the gain issue. They should consider adding a boost/trim for that. Also, how much oversampling do these use and what happens with this at 96k? I am asking in case they could have an option to increase this if it would improve harmonics or reduce aliasing even further.
am i the only one who thinks its really odd a hardware and software developer is doing a shoot out between other companies hardware and software. Dont think i have EVER seen this before.
Come on there has to be an agenda here! Could it be that alluding that these 2 emulate the 1176 and LA2A so well you dont need to buy them, so maybe pick up his Dragon instead.
Odd odd odd and no amount of stories about i was bored, xboxes or whatever else is going to wash here.
I tested the ik today , reading all those good reviews and my conclusion is :
I own the FeT and CLA so my first try was on a vocal hook replace a cla2a by ik ....thing was morein my face , wow ..but after a deeper tweaking ... i feel like ik 3a as well as 76 are smoother , some would say it's more 3d or like the hardware , not easy to kill sound ....but i started to wonder if it's not only a volontary mismatch (or call it accuracy) of controls : let me explain ....
If you make a plugin , for exemple an eq and set up for exemple the high gain to display +6 db when it's actually +3d , every body gonna say : wowo it's smooth as hellll
I have excatly the same feeling with ik settings and mettering , i feel like it's not what it seems to be ....so if somebody with the hardware can check in this direction (accuracy of metering +setting)....that would be great
Running a sine wave through such a tube modelled unit like the LA2A should show harmonics. But there is nothing with the IK LA2A
But there are such harmonics with the CLA and also the Softube emulation.
The question is why? Eventually can somebody verify this with the IK version and a sine waves with no gain-reduction (no compression).
The marketing guys from IK writing in forums and twitter to push the products having also no idea, they saying only "they are exactly modeled after the hardware, ask the support they can better help you. "
Running a sine wave through such a tube modelled unit like the LA2A should show harmonics. But there is nothing with the IK LA2A
But there are such harmonics with the CLA and also the Softube emulation.
The question is why? Eventually can somebody verify this with the IK version and a sine waves with no gain-reduction (no compression).
The marketing guys from IK writing in forums and twitter to push the products having also no idea, they saying only "they are exactly modeled after the hardware, ask the support they can better help you. "
Can I ask, what Softube emulation of the LA-2A there is?
As far as I know, the Fet Compressor is an emulation of the 1176.
Running a sine wave through such a tube modelled unit like the LA2A should show harmonics. But there is nothing with the IK LA2A
But there are such harmonics with the CLA and also the Softube emulation.
The question is why? Eventually can somebody verify this with the IK version and a sine waves with no gain-reduction (no compression)...
Very nice test, thank you Steve. I made a simple comparision myself. I took original vox and drums recordings from your post and played them thru URS plugin.
Then I tried to match sound with hardware unit of 1176. And I think URS is very close to the real thing. In fact - it's a lot closer than IK Black76 and NI VC76.
Good old URS is my winner.
And here is the soundcloud file with 4 performances: 2 for vocals (hardware / URS) nad two for drums (hardware / URS).
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
No not the FET. The Native Instruments LA2A (powered by Guitar Rig) and developed by Softube.
