LA2a or LA3a for All Around Work?

[oceantracks]

I've used both of these in studios in the past, and really loved the sound of either unit, with the LA2a getting the edge on vocals and the 3a on some vocals and almost anything else (guitars, etc). It's a tough call.

Which would be your pick as the most useful of these two, in that I'm adding my first hardware comp/limiter to my PT setup . I do vocals and guitar (and bass) overdubs live here....acoustic and electric guitar that is.

Thanks
TH

[stevep]

For an all around comp i will suggest a MC77 / 1176

But if you are set on either LA2 / LA3 i would go for the LA2



really the proper answer is get them all

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by stevep

For an all around comp i will suggest a MC77 / 1176

But if you are set on either LA2 / LA3 i would go for the LA2



really the proper answer is get them all

Yeah, I know, get 'em both

I've had vintage black and silver 1176 units and that's just one piece of gear I don't get. Everything I ever heard them on I didn't like, except electric pop guitars maybe. Sold 'em both Still have the original manual for one of 'em! I don't even like the PLUG IN versions of 1176's...

Think I got a bad taste from an engineer I used to use who always liked them on background vocals. Whenever he put it on, I could immediately hear a veil of darkness thrown over the vocals. Hated it

TH

[stevep]

Think I got a bad taste from an engineer I used to use who always liked them on background vocals. Whenever he put it on, I could immediately hear a veil of darkness thrown over the vocals. Hated it

You need to go to a studio that has a few of these to check them out for yourself.

an hour of time in a studio will be well worth it in the long run thumbsup

I love my MC77 i use it on everything from acoustic instruments to room mics, to sax , to lead vocals, electric guitars ,piano, ect..... and it has never made the audio dull or dark

[BOWIE]

I think EVERYONE needs an LA-2A. It's to music what sugar is to dessert.
With that said, if you are only going to get one I'd go w/ the 3A because it doesn't have such a specific tone to it and I've often found 2A's to be unreliable.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by stevep

You need to go to a studio that has a few of these to check them out for yourself.

an hour of time in a studio will be well worth it in the long run thumbsup

I love my MC77 i use it on everything from acoustic instruments to room mics, to sax , to lead vocals, electric guitars ,piano, ect..... and it has never made the audio dull or dark

I've spent years in "real" studios, literally since the Sixties, so I know what you mean.

The studio in question had several 1176 units, black and silver, and they all produced the same result, for me, though for some reason the silver faced unit was brighter than the blackface units. I think we also used the 1176 (black) on bass, but even then the DBX they had sounded cooler.

Maybe the MC77 is a whole different animal...never tried one ...

TH

[indie]

Which DBX did you favor?

I really love my la3a reissue. I've used the vintage ones a pretty good amount and think these are real close...either way, they sound great. The la3a has a great high mid presence for vocals and gtr. Also love it on bass.thumbsup

[Fruition2k]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

I've used both of these in studios in the past, and really loved the sound of either unit, with the LA2a getting the edge on vocals and the 3a on some vocals and almost anything else (guitars, etc). It's a tough call.

Which would be your pick as the most useful of these two, in that I'm adding my first hardware comp/limiter to my PT setup . I do vocals and guitar (and bass) overdubs live here....acoustic and electric guitar that is.

Thanks
TH

Did you know this was coming out...?
http://www.uaudio.com/products/analog/2-la-2/index.html
Stereo LA2A....having had a reissue UA LA2A I'm interested...

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

I think we also used the 1176 (black) on bass, but even then the DBX they had sounded cooler.

Originally Posted by indie

Which DBX did you favor?

I'd be interested to know this as well.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by Steamy Williams

I'd be interested to know this as well.

Pretty sure it was the 165...

Tom H

[vernier]

I'm adding my first hardware comp/limiter to my PT setup.

LA2A, and not the others.

[audible]

Oceantracks,

Of the two units you are interested in, I would error towards a La-3a over La-2a as the 3a seems to be a bit more versatile than the La-2a. Though I love the grit of the La-2a, the solid state alternative has a really great makeup gain amplifier and they seem to have a quicker response. Really you can not go wrong with either unit on vox or bass guitar. Maybe, if you can afford it, you should purchase both units.

audible

[vernier]

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

[paterno]

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

For me, the LA-3 is probably the world's best vocal compressor...

Go figure.

JP

[delcosmos]

Originally Posted by paterno

For me, the LA-3 is probably the world's best vocal compressor...

Go figure.

JP

And for Bob Clearmountain too!!
He have "4" LA3 and "0" LA2a, go figure.
I love La3 and La2.

All the best.

[vernier]

For me, the LA-3 is probably the world's best vocal compressor...

Got rid of both LA2A and LA3A ...its all vari-mu these days.

[joninc]

get a distressor.

LOOK OUT!!!!!!! flames ....

seriously tho - it it really versatile and does a great job on a bunch of things. i think you'll get a lot more use out of it than either a LA2A or an 1176 (although they are great pieces of gear), and i think the opto mode in it sounds great too. and since i work in digital i like the distortion modes to add some more texture to the sounds.

and no i don't think it sounds lo fi.

[Led]

Like some others I have both originals, and the LA2A rules on vocals and bass but the LA3A gets more use overall on a larger number of sources. Now LA2A into an 1176 with no compression on either, just using the amps, is a sweet tone. Creamy with sparkles. I can't believe you have 0 LA2A Armando. Call Mike immediately.

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by Led

I can't believe you have 0 LA2A Armando. Call Mike immediately.

Armando was talking about Bob Clearmountain, not himself. I can see at least one LA-2A in a photo of Armando's studio on his website.

[indie]

LA3A on Electric gtr = THE BALLS!!!

[feyshay]

Have you consider a Crane Song Trakker? Versatility, LA-2A emulation, a lot of great presets, well-made, and sounds great with vocals. Not as nice as the LA-2A since a preset is an emulation of the LA-2A, but it does more than what the LA-2A can do.

[Led]

Originally Posted by Steamy Williams

Armando was talking about Bob Clearmountain, not himself. I can see at least one LA-2A in a photo of Armando's studio on his website.

Yes you are right Steamy, I am a little ********.

[GMR]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Yeah, I know, get 'em both


I don't even like the PLUG IN versions of 1176's...

TH

No surprise there! the plug in doesn't sound at all like the real thing!
If you heard a veil of darkness maybe you had a defective unit! The thing that it doesn't do is make the sound darker!

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by GMR

No surprise there! the plug in doesn't sound at all like the real thing!
If you heard a veil of darkness maybe you had a defective unit! The thing that it doesn't do is make the sound darker!

I think they do if you push them too hard, which I think my engineer was in those cases. Anyway, I'll check one out eventually, meanwhile I bought a new LA 3A and it sounds exactly like I hoped it would!

Tom

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by GMR

If you heard a veil of darkness maybe you had a defective unit! The thing that it doesn't do is make the sound darker!

I was thinking the same thing.

1176's sound bright to my ears.

As for darker versions: the Digidesign BF76 does indeed sound dark (although the original Bomb Factory version had more of the bright characteristic I tend to associate with the 1176).

[Mark Warren]

Originally Posted by stevep

For an all around comp i will suggest a MC77 / 1176

But if you are set on either LA2 / LA3 i would go for the LA2



really the proper answer is get them all

Agree 100% with this statement.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

i'm gonna reserve that honor for tape.


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[studio57]

these compressors all sounds great in different situation! i have 2x1176,1x La-2,2x La-3,1x1178 and 2x La-4 and i love them all

[warhead]

Originally Posted by indie

The la3a has a great high mid presence for vocals and gtr. Also love it on bass.thumbsup

Yes, not overly crazy present, but way more present vs the LA2A which has that smooth, buttery thing happening.

Originally Posted by Fruition2k

Did you know this was coming out...?
Universal Audio | Analog Products | 2-LA-2 | Overview
Stereo LA2A....having had a reissue UA LA2A I'm interested...

Now that this is out, I was able to spend the evening with the 2 recently.

The 2LA2 is exactly what UA describes it as: based on the LA2A.

The UA LA2A is smoother, with longer attack and release times.

The 2LA2 can come frighteningly close in TONE to the LA2A, but does seem to land somewhere between the LA2A and LA3A on speed (maybe it should have been the 2.5LA2.5?). The LA2A is still more of that RMS or "averaging" compressor action, the 2LA2 is a half a step in the direction of a "peak" type of action. LA2A can hold things down so smooth and even, 2LA2 will grab and let go a bit faster.

They can sound surprisingly similar though.

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

Originally Posted by paterno

For me, the LA-3 is probably the world's best vocal compressor...

Go figure.

JP

Hard to argue with either of those points, depending on what you need!

Originally Posted by LA VERDAD

Well I have both. The LA 2a really mellows and smooths what you put in it. Sometimes too much for my taste. I like a little edge or dynamics. The LA 2a is great for rounding things out and smoothing it like a butter knife on a piece of white bread.... Its a smoother device....

Now, I like the LA 3a, with the Bob C. mod. Very Nice. Vocals in your face!! Guitars in your face like a fight going to start at any moment.

So, if I had to choose. LA-3a and half the cost and no worries for tubes...Solid State has a great mid flavor punch..

That's a really great description of both pieces vs each other anyhow.

The reissues have the mod switchable on the rear!

War