LA2a or LA3a for All Around Work?

oceantracks · 21st February 2007, 06:38 AM

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 · 21st February 2007, 06:53 AM

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 · 21st February 2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

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 · 21st February 2007, 07:18 AM

Quote:

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

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 · 21st February 2007, 07:39 AM

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 · 21st February 2007, 07:48 AM

Quote:

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

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 · 21st February 2007, 07:53 AM

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.

Fruition2k · 21st February 2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

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 · 21st February 2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceantracks

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by indie

Which DBX did you favor?

I'd be interested to know this as well.

oceantracks · 21st February 2007, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steamy Williams

I'd be interested to know this as well.

Pretty sure it was the 165...

Tom H

vernier · 21st February 2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

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

LA2A, and not the others.

audible · 21st February 2007, 08:11 PM

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 · 21st February 2007, 08:43 PM

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

stevep · 22nd February 2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

paterno · 22nd February 2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

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 · 22nd February 2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

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 · 22nd February 2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

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 · 22nd February 2007, 10:25 AM

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 · 22nd February 2007, 12:25 PM

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 · 22nd February 2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

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 · 22nd February 2007, 04:39 PM

LA3A on Electric gtr = THE BALLS!!!

feyshay · 22nd February 2007, 06:03 PM

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 · 23rd February 2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

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 retarded.

GMR · 25th February 2007, 07:26 PM

Quote:

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 · 25th February 2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

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 · 25th February 2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

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 · 26th February 2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

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 · 26th February 2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vernier

LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor.

i'm gonna reserve that honor for tape.

gregoire
del
ubk
.

studio57 · 26th February 2007, 08:09 PM

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

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21st February 2007, 06:38 AM	#1
oceantracks Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boca Raton FL Posts: 987	LA2a or LA3a for All Around Work? 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

21st February 2007, 06:53 AM	#2
stevep Lives for Jesus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: orange county ca. Posts: 2,938	Not in your list .... but, 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 __________________ Steve Perkins Creation Recording Studios .com Take a Kid Fishing Outreach John 3:16

21st February 2007, 07:53 AM	#7
indie Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: C-ville area VA Posts: 1,284	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. __________________ rock on, Micah http://www.micahmixer.com http://www.myspace.com/wilshires

21st February 2007, 08:43 PM	#13
vernier Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,666	LA2A is probably world's best vocal compressor. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/learstevens

21st February 2007, 07:39 AM	#5
BOWIE Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ. Posts: 1,145	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.

21st February 2007, 08:11 PM	#12
audible Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 54	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

22nd February 2007, 10:25 AM	#18
joninc Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bc, canada Posts: 229	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. __________________ the new rules = there are no rules. www.buenavistaaudio.com

22nd February 2007, 12:25 PM	#19
Led Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,826	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. __________________ "My voice has a built in extortion box" - recent vocalist I recorded...

22nd February 2007, 04:39 PM	#21
indie Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: C-ville area VA Posts: 1,284	LA3A on Electric gtr = THE BALLS!!! __________________ rock on, Micah http://www.micahmixer.com http://www.myspace.com/wilshires

22nd February 2007, 06:03 PM	#22
feyshay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,273	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.

26th February 2007, 08:09 PM	#29
studio57 Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: finland Posts: 191	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

15th August 2008, 05:52 AM	#30
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,321