whats the difference between the la-2a & 1176?

[vdz]

whats the difference between the la-2a & 1176?
there both compressors correct?
what makes them so special??

[Nerdyrocker]

THe LA2A is a very natural sounding compressor with tube circuitry that allows for a fair amount of gain reduction without artifacts in the audio. It is most often used on bass guitars and vocals (at least, those are my uses). There are only 2 controls, gain reduction and output. You can switch the metering between the two of those.

The 1176 is the workhorse compressor. It is a FET design that has adjustable input, output, attack, release, ratio, and metering. Even at its slowest, the attack is still considered to be rather quick. There is no independent threshold control, however, the more you crank the input knob, the more compression you get. With 4 ratios to choose from, you can dial in just about any type of compression you want. There is even a bypass mode where the signal will still flow through the 1176 but not compress. That way you can pick up the flavor of the unit without compressing the signal. The 1176 is used on...everything. I personally love it on bass guitar, snare drums, vocals, and a small amount of compression on rock guitars.

If you get the chance, you should really play with and learn these two compressors. Most studios have at least one of each.

[Fletcher]

What's the difference between a Ford F-150 and a Ford Mustang? They're both 4 wheeled vehicles from the same manufacturer... aren't they?

I wouldn't necessarily say that an 1176 [or in the sense of a "real" 1176, the Purple MC-77] is a more utilitarian device than an LA-2A... just that it's a different tool with a different sound that can be used in a different manner to gain a different result.

The 1176 can do more with envelop shaping, the LA-2A is generally a measure "smoother" sounding due to internal gain reduction system [not the tubes, but the optical attenuator employed by the gain reduction cell... though "toobs" are a lovely buzz word that every studio needs to have to feel complete when conversing with people who know nothing of this industry other than a few choice buzzwords].

Peace.

[Nerdyrocker]

I think I was just owned by Fletcher. Sweet.

I agree though. I was just noting that one uses "toobs" (I like that spelling by the way) in the path and the other is solid state. Different strokes for different folks. They both get used all the time.

Fletcher, thank you for owning me.

[moogus]

To me, its not the device doing the amplifing that makes the main difference in sound (tube or transistor) but the class of amp circuit it arranged in (A, A/B, B).

So Id put the LA2a and 1176 (rev D) in roughly the same tonal boat, compared to say, a DBX160VU or SSL or most Mu comps.



M

[vdz]

im new still learning about the gears.. thanks for the info guys.

one more thing.. what are your opinions on the la-2a & 1176 software plug-ins they have out there on the market , that claims to produce exact result ??

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Nerdyrocker

I think I was just owned by Fletcher. Sweet.

I agree though. I was just noting that one uses "toobs" (I like that spelling by the way) in the path and the other is solid state. Different strokes for different folks. They both get used all the time.

Fletcher, thank you for owning me.

No, you're both right...

The tube is part of the sound of the La2a... Fletcher's still mad about the whole mid-late 90's misinformed pro-sumer movement of "if it doesn't have tubes it sucks"(I'm still aggravated by it, too)... some of these misconceptions are still prevalent in some circles... thankfully that philosophy has dwindled over the years.

[wwittman]

it's a concept TO be concerned about... most "tube" gear a) isn't all tube and B) isn't good

but the La2a is both.
AND it does have a lot to do with its sound.
the solid state La3a sounds pretty close to nothing like it.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by wwittman

it's a concept TO be concerned about... most "tube" gear a) isn't all tube and B) isn't good

but the La2a is both.
AND it does have a lot to do with its sound.
the solid state La3a sounds pretty close to nothing like it.

Agreed.

[Acoustic Cloud]

I dig me some Boston Strangler Fletcher!! Hes Pretty right on, most of the time.

'An me mum thinks hes humorous'...

[trancekid]

just one question, how do you set the 1176 to bypass ?

[toolskid]

rotate attack knob all the way counter-clockwise