Who Makes The Best LA2A Style Compressor Today?

[84K]

Hey Fine People,


My studio is looking for a new LA2A style compressor... I know ADL makes something of that kind, does anyone else? Is anyone making one as good as the originals? (If you are wondering) Why do we want one that is "new?" Reliability. Thanks in advance!!!

[brianroth]

Well, there's the Universal Audio re-release.

I suspect none will sound the same since the original UTC transformers haven't been made in many years.

Bri

[rll]

requisite audio:

http://www.requisiteaudio.com/products/l2m/index.html

a mastering limiter that we use all the time as a regular LA2A type compressor. beautiful on individual instruments and across the buss.

rll

[Radioking]

I Would recommend looking at Bill Skibbie's Red Stripes LA 2 clones. I have a pair which are well made & sound great & so far 100% reliable. fuuck

[84K]

Thanks everyone! I am looking into all of your suggestions.

[thethrillfactor]

What would you want use it for?

Do you want something that sounds the same?

[petemin]

i haven't tried any of the la2 copies, but have a requisite pal plus. it sounds pretty amazing. pete

[84K]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

What would you want use it for?

Mostly Bass. We want something with that sound... I am unfamiliar with the "recreations" or any of the newer pieces "inspired by" the LA2A. I have only used the originals... Of the new ones, Which is most accurate?

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Do you want something that sounds the same?

As close as can be.

Originally Posted by petemin

i haven't tried any of the la2 copies, but have a requisite pal plus. it sounds pretty amazing. pete

Brian Lucey has spoken highly of the Requisite, but that may be overkill for cutting bass. I don't need those detents and a mono box would be sufficient. Thanks!!

[MIKEHARRIS]

TUBETECH CL-1B

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by 84K

Mostly Bass. We want something with that sound... I am unfamiliar with the "recreations" or any of the newer pieces "inspired by" the LA2A. I have only used the originals... Of the new ones, Which is most accurate?

None are the most accurate.

My choices for bass would be:

1)For tracking-Tubetech CL1B(with different tubes)

2)Mixing-UA LA2A-Not as full in the lower midrange as the original, but works great in the mix on bass

Honorable mention is the Purple MC77 even though its not an LA2A recreation(and not exactly a 1176 recreation either) works great on bass in the mix.

[84K]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

None are the most accurate.

My choices for bass would be:

1)For tracking-Tubetech CL1B(with different tubes)

What tubes are you putting in the CL1B?

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

2)Mixing-UA LA2A-Not as full in the lower midrange as the original, but works great in the mix on bass

Is there a cap change to make it more accurate?

Thanks Thrill!

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by 84K

What tubes are you putting in the CL1B?


Is there a cap change to make it more accurate?

Thanks Thrill!

Mullards for a more euphonic midrange(more pleasing soiunding) and Tele's for a cleaner sound.

There is a thread right now on model numbers.


On the cap thing, the answer is no.

Its in the transformers.

They just don't give you the slight bump & size that the originals do(alas).


I would say the remake has a "smaller window".

Once you find it you'll know it.

On my reissue its around 11:00 oclock(gain between 33-43).

Also you must let it warm up for at least 2 hours.

It is a useful unit, just not as fun as i remember the original.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Honorable mention is the Purple MC77 even though its not an LA2A recreation(and not exactly a 1176 recreation either) works great on bass in the mix.

MC76 is my choice in most cases.



Kris, the Pal Plus is a different animal than my L2M.

[84K]

Originally Posted by lucey

MC76 is my choice in most cases.



Kris, the Pal Plus is a different animal than my L2M.

Oh.. Thanks Brother! I am checking them all out (reading and asking questions, not yet using). Right now, it seems the Pal Plus or the CL1B are the front-runners.

[box]

http://www.boutiqueaudio.com/inwardc...ns-comp820.htm

maybe not the most accurate to the original but an option

[twilt]

i use a manley elop and it rules...
not an la2a but it's fantastic on bass ummmmm manley

[carlsaff]

Originally Posted by Radioking

I Would recommend looking at Bill Skibbie's Red Stripes LA 2 clones. I have a pair which are well made & sound great & so far 100% reliable. fuuck

Bill Skibbe is the man.

[bee]

I haven't heard the skibbe red stripe. But many people who have say it's awesome. The price is totally reasonable. Plus they are made buy a husband and wife team. That kicks ass in my book. I plan on getting a pair eventually but until then I use the tubetech cl-1b and the manley elop.

[rlnyc]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I would say the remake has a "smaller window".

Once you find it you'll know it.
On my reissue its around 11:00 oclock(gain between 33-43).
Also you must let it warm up for at least 2 hours.
It is a useful unit, just not as fun as i remember the original.

funny. my re-issue has it's sweet spot at about noon (50db gain). i use it on vocals at 50-50. it sounds quite like the old ones, and way better than a couple of older ones i have run onto. maybe i just got lucky, but i use it all the time. also, i haven't heard a big difference between turning it on and using it within minutes and waiting a couple of hours. again, maybe i don't have the ears for it, but i can really tell if i try and use my tube microphones right away -- they really need an hour or 2 to get juicy.

best,
rlnyc.

[JonCraig]

Manley ELOP

--jon

[pan60]

dose anyone have a link for Bill Skibbe, or did i miss it.

[C/G]

Pan, here it is. www.keyclubrecording.com

[max cooper]

Anyone have thoughts on how the ADL-1000 would do as a stand-in for an LA2A?

[pan60]

also how about the Anthony DeMaria Labs C/L 1000?

[syra]

the Pal Plus is a different animal than my L2M

Do you have a specially modified L2M because otherwise its the same thing.

If you want that LA-2A compression style you can't go wrong with the Requisite limiters although they are a lot more hi-fi.

On bass they are absolutely amazing. The limiter response curve makes all the difference...a feature that an LA-2A doesn't have.

Btw, you can't buy the Pals anymore. He stopped making them almost a year ago...the new version PAL III is about to hit the streets in a few months...

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Anyone have thoughts on how the ADL-1000 would do as a stand-in for an LA2A?

Of the ones mentioned, the 2 that "look" nice to me...
(and we all know that looks are everything)
The ADL 1000/1500, and the Red stripe.
Anyone used these?

I think I'm falling under the spell of... "these look like em, so they must sound like em"

Andrew

[cgarges]

The ADLs are cool, but don't really sound like the original LA-2As. They're lacking a good bit of beef in the low end, although they have a nice clarity to them. I suspect it has as much to do with the transformers as anything else.

A very talented engineer in this area named David Black, who unfortunately passed away recently, built two LA-2A clones using UTC transformers (one of which was a replacement from the originals in the LA-2A) that sounded excellent and very close to the original LA-2As that I've used. I've never used the ADLs side-by-side with an original Teletronix unit, but David had his units in a rack next to the ADLs, which sounded quite different.

The ADLs are very cool compressors that BEHAVE much like LA-2As, but don't really SOUND like LA-2As. The ADL direct boxes are excellent, by the way.

Units that I have used that I thought were very similar to the LA-2As are the Manley Elop (a little less apparent distortion) and the Federal compressors (similar sonic character, faster attack and release). I'd love to hear one of the Skibbe Red Stripes.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[picksail]

I enjoy using the ADL1000. Very nice on acoustic gtrs and shrill female vox. I've also, applied it to multi-mics gtr cab set-ups when using a condenser in the combonation with great results.

[tylerp]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Anyone have thoughts on how the ADL-1000 would do as a stand-in for an LA2A?

The ADL-1000 doesn't work like LA-2A. In particular its gain reduction is not at all transparent. This problem can be corrected, however the ADL1500 does not have this same issue so it performs a lot closer to the LA-2A. The LA-610 is also very smooth and sweet like the original.

[nigel saunders]

I was really surprised by how great the pbc-6a is for tracking vocals and bass - for the money it is insane