I'm Curious La-2a??

[Kaleb Formz]

Hey Guys Long time lurker!

I really want to buy an La-2a plugin and i'm kind of at a stand still.
I know they'll all get the job done but I don't make a lot of money (I'm 17) I can't work cause I'm in school and interning for hours at a barn full time so I just want the biggest bang for my buck I guess. I'm assuming it's between IK, Waves, UAD and I'm hearing good things about Cakewalks Ca-2a. Just wondering in which you think I should invest my money? Thanks in advance

 

[Drummerrrrr?]

Wait for the Black Friday deals and then get the CLA compressor pack.

 

[Machinated]

try some demo's.

i like the IK 76 best. theres versions by softube (NI & their own) and stillwell that could be worth checking out too.

EDIT: god knows why i was suggesting 1176's. obviously had them on my mind. check out the IK multimedia and native instruments (made by softube) models.

 

[acegunn]

Try Bootsy's Thrillseeker LA, it's free:
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/thrillseekerla-released-today/

 

[nspacestd]

Another freebie http://antress.blogspot.com "modern lost angel". Try it!

 

[BLUElightCory]

My favorite non-UAD LA2A plugs come from McDSP. The McDSP CB4 has an awesome LA2A model, and the 6030 does as well (on top of several other types of compressors).

 

[Kaleb Formz]

Hey Guys thanks for the reply's! Yeah I wasn't sure I was going to get home anytime soon (cause I'm interning in Minnesota) So I couldn't demo, Not just but I know some of your ears are really trained so I wanted another opinion I'm just an armature starting out. I tried Waves a while back and it seemed Loud? I don't know I've never touched an actual La-2a. I don't know how to demo Ik's I don't see a demo link anywhere, I'm trying cakewalk and so far i really like it!

 

[Kaleb Formz]

ThrillseekerLA or the IK Multimedia one (a bit more transparent).
The Waves one didn't do it for me.

Try Bootsy's Thrillseeker LA, it's free:
http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/thrillseekerla-released-today/

Thanks guys yeah I checked it out but isn't the Thrillseeker VBL an LA2a model, I've never heard of these guys but when I saw this plugin today it looked like a reincarnation of an LA even looks like it has a r37 knob? anyway I tried it and my gosh. It sounds really good I don't know if i'm going to buy an emulation I might end up using the Thrillseeker LA or VBL (which so far i really like) thanks so much guys!

 

[Kaleb Formz]

Hey sorry for a maybe old Bump? but recently my big brother came to visit me for a little and I asked him about the LA-2A plugin and he recommended me the VC2A. He had me posted this on Gearslutz. Anyway Just thought i'd share it here Just in case it's of any use to you guys.



I have to say. After reading every page I'm almost one hundred percent sure barely anyone here has ever used a LA2A, and if you did probably don't have an adequate ear to reasonably identify it's prominent character. Some people I've met have used an LA for a little and feel like they know for sure how it sounds. Here's a tip. (If it's taken you years to properly develop a good ear for EQ) don't expect to know any physical hardware by visiting or interning for a while. That being said. Sorry for seeming like an a hole and for an old bump but I have to say.

I have fell severely and insatiably in love with VC2A.

I've struggled with getting an LA2A sound for longer than I can recollect. I started with Cla-2a years back when I first started out and thought it was good. Needless to say after using an actual LA -but not owning one =/ I soon realized how lacking the Cla rendition or emulation was. Yes for the most part it preserves the transients but the absence of the distinct creamy warmth was definitely a bad tradeoff.

I have to say -Unbiased UAD does sound a bit close but I'll almost always be native (That's another rant lol)

Anyway I tried them all and recently Cakewalks Ca2a caught my attention. I like it over most emulations I've tried but the mid-range added a very brittle distortion I wasn't too happy with. Some old friends in Nashville I used to intern with and I worked with an LA2a for over 2 years and for a time Cakewalks Ca2a took the cake . Then I tried The VC2A. The Development and engineering team at Softube are nothing but brilliant. There are too many bright, “Edgy” harsh emulations that either smear the top and box the transients. For me Tracking, EQ and Harmonics are always the deciding factor of brightness. NOT compression. The Smooth creamy warmth of this plugin must have been modeled after a well worn unit. I implore you. If you've already dismissed it, take you're time. Now that it's not packaged in a peanut try it out. I'm just getting used to it but so far I can't complain. An emphasis screw would have been nice but it's modeled at the sweet spot that I know for sure.

Dbx and 76. Eh. But Hot Damn that LA!

-Cheers Kaleb

PS. This man knows his stuff




Lol he really knows his stuff, (My bro not this video guy..well i'm sure him too Lol) he actually got me into recording but he's not really into metal music. Well the other day we were going through
LA2A Emu's and he was showing me how to listen for it and why this ones different,though my ears are not trained like you guys I feel like i really hear it. Maybe it's cause i just trust my brother but I'm liking this a lot more than all the other emu's I tried.
Anyways just thought I'd share it

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Waves CLA-2A/3A
IK Multimedia T-RackS CS White 2A
URS Opto2a/3a (CCS Pro)
Cakewalk CA-2A
Native Instruments VC2A
Bomb Factory BF2A/3A
PSP Audioware oldTimer
PSP Audioware MixPressor2
McDSP 6030 Ultimate Compressor
McDSP CompressorBank

 

[Kaleb Formz]

Waves CLA-2A/3A
IK Multimedia T-RackS CS White 2A
URS Opto2a/3a (CCS Pro)
Cakewalk CA-2A
Native Instruments VC2A
Bomb Factory BF2A/3A
PSP Audioware oldTimer
PSP Audioware MixPressor2
McDSP 6030 Ultimate Compressor
McDSP CompressorBank

???


BTW CD Soundmaster just relased this

http://cdsoundmaster.com/site/CDS-Software-Online/LA-2A-Neb.html

 

[Kaptain K. Rool]

Not to be that little fish that can't afford gas so he chills on a shark but jeez. I've never used an La2a before but when I hear people say warm creamy silky etc. I never get there with any emulations I've tried. (Though I have to see CDSoundmaster cause they make top quality products) This thing the VC2A through a math I can't understand sounds so smooth. I gotta try a real one now to compare.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Those are all supposed to be emulations of the LA2a

 

[Pedro Teixeira]

I've used an LA2A for 3 years. CLA2A, to my experience, sounds nothing like the unit I had. But then again, every unit sounds different, mine was really really really old and abused, sounded really good.

Just like the pair of pultecs I had at the time as well, passing for example a snare or guitar through the MEQ would soften the harshness, it sounded amazing, with no EQ applied to it, but the same doesn't happen on any emulation out there, once again, it could be the unit itself.

The LA2A I had, broke once, and any material you put through it would not compress but instead it would go into the output stage with a LOT of gain, distorting it to hell and back, it sounded absolutely AMAZING. Made me not want to repair it. Wish I still had those.


A thing to remember is that an emulation is an emulation, it is one sound, you open 200 tracks with it and it sounds the same, every hardware unit will sound different from each other, it's the imperfections that make it.

 

[abaga129]

I found a shoot out of a bunch of the 2a plugins on YouTube the other day and I really liked the Soft tube one.

 

[Seth Pack]

Softube has always been one of my favorite modelers for a long time. Quality stacks up to UAD but no Chip- ball and chain requirements cause it's processing will blow up my computer .
I feel like they don't need plugins in abundance, they take they're time to come up with top quality product. Since there's not a good market for DBX 160 emulations I bought this just after hearing the audio demos.

The 1176 I'm still getting used to. Think I still prefer Gemini audio's or Waves.
The DBX is too much fun. It makes everything sound dirty and either big or tight. I'm really liking this on screams. I used to add a tiny bit of distortion and a smidge of harmonics or Saturation to really give the vocals some drive but the DBX is so much more musical and natural sounding and sounds just as good if not waay better.

The VC2A alone is worth the price of the set. This shit sounds better than any model or recreation I've ever tried. I can hear it smooth the top end in an actual soft silky way with keeping the attack of the transient there, but very soft in comp mode. I think it's the most accurate emulation or model I have in the box of anything. Smashes (in my opinion and I have found no good la2a clone before this) everything else. Haven't tried UAD but for those without this is a Godsend.

 

[Machinated]

theres a lot of choice now and plugins are all high quality. I wouldn't expect one LA2A plugin to be the be all and end all for every session. id collect a few up regardless, IK, NI/softube, waves, UAD are all worth a go tbh.

 

[Kaptain K. Rool]

theres a lot of choice now and plugins are all high quality. I wouldn't expect one LA2A plugin to be the be all and end all for every session. id collect a few up regardless, IK, NI/softube, waves, UAD are all worth a go tbh.

Hmm. I don't know I would disagree. There is a reason UAD decided to do a revision of their LA2A

1) There a different good sounding models to choose from
2) Company's like UAD are only getting better at modeling hardware.

The LA2A prior was almost 10 years old. Come now, Imagine how much better you'll be at the audio game in 10 years time.

A good majority of people here hate the CLA bundle (and a lot of Waves plugs), why? I'ts Outdated I'm sure if Waves decided to do a revision of a lot of their plugins the sonic quality and accuracy would be much much better than what we have now.

I use Waves; I find some of their plugins real good sounding, especially compared to my "Nothing" alternative. Gets the Job done. But you stack up an incredibly outdated product (which from the start sounds nothing like that hardware in my opinnion), to company's like Softube that are giving us Modern day tech/Skill, up to date versions of these famous hardware comps and logically they are going to be a more faithful emulation than their best efforts of 2006.

 

[Machinated]

Hmm. I don't know I would disagree. There is a reason UAD decided to do a revision of their LA2A

1) There a different good sounding models to choose from
2) Company's like UAD are only getting better at modeling hardware.

The LA2A prior was almost 10 years old. Come now, Imagine how much better you'll be at the audio game in 10 years time.

A good majority of people here hate the CLA bundle (and a lot of Waves plugs), why? I'ts Outdated I'm sure if Waves decided to do a revision of a lot of their plugins the sonic quality and accuracy would be much much better than what we have now.

I use Waves; I find some of their plugins real good sounding, especially compared to my "Nothing" alternative. Gets the Job done. But you stack up an incredibly outdated product (which from the start sounds nothing like that hardware in my opinnion), to company's like Softube that are giving us Modern day tech/Skill, up to date versions of these famous hardware comps and logically they are going to be a more faithful emulation than their best efforts of 2006.

I generally mean the recent versions that have come out in the last few years. I've read some people slating the waves one, but lots of people like it too. You're best trying it for yourself, I'd be surprised if you never found any use for it. when you are getting to the point of splitting hairs between different emulations you're generally better off spending your time working/making music.

 

[Kaptain K. Rool]

I generally mean the recent versions that have come out in the last few years. I've read some people slating the waves one, but lots of people like it too. You're best trying it for yourself, I'd be surprised if you never found any use for it. when you are getting to the point of splitting hairs between different emulations you're generally better off spending your time working/making music.

I agree with you in fact it's happened before, I just think (subjectively) the class of emulations from waves to lets say Softube are far from competition, decent quality to high quality, far from splitting hairs in my opinion. Some people (Not me im a new noob) are used to an authentic workflow and actually helps with progression and creative ideas. Not to say most of us are Lol. But at the end of the day we do want that La2a or API sound Etc. and money is money.