KVR Audio

dblock · Post by **dblock** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:53 pm

I thought a tube compressor would compliment my Alan Smart C-1 nicely for my 2 buss and final master to cd but can't for the life of me find any glowing reviews anywhere on the unit. It's obviously a high end piece of gear but from what I read on forums though the manley vari-mu (which I couldn't afford) definitely is preferred by most. I haven't even gotten it yet and I'm already thinking of selling it. I did read comparisons between the two so there was some consolation that the LCA-2 can be mentioned in the same sentence with the Manley even if only for a second. Also Liquid Mix saw fit to include it in it's famous compressor emulations. Is this piece used by major studios or did I make another bonehead purchase? What id the Tube tech LCA-2B's claim to fame? Apparently no one seems to care about it. Bottom line, just tell me if it's good enough for professional quality 2 buss mix and mastering.

Thanks

dblock

Funkybot's Evil Twin · Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:06 am

www.gearslutz.com would probably be a better place to ask. I don't know the compressor, but it sounds like you should have done the research before the purchase, not after. All in all though, I hope you have the possibility of returning it if you don't like it. Hopefully you do end up liking it.

dblock · Post by **dblock** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:13 am

Thanks. I did as much research as was available but user opinion counts for me as well.

audiorules · Post by **audiorules** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:21 pm

The TubeTech LCA-2B compressor is definitely not something you want across your mix buss or for mastering. It's very colored, gritty sounding. IMHO it's great if you're looking for a specific sound, but definitely not at all sonically transparant.

living sounds · Post by **living sounds** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:56 pm

You order stuff and then search for favourable reviews? Well, that is one way to do it...

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:31 pm

Funkybot's Evil Twin wrote:www.gearslutz.com would probably be a better place to ask.

** Cough **

TBlizz · Post by **TBlizz** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:37 pm

audiorules wrote:The TubeTech LCA-2B compressor is definitely not something you want across your mix buss or for mastering. It's very colored, gritty sounding. IMHO it's great if you're looking for a specific sound, but definitely not at all sonically transparant.

No need to throw out your Tube-Tech just yet! Check out the excellent Shane Wilson's Guide to Mixing DVD, Shane uses this unit for parallel compression.

"I'm leaving the original submixes unaffected, but blending this radical processing underneath just really bringing up the apparent loudness without over-compressing and without over-eqing. Just adding some excitement to the mix."

Parallel signal processing chain:

dbx 160x: fairly heavy compression
Ratio 10:1 - GR 3 to 4 red LEDS
Threshold: between 0 and +10
Output gain +3

Phoenix Audio GTQ2-EQ (now Aurora): = Giant Smiley Face "aural exciting"
Shelf 80 Hz: +6 dB
Shelf 12 kHz: +6 dB

Tube Tech Stereo Compressor (LCA2B): some pretty heavy compression & tube wiggle
Limiter 1: Threshold: off
Compressor 2: Output: 0 - Ratio: 3:1 - Threshold: +3
Attak: 0.35 - Release: 0.07 - Preset Att/Rel: 2
Limiter 2: Threshold: 0
GR -3.5 (estimate)

The Alan Smart C2 then goes at the very end of this elaborate chain.

Hope this helps.

How come TubeTech LCA-2B compressor gets no respect??