KVR Audio

LeVzi · Post by **LeVzi** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 2:30 pm

Can anyone tell me the difference between them ?

I've read Waves explanation

https://www.waves.com/cla-2a-vs-cla-3a- ... r-match-up

So basically the 3A is more clinical and less warm ?

jochicago · Post by **jochicago** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:27 pm

Every time I read someone trying to describe the difference it goes into 2 pages of explanation. I think this is because it's not as simple as the 3A does X.

It was supposed to be the next version of the 2A. It seems they thought they were improving on the design by making the actual hardware smaller, and the character respond faster to larger transients kinda borrowing some of the characteristics of an 1176-type. So in that description alone you can guess that being a different design with different goals, it's not going to sound the same as a 2A.

I think they wanted to improve on the compressor because it clearly wasn't suited for some material like a kick drum. But also wanted to retain the easy controls of the 2A. So it ended up being a different compressor that feels like part of the family but works with different material.
https://www.uaudio.com/blog/la-2a-vs-la-3a-explained/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/blast-f ... urei-la-3a

The short version: Try the 3A on
- anything you would have used a 2A on, to get a different flavor
- faster material / larger transients that would not be suited for a 2A

LeVzi · Post by **LeVzi** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 6:21 am

jochicago wrote: Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:27 pm Every time I read someone trying to describe the difference it goes into 2 pages of explanation. I think this is because it's not as simple as the 3A does X.

It was supposed to be the next version of the 2A. It seems they thought they were improving on the design by making the actual hardware smaller, and the character respond faster to larger transients kinda borrowing some of the characteristics of an 1176-type. So in that description alone you can guess that being a different design with different goals, it's not going to sound the same as a 2A.

I think they wanted to improve on the compressor because it clearly wasn't suited for some material like a kick drum. But also wanted to retain the easy controls of the 2A. So it ended up being a different compressor that feels like part of the family but works with different material.
https://www.uaudio.com/blog/la-2a-vs-la-3a-explained/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/blast-f ... urei-la-3a

The short version: Try the 3A on
- anything you would have used a 2A on, to get a different flavor
- faster material / larger transients that would not be suited for a 2A

Thanks, that's pretty much what Waves suggest, the 3A dealt with kicks better than the 2A. If I see it on offer I may grab it, but I use the 76 mainly for kicks anyways.

jochicago · Post by **jochicago** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:16 pm

If you are experimenting, try a varimu on drums. In general terms it's not supposed to be the best match, but whenever I talk to a fellow varimu user this is the first thing they say to try. MJUC would do the trick. I use the mootube in McDSP 6050 and I have to set the timing controls to as fast as they'll go but I like what it does.

LeVzi · Post by **LeVzi** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 6:31 pm

jochicago wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:16 pm If you are experimenting, try a varimu on drums. In general terms it's not supposed to be the best match, but whenever I talk to a fellow varimu user this is the first thing they say to try. MJUC would to the trick. I use the mootube in McDSP 6050 and I have to set the timing controls to as fast as they'll go but I like what it does.

I will thanks.

DCrown · Post by **DCrown** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:03 pm

Overloud has a plugin with la-2a and 3a (with ms and os!).
It's on sale right now for 29
https://www.jrrshop.com/overloud-gem-comp-la

As to LA 2A the only opto compressor I like is Softube TLA 100 (vocals, sometimes on bass)

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:29 pm

DCrown wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:03 pm Overloud has a plugin with la-2a and 3a (with ms and os!).
It's on sale right now for 29
https://www.jrrshop.com/overloud-gem-comp-la

As to LA 2A the only opto compressor I like is Softube TLA 100 (vocals, sometimes on bass)

Wow. Thanks for pointing this deal out!

seangm · Post by **seangm** » Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:41 pm

I like the 3A from Black Rooster, very musical. I use it more than any 2A but then again I don't really know anything about anything so there's that.

btfnk · Post by **btfnk** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:16 am

The Waves 2A and 3A both aren't very accurate to the sound of the hardware they are emulating. However the CLA 3A is very special. It's decent on vocals but can be a secret weapon on kick drums.

whassup · Post by **whassup** » Tue Dec 13, 2022 11:18 am

jochicago wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:16 pm If you are experimenting, try a varimu on drums. In general terms it's not supposed to be the best match, but whenever I talk to a fellow varimu user this is the first thing they say to try. MJUC would do the trick. I use the mootube in McDSP 6050 and I have to set the timing controls to as fast as they'll go but I like what it does.

Agreed, and yes MJUC on drums is quite cool.

mothra · Post by **mothra** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 7:10 pm

btfnk wrote: Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:16 am The Waves 2A and 3A both aren't very accurate to the sound of the hardware they are emulating. However the CLA 3A is very special. It's decent on vocals but can be a secret weapon on kick drums.

They're supposed to be emulating CLA's old units which have probably been modded as well as 'maintained' over the years, not an off the shelf 2A/3A.. His SSL is the same, it hasn't been the "typical" SSL desk in ages.

bitman · Post by **bitman** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 9:49 pm

3A is solid state iirc

beely · Post by **beely** » Wed Dec 14, 2022 11:06 pm

I'm with Bob Clearmountain in that I almost always prefer the LA3A over the LA2A, which I've never particularly liked that much. I find the LA3A much more generally useful for me, and preferable sounding.

briefcasemanx · Post by **briefcasemanx** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 8:59 am

I don't have much experience with them in real life, but based on plugins (UAD, Waves, Overloud, etc)...

3A is cleaner and responds faster to things, and has a sort of "spritzy, effervescent" thing going on in the high end that I really like. Probably more useful on a larger number of sources specifically because it's not super "vibey" or characterful.

2A reacts slower, more saturation, more mellow and very euphonic.

Both are awesome but Waves ones aren't the best versions in plugin land IMO. Also, I don't like the Black Rooster emulation, compression action was very weird and uncontrolled when I tried it, very strange. Maybe I need to try to BRA again on more stuff but I was very confused about why people like it.

mothra · Post by **mothra** » Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:21 pm

briefcasemanx wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2022 8:59 am Both are awesome but Waves ones aren't the best versions in plugin land IMO. Also, I don't like the Black Rooster emulation, compression action was very weird and uncontrolled when I tried it, very strange. Maybe I need to try to BRA again on more stuff but I was very confused about why people like it.

Agreed, they seem 'different' than the Waves ones in a way I dont like for some reason. I bought their comps when my WUP ran out a couple years ago and I figured I would replace them. Ended up getting them updated anyways, and something about the Black Roosters just don't sit right with me and if I do use one, I end up pulling out the CLA as usual. Maybe after all these years Im just used to the way the CLA's work and sound, who knows. That and the Studio Collection are the only ones I usually keep updated.

CLA 2A vs 3A