Best LA-2A compressor VST?

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Yeah, if you need to go offline, you want to use the dongle. Otherwise, keep that internet connection up.

[El°HYM]

Opal anyone?

https://www.uvi.net/opal.html

[legendCNCD]

Opal anyone?

https://www.uvi.net/opal.html

Opal for me looks the best, maybe even sounds best, have not compared, but from the needed modern stuff perspective. The timing constant change to faster makes some really interesting compression action, because the second release stage is still very long.

[zwap]

is the free LA-2A from Analog Obsession an option?

[Nug Wrangler]

is the free LA-2A from Analog Obsession an option?

I've heard it is good.

[El°HYM]

Opal anyone?

https://www.uvi.net/opal.html

Opal for me looks the best, maybe even sounds best, have not compared, but from the needed modern stuff perspective. The timing constant change to faster makes some really interesting compression action, because the second release stage is still very long.

Not tried this one yet but also very curious about it.

[El°HYM]

is the free LA-2A from Analog Obsession an option?

I've heard it is good.

What seems the most crucial part of recreating the LA-2A Behavior, is the accurate emulation of the T4 optical cell. Maybe thats also the reason, why most are still preferring the UA version. They should know best how to do it and have all the papers to do so.

[Nug Wrangler]

is the free LA-2A from Analog Obsession an option?

I've heard it is good.

What seems the most crucial part of recreating the LA-2A Behavior, is the accurate emulation of the T4 optical cell. Maybe thats also the reason, why most are still preferring the UA version. They should know best how to do it and have all the papers to do so.

So the UA version is the most accurate one on the market ?

[jamcat]

There are 3 UAD versions.

Late 1960s “Silver” LA-2A
Mid 1960s “Gray” LA-2A
Early 1960s LA-2

The “Silver” LA-2A is the standard, and what everyone means when talking about the LA-2A.

Universal Audio’s models are accurate enough to actually distinguish between these versions, and are still the gold standard for LA-2A models.

The free UAD LA-2A is the Silver version without the R37 pre-emphasis, which is really pretty important. That control changes how it responds to material quite a lot and really expands its usability.

IK’s White 2A also accurately models the T4 cell (probably the only other one that does), and would have been a really good model on par with the UAD “Silver” LA-2A if they had actually included the R37. But instead it’s only equivalent to the free one from Universal Audio.

[Fleer]

UVI Opal indeed.
All 7 of them.

[El°HYM]

Like I said, it is about the accuracy of the modeled T4 Optical Cell and therefore the overall Behavior of the Emulation, what makes a good LA-2A VST Plugin. The UA does this good, the Overloud can get close yet has slightly different behavior. The IK me dont know but will surely check out and compare.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

UVI Opal indeed.
All 7 of them.

How did that one get released without a thread on it here? This is the first I'd heard about it. The KVR Effects forum really isn't living up it's name.

But yeah, let's talk about it: how is it? "Best" you say? Why? I like the different Opto cell models, that was cool and well done. How's the tone of it? Latency? Oversampling? Does it work as a fuzz box if you drive the gain super hard then compensate with a clean output gain (either in the plugin or third-party)? I won't buy an LA-2A that doesn't do that.

[mothra]

Like I said, it is about the accuracy of the modeled T4 Optical Cell and therefore the overall Behavior of the Emulation, what makes a good LA-2A VST Plugin. The UA does this good, the Overloud can get close yet has slightly different behavior. The IK me dont know but will surely check out and compare.

Yeah, the UA's were the first ones I used and went 'Ooooooh so THAT'S what they're talking about'.. I own the Black Roosters, used the CLA's as my 'go to' for years, have the IK's, etc.. They never really "did anything" for me after reading about all this 'magic' the 2A had. I got the free one, and immediately after bought the Essentials bundle and used the 'Silver' one and went AHA. The CLA's are fairly decent but Waves has that plastic sound on them, the UA's are almost alive.

Like most folks here, I'm a UA 'newbie' and started grabbing them when the 1176s went on sale last month and I'm all aboard now. The 2500, 1176s, LA-2As, LA-3A are all the business. I think the Vision channel strip may have already knocked my lovely Softube API channel out of business too but I just started trying that one out yesterday so we'll see. Hoping the SSL E and the AKG BX20 get native soon..

[simmo75]

UVI Opal indeed.
All 7 of them.

How did that one get released without a thread on it here? This is the first I'd heard about it. The KVR Effects forum really isn't living up it's name.

But yeah, let's talk about it: how is it? "Best" you say? Why? I like the different Opto cell models, that was cool and well done. How's the tone of it? Latency? Oversampling? Does it work as a fuzz box if you drive the gain super hard then compensate with a clean output gain (either in the plugin or third-party)? I won't buy an LA-2A that doesn't do that.

Start a thread.

I read there’s an issue with oversampling, where it noticeably changes the sound.

[SOUND7_Brandon]

IMO Universal Audio plugins are the most convincing plugin models of the classic compressors like the LA2A.