Members umkcprof Posted August 29, 2005 Members Share Posted August 29, 2005 Hi all. . . I keep seeing some interesting gear on ebay (and elsewhere), and so I'm trying to decide if I should chase it or let it go. Currently, my external compressors are a UA 6176 (which has a 1176LN on the right side), Distressors (EL-8X), and a Manley Variable Mu (all fine ebay acquisitions, I must add). I also have a Waves Renaissance digital compressor on board. My question is whether I should add a real analog opto compressor to the "mix." That is, is the opto "simulation" of the Distressors sufficiently accurate to make the acquisition of a UA LA-2A, UA LA-3A, or a Manley ELOP a completely superfluous expense? What would a real opto give me that the other units won't? The Manley seems attractive to me due to is stereo nature (and, given its price and two channel design, it seems a veritable bargain), but it seems as if the LA-2A is the standard by which all other optos are measured. Finally, can anyone give me a sense of the sonic differences between the LA-2A and LA-3A? As always, I am very grateful for the advice and the patience of my long-suffering wife, Mary. :-) Sincerely, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted August 29, 2005 Members Share Posted August 29, 2005 IMHO there is no such thing as a "completely superfluous expense" with such things as dynamics, and every unit has it's own individual flavor. If you got the dough, spend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Start with a $250 FMR RNLA. No, it doesn't use a "true" opto circuit, but it does have an opto compressor character to it, and it's useful no matter what you may happen to have already in the compressor "goodie bag". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhythminmind Posted August 29, 2005 Members Share Posted August 29, 2005 Originally posted by umkcprof Hi all. . . Finally, can anyone give me a sense of the sonic differences between the LA-2A and LA-3A? The LA-2A is a tube unit, the LA-3A is not.. I personally like the LA-3A better. It has more presence. Ant the compressor circuit adds more then enough color for me. if you have protools checkout the plugin ver's to get a idea of the sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 Originally posted by rhythminmind The LA-2A is a tube unit, the LA-3A is not.. I personally like the LA-3A better. It has more presence. Ant the compressor circuit adds more then enough color for me.if you have protools checkout the plugin ver's to get a idea of the sound. IMHO the pugin version sounds NOTHING like the real thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe Start with a $250 FMR RNLA. No, it doesn't use a "true" opto circuit, but it does have an opto compressor character to it, and it's useful no matter what you may happen to have already in the compressor "goodie bag". Hey, where have I been? Okay, India. But I didn't even know this was out!!! Sounds great! And I'm sure the sound is spectacular and the price is certainly quite reasonable. Can someone please talk Mark McQ into making a computer-based DAW? Or better yet, a whole stand-alone recording system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eric Dahlberg Posted September 2, 2005 Members Share Posted September 2, 2005 Originally posted by where02190 IMHO the pugin version sounds NOTHING like the real thing. Which have you used? The BF version is crap but most people like the UAD-1 plug-in. Isn't the Distressor more of an 1176 copy than an LA2A? If this is any kind of a gauge, I love using LA2A's & really am no fan of Distressors. In any event, if you decide to go the LA2A route, it would make sense to check out UA's LA-610. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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