What Is “The Analog Sound”? | Exploring the Legendary 1176 and LA-2A Compressors (Part 2 of 3)

What makes classic compressors like the Universal Audio 1176 and Teletronix LA-2A so unique and highly sought after? In this video, we will take a look at three distinctive characteristics of analog compressors.
Thanks to ‪@UniversalAudio‬ for making this video possible!
This is part of a 3-part series about "The Analog Sound". Watch the full series here: • What Is "The Analog So...
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[@fernandagunsanchannel]

very nice explanation. I didn't know that LA2A has different reactions to differet frequency. Can't wait for the next video!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it! This was something I learned from the people at Universal Audio while researching for the video. Check out this post they sent me: www.uaudio.de/webzine/2004/february/index2.html

[@reziahamed6654]

Hats off mate for these insane CLARITY... You set standards in tutoring engineering....Truely a University You are...! 🥇🥇👍

[@adam872]

I've always known that the 1176 and LA2A have been the go to compressors of audio engineers for decades and that they impart a particular sound that people like. Now I understand some of the detail as to why. That different response based on frequency was a surprise, for instance.

[@GingerDrums]

Before you run to buy outboard gear and plugins: I'm lucky enough to own a Shadow hills compressor, Roland space echo, urai 1178 and many other expensive pieces. I also make a living mixing and mastering. I don't bother with them anymore. In the box is a professional sounding result with much more workflow flexibility and reliability!

[@RealHomeRecording]

Yep. People are so fickle these days that recall is more important than that last 10% of quality.

[@GingerDrums]

@@RealHomeRecording yes 2 years of mixing practise will make a 500% difference, analogue at this point is simply a different sound, not better or worse. Edit: analogue to me is certainly not 10% better. It's 0% better and a bit different sounding.

[@RealHomeRecording]

@@GingerDrums now that I have had enough experience with analog gear with the couple compressors that I own along with access analog and mix analog I'm over the mystery as well. I still believe you can push hardware to saturate a little more and compress a little bit more but that little bit more is not worth it compared to recall and flexibility. So for me I just want to use hardware when recording and maybe a little bit while mastering. During the mix I'm all plugins.

[@GingerDrums]

@@RealHomeRecording I pretty much agree yeah. Have you tried Koletnikov GE from TDL? You can smash it harder than any of my analogue compressors for rediculous 30 BD and still sounds great lol

[@picksalot1]

The quality and clarity of your explanations are outstanding. The use of graphs and wave forms helps a lot as well. Thanks

[@radiosilencestaticnoise]

Truly eye opening video, thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@LightsandMotion]

Great video! I own hardware versions of both the 1176 and the LA2A, which I use mainly for tracking. after that I tend to stay in the box unless I have an element that really would benefit from the HW action, like a bass guitar.

[@gh0stransist0r]

at minute 4:00 the Precision Compressor can give similar result if the sidechain is adjusted to be the same with LA2A which is an extreme tilt that removes high end from the detector, the emphasis control reduces the tilt. Kinda explained why it is loved on the vocals and bass because it leaves the mid alone.

[@ultrasoundconcept]

This is amazing, you should do a whole series on this topic.

[@CarstenGoeke]

Very good video. Thanks for sharing ✌🏼

[@cosmo11cosmo21]

I had no idea plugins could be this similar, can't wait for the next video! I wonder how other plugin compressors stack up against the quality of flagship plugin emulations. I have a tough time visualizing the LA2A hardware compression curve's effects on different frequencies, would you recommend any resources for vocal LA2A compression? Thanks again, love the videos! I'd love some more education on speaker placement on how to maximize the listeners immersion in their specific environment. I understand the basic principals of equilateral triangles and tweeters at head level among other things, but as I place more speakers in more rooms, I realize every room has a sacrifice I have to make. Could you take about what are the right sacrifices to make and what are the wrong ones?

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching! These are great questions that I'll try to answer in future videos. It sounds like you have a VERY good understanding already though, so keep it up!

[@Allious131]

@@AudioUniversity In your opinion can a person mix and master a whole song using nothing but plugins and make the best track?

[@serialistic4321]

Looking forward to the next video :)

[@AudioUniversity]

Coming soon! Thanks for watching!

[@BADNEMMUSIC]

Thanks for always teaching us❤

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching!

[@korkenknopfus]

Even when I think I know a lot about a topic, I always know that after clicking on an Audio University new video I will be learning something new, no matter the topic.

[@FreeAimDog]

i been watching reviews on bluetooth speakers lately, wanted a ultimate ears megaboom 3 but they wont take the money out or ship it so ima just get a JBL charge 5. hopefully it will be just as indestructible as the megaboom 3 that i have to miss out on.

[@donepearce]

Excellent video, showing why every compressor in existence is best adjusted with an axe. And that includes the one that has just fucked up your voice.

[@M.S-Music]

UA is offering the LA-2A or free at the moment.

[@yassine.hammar1974]

Thank you kyle. Unfortunatelly i have mac os high sierra so UA connect not compatible with my system to download LA2A. Thx anyway

[@AudioUniversity]

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@ebormajaw8064]

Thanks brother 😉

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for always tuning in, @ebormajaw8064!

[@koskoto01]

I am sorry for the stupid question but what kind of microphone are you using?

[@AudioUniversity]

This is not a stupid question. 🙂 I’m using the Electro-Voice RE20.

[@tunemxr480]

old school emulations of LA2A and the ‘76 are pretty much scienced by so many programmers(albeit UAD is by far the most pleasing with its non-linearities.) that it is becoming as stock as using auto-tune on every track. The Distressor is the shizz, shhh…. Optical cells, caps, etc. age much differently depending on QC and myriad uncontrollable anamolies. Compare 10 different original LA2A’ s and your likely to hear nuances between virtually all units.

[@timrault]

Very interesting ! Is the fact that the LA2A has frequency-dependent compression thresholds and ratios the result of analog imperfection ? Or was it something that the original creators intentionally designed that way ?

[@AudioUniversity]

That's a great question! I'm not sure if it was methodically designed from the beginning to behave that way or if it was just a "happy accident".

[@timrault]

@@AudioUniversity I see, let's say it was intentional then ;)

[@flowerpt]

I think they designed the simple circuit and if it sounded great they shipped it, or if not made it more complicated. Analog audio EE's are wizards!

[@timrault]

@@flowerpt Right, that makes sense

[@dontworry2371]

there are no totorial of using the doctor plugin how should we use is there any guilds we can fine out?

[@AudioUniversity]

I learned a lot about Plugin Doctor by watching Dan Worrall's channel! Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3qrZ4FsaKaLq5Ysi=fS55DFjcsD2TpreT

[@dontworry2371]

@@AudioUniversity thankyou

[@servantofjesuschrist5468]

what is the name of the D.A.W you are using on this video????? is it free for download???

[@AudioUniversity]

The DAW used in this video is called Luna: www.uaudio.com/luna.html

[@paulmistygatz7888]

Hardware does so much more than all of that. UA 1176 emulations sound nothing like the hardware.

[@darryldouglas6004]

Noise is the basic answer. 😃

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

For us noobs, could you please explain what a transient is please?

[@AudioUniversity]

Great question! A transient is a short spike of amplitude, usually at the beginning of a sound. So an example of a quick transient might be the attack of a snare drum while a tonal sound might be a long note on a bass.

[@_DRMR_]

Too bad Universal Audio doesn't have native Linux versions of their software.

[@flowerpt]

Oh, weird, these are usually C++ libraries and very portable. Linux DAW is the best for a stable environment! I would be a buyer of the right emulation plugins.

[@paulmistygatz7888]

Honestly I feel that this video is just a whole ad from universal audio. Iconic hardware? Best plugins? We’re in 2024. I don’t use 90% of my UA plugins anymore because there are way better alternatives. (Not even talking about Acustica). Algo plugins became so great. But UA is not the champ like 10, 15 years ago. Also, I now always take a look at the person who coded the plugins, not the company who sells them! UA is just a company, it’s not a person. Plug-in development is usually a 1-5 person project. Reimund Dratwa is one guy to watch out for, for example. Also UA converters are not that good. Even the latest interfaces have weak converters compared to even much cheaper products like RME, but even Black Lion Audio Revolution or Focusrite Claret.

[@aledum1815]

Cheers.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for tuning in!