Can a Free Plugin Compete with High-End Hardware? UAD LA-2A vs IGS One LA

In today's video, we're diving deep into the world of audio processing to answer a burning question: Can a free plugin really hold its own against high-end hardware? 🎧
We're comparing the great IGS One LA, a staple in many professional studios, with the UAD LA-2A, a free plugin ( FOR NOW! 31OCT ) that's been generating buzz for years. Will the IGS hardware show its superiority, or will the UAD LA-2A surprise us with its performance?
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What do you think? Can a Free Plugin Compete with High-End Hardware? UAD LA-2A vs IGS One LA
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🔸 Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - SUBTLE
04:15 - MEDIUM
07:15 - AGRESSIVE
09:25 - My conclusion

[@OverdriveMusic]

I believe the biggest difference will occur during the recording stage, with the hardware; before the sound initially hits the converter. Great video as always. Your visuals have gone next level!!!

[@2probeats]

Yes, exactly. Thanks. I try to “look” good 😂

[@rectape]

I never liked IGS gear personally. Here is the confirmation. Narrow sounding and not on paar with the big names. Thanks for the video

[@Rhuggins]

This is about what I would expect the difference to be for a plugin vs hardware shootout - with a really well modelled plugin like the UAD LA2A. The plugin tends to hype up the highs a bit more - so much so that if you load the plugin into a curve analyzer, you can see a significant boost in the high and low end. The real hardware doesn't do this quite as much (from my testing) and tends to be a bit darker - but it can sound very nice on the right sources. That said, I do strongly prefer the tone from the IGS - it has that analog thing...full bottom extension, a solid defined midrange. It feels heavy and full. Regarding compression - this is where the difference becomes immediately obvious. The plugin chokes out after about 3-4dB of GR, meanwhile the hardware just "sounds like a record". Was able to pick it out every time without any hesitation....the tube saturation also seems to give it a higher apparent loudness which is awesome

[@Keepitreal260]

I was able to distinguish both. One has the warmth n color and the other is brighter. Both are excellent in their own way. Would you be able to do a review of Spectrum Analyzers or how to use one like the free one Span? Thanks for your content. Like always very informative and helpful.

[@temporarysoundsldn]

The plugin sounds better on my ears. Yes, got it right on both AB's! Thanks for doing this.

[@jasonreviews]

I love that give away it really gives my track a glitch mob feel which i love so much. Yes does the plugin make the track. Yes. LOLs.

[@2probeats]

🙏🏻

[@cristian-marius-albu]

I just ordered an Igs One LA500 to check how is behaving when pushed hard compared to plugins. Lets see if I will like it more than other hardware clones tried before (KT2A and WA2A) or against the Distressor hardware in opto mode. Cheers!

[@AttamanKing]

Them are very close, what makes me happy since I dont't have yet funds to buy some gear!

[@2probeats]

💴

[@nunyabizfam106]

I "Guessed" correctly each time, It was REALLY close. However, It was the high end and the transients that gave away the plugin (for me).

[@2probeats]

True

[@OverdriveMusic]

In examples 1 and 3, I guessed correctly; because the IGS seems to smother the sound "a little too much". UAD seems natural. Example 2, I couldn't hear any difference, except for a slight volume difference. Yesterday I compared the UAD to the WAVES CLA-2A, and the T-Racks TR5 white, and the UAD sounded most natural. The Waves was the worst, as it either compressed too much, or too little, and sounded too up front. The T-Racks was pretty great too, but it always crashes.

[@2probeats]

👍🏻

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

Nice comparison. I got it for free and loved it so much, I ended up buying the $299.50 UAD Signature Bundle on Plugin Boutique. Couldn't pass up that deal. I spend that much on junk food every month.😅 If I'm patient and solely use one plugin a month and get to know it deeply, I won't get bored with music for the next three years.😁

[@joeyf808]

I agree 2 pro, both sounded good. HW, Great for recall.

[@2probeats]

💯

[@quentintyrano2258]

Really good comparison! But kind of a missed opportunity with this one though, mate. You used the LA2A Silver MkII paid version instead of the free one. Drew from UA, said its the same Algo for the free one (LA2A Tube) and for the Silver MKII you used here but without the mix screw and emphasis knob as seen here. The free plugin's emphasis is FIXED to Drew's and UA's liking unlike on the one you used here which can be adjusted using that HF knob.

[@2probeats]

Here’s the thing. I went to pluginboutique downloaded the free plugins and I had the bundle license there so I was under the impression that all was free. I have never purchased the bundle so it’s strange.

[@NoQualmsTheArtist]

I did my own shootout against the UAD plugin. Out of all my other LA2A plugins, I have 7 of them. Suprise suprise the trusty old CLA2A won hands down. If I need extra high end then the UAD is an option, if I want to keep the sound tonally similar to what I've just EQed then the CLA2A wins. But I only use it on Backing Vocals. On my Lead Vox is the Softube TLA100, it's the only optical-ish compressor plugin I've ever heard that doesn't choke the sound.

[@2probeats]

I have to try that Tube-Tech 🔥

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I've never used the Waves version. Gotta try that Softube. I do have the Cakewalk and UAD versions I got for free, and while they're amazing for being free, they just don't impart the tangible aural size and weight the hardware units do, which makes sense given it's actual electric signals being manipulated. That's something no plugin will ever be able to do. Miracle they sound as good as they do for being math calculations inside a processor being spit out the DACs.😅

[@patrickcarter1820]

UAD plugin sounds much better except for the heavy compression scenario. the plugin Really brings the breathiness in the vocal out. The plugin started choking the performance in a negative way in the heavy compression scenario.

[@tebogoipotseng2485]

True story.

[@mrmorpheus9707]

Facts

[@2probeats]

👍🏻

[@lightbeatz3709]

I heard the b was more studio quality as the uad you could more clearly vibrato in the voice and it’s like more hq I don’t know

[@gregoryisom8333]

This comparison becomes ( + or - ) in the price, for example, $50 plugin vs. $3600 outboard unit, if you can get the plugin to sound at least close ear proximity in sound and taste mission accomplished if you can afford outboard gear you've won, I own both and love them (BOTH) I actually use my plugin more. Still, the plugin is excellent for folks who can't afford the outboard unit; KEEP IT MOVING!

[@CRYPTONINJASAMURAI]

Best part is and you can open more than one of the $50 plugin if you have enough DSP.

[@2probeats]

I agree!

[@claudioa.dmedina2020]

To be honest I think that the material itself was quite processed before hitting the LA-2A, dynamic content had already been reduced. Not saying anything about the IGS itself, never tried it. But with other content and the modded Clark Teknik (dirt cheap) I hear way more differences.

[@lightbeatz3709]

This Igs can it be that it comes with a intern eq it sounded just cleaner way cleaner

[@alexandersorbas1881]

wow I liked A way more

[@cristian-marius-albu]

Salut. Plugin-ul pare mai clean si putin harsh. Aceasta iese in evidenta mai ales atunci cand compresia este mai agresiva. Hardware-ul coloreaza placut cu acele armonice de lampa la compresie mai agresiva. Dar totusi nici varianta IGS nu ma incanta suficient, ma asteptam sa dea si efectul de spatialitate (3D). Ce imi place de la IGS este 576 Blue Stripe. Nu am sa il vand niciodata. Cred ca este cea mai reusita clona de 1176 blue stripe in format 500. Consider un opto este foarte util pe partea de tracking, sunt in cautarea unuia de buget si planuiesc sa pun mana pe GAP Comp3A si 2A. Am mai testat in trecut variantele full rack de la KT2A si WA2A dar nu m-au impresionat suficient incat sa ramana. Pana atunci Distressorul isi face treaba suficient de bine. Pe partea de plugin m-a impresionat emulatia de LA-3A de la Apogee ( Opto 3A). Imi place mai mult decat variantele de la Waves si Uad.

[@andreifilip]

Very nice comparisson, but the LA-2A you're using from UAD it's not the free one, that's the LA-2A silver, and from my experience it's a bit different Cheers

[@2probeats]

Thanks for the info! But it was an honest mistake on my part. The entire bundle was free when I got it so I was under the impression that that’s the deal.

[@GWavvy]

yeah the free one doesn't have the mix knob

[@aviani3335]

I guessed the hardware every time listening on my iPhone . Is hard to tell the difference if your ears are not trained. The plugin has the tone but is missing the 3D aspect. With that being said, the plugin is a great choice but having both tools in hand I will much rather use the hardware in this particular case.

[@2probeats]

Can you hear it in the mix?

[@LiviuDiduOfficial]

Tot ce e de la UAD coloreaza sunetul . Nu se compara cu Analogul 👍

[@harveyspecter1653]

I seemed to prefer the UAD plugin on low compression but the hardware on high compression.

[@yungbevvo]

They're both good. stop overthinking everyone and just create good music lol.... that's the answer and solution.. you can't go wrong with either one.

[@alexgwiza]

I lost the second!

[@OverdriveMusic]

How did you lose the second?

[@gods_astronaut]

I would like to see more presets for this plugin

[@codee-music]

I hate to inform you but that's not the free UA LA-2A plugin that you're comparing with the your IGS Hardware. You're comparing the UA paid LA-2A bundle/Spark/UAD version. The Free LA-2A is a modified sliver faced version of code and a skin that's more white and not as textured. Also the free version has no mix screw or labels; like the HF, Comp/Limiter switches. It's a nice test but you're not comparing the free version in your test video.

[@2probeats]

I got it for free. The entire bundle. That’s why I believed the bundle was free and not the original one. It’s strange. I have full licenses for the entire bundle when I got the free one from Plugin Boutique.

[@codee-music]

@@2probeats How did you get the entire LA-2A bundle free? LOL Either way, that bundle was the paid bundle, you got for free; which is different set of (3) LA-2A plugins, one if which is silver face that you accidentally used and compared to the hardware. That isn't the publicly free released version. Which actually different, as I described in my earlier post.

[@Stormchaser189]

You demoed the UA silver 2a not the Free new mk2 algorithm !? Lol 😏

[@2probeats]

You know what’s strange? It was free for me. That’s why I was using that version. I got it via pluginboutique and I got the entire bundle. I was under the impression that thr entire bundle was free.

[@joost3783]

wow the igs sounds incredible squashed, narrow and thin. That is not how an LAsyle comp sounds like in my experience

[@mrmorpheus9707]

Lesson here...SAVE YOUR MONEY! 😂😊

[@lilwombat]

the igs was better but no where close to being good enough for the price difference especially if it was in context

[@2probeats]

True for most analog pieces.

[@MixThisKNUX]

IGS so much better

[@loveyoumaxin]

Contrary to popular belief, I think the advantage of analog gear over digital plugins is not warmth or texture, but the ability to maintain sonic consistency. If you focus on that aspect, you can easily tell which sound is coming from an analog device between A and B.

[@patrickcarter1820]

What does sonic consistency even mean? On the contrary, a digital wave form will reproduce the same sound every time and a deterministic plug-in will apply the same processing.

[@OverdriveMusic]

I was thinking the exact same thing @@patrickcarter1820

[@who_is_dis]

The Free LA2A is quite a ways off from their paid version(s).

[@2probeats]

It was free for me. Got the entire bundle for free. That’s why I used this version. I had no idea that just one was free. Someone made a mistake 🤣

[@who_is_dis]

@@2probeats Yeah quite odd - I found I had a few of their plugins for free a couple of years ago such as the brigade chorus, Helios preamp, 610b and the pultecs… had no idea why 😅

[@lightbeatz3709]

God bless y’all in Jesus Christ almighty Jehova I had the second one also right a was the ig sounds just way cleaner from the vocal

[@TheKule1]

Sometimes I think we are overthinking because millions of songs was done on hardware and many of them are timeless. We want to have everything done in 5 minutes? I think we lost the art of making great music. Studio was $250 an hour in some great studios and now it’s in our homes and we still complaining about time? 😏 Great video tho thanks!

[@2probeats]

👍🏻

[@preciseaudioblog]

Plugins are great tools... but no chance they compete with the real thing

[@2probeats]

Why not? In a mix i believe they can compete

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@2probeats In you monitors might... but when you hear the final result in normal speakers, the difference is big (in my opinion)

[@treztracks]

The free version is not the same as paid version the sound is different an no mix button

[@CRYPTONINJASAMURAI]

Agreed, he's using the paid Silver version. NOT the FREE version.

[@2probeats]

It was free :(. I got the entire bundle for free via plugin boutique. Strange

[@albanyrebelion]

Lol basically a software replica vs a hardware..

[@thegroove2000]

NO.