LA-2A Compressor - Tips, Tricks, and Technical Walkthrough

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Mixing With Compression is the original Weiss Tutorial, now remade! This in depth course examines how compressors work, and more importantly, why we use them!
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[@WeissAdvice]

Just a quick note, “Mixing With Compression” is currently on sale at 20% off, until June 3rd, 2024.

[@theheatstudio]

Awesome video, the LA-2A is my favorite compressor of all time!

[@danymalsound]

This is a fantastic example of "learn your tools." I didn't realize some of these, so thanks!

[@MrJamesGeary]

Really enjoyed this video! In terms of the sidechain, to my knowledge it is a feedback style compressor although to your point, ive also found the language used throughout the manual to be confusing at times. Id imagine this is due to a majority of it remaining unedited since its release many decades ago. Found myself having to re-read it quite a few times, My reason for believing this is the terminal points used to link units seem to be sending voltage from the output stage and are also adjacent to the output contacts on the rear strip iirc. Disclaimer though, I could be totally wrong Im not a formally trained tech. I work out of a studio that has a pair and ive been tasked with doing various mods related to the sidechain and stereo linking over the years.

[@WeissAdvice]

That's how it's been explained to me after making this video, that the junction is actually after the divider so it reacts to the resistance change at the LDRs.

[@MrJamesGeary]

@@WeissAdvice gotcha! that makes sense. Hey man either way, props for going that deep. Most channels ive come across dont even bother to read or reference the manual for a given piece of gear so seeing someone break out schematics is awesome!

[@chris_share]

Very nice explanation - thanks!

[@amazeus1980]

That uad is probably the best emulation of all compressor emulations out there.

[@pocket1684]

Thanks for posting this video and distinguishing the differences between the different LA 2, LA-2A models and how they affect different audio signals.

[@erhanmusician]

Dear Mr.Weiss. I've been following you for some time now and you are the one who taught me that a compressor is a shaping device so thank you for that. If you could mention the two stage decay of LA-2A and it's advantages or disadvantages that would be a great addition.

[@WeissAdvice]

The "2 stage" concept is a bit misleading. It's more like there's a tipping point. The attack is slow at first, but gradually increases, and then hits a point where it starts speeding up much faster - like exponential graph. This reflects the luminance of the lamp relative to voltage inside the TB4.

[@loganunknown]

Never thought of using a compressor as a desser by high passing, will try and remember that, maybe use two compressors in a row..... Leaving comments for the algorithm. Thanks for the info

[@WeissAdvice]

Thank you for feeding the algorithm!

[@KennyLauderdale]

I have the UAD Apollo and several UAD plugins. I really need to sit and learn how to use allllll of them. Thanks for this

[@Rhuggins]

I adore this content THANK YOU. Also, “series of tubes” - classic

[@ferreal936]

Keep these coming great vid

[@DistrictSoundLab]

Great video ! Love my LA2A. So musical

[@TheSoraMusic]

Love your videos!

[@JuiceNZ]

you are the man bro , appreciate u sharing your knowledge

[@django3108]

Love you Matt Weiss, ur unbelievably giving

[@YFEmaxi]

I love to be learning from you Coach !

[@lieutenantdan7212]

Thanks Matt!

[@danemiljoshua]

Amazing Video!!!! The music was dope 👌

[@alphaomega6062]

Wow! "We are electricians, current is our instrument" LOL catch you next time. Joking aside this was very interesting. Thank you.

[@monarchdrumandbass8700]

This is such an informative, amazing video! Can't say how much I would love to see this for other notable compressors! Maybe distressor, or the API 2500?

[@WeissAdvice]

The Distressor is kinda a nutty device, but I would be interested in looking at the API 2500.

[@ramspencer5492]

Or you could try splitting the bass and using the lighter vintagey compression on the top end of the bass and a bit heavier compression on the the deeper part. Maybe not for this track.... But in general. 😎

[@rundajulesproductions7735]

The legacy one uses a lot less DSP if that is a concern you work with. My UAD Solo only has 1 chip so I can run out using just 2 or 3 effects if I use the full versions. That one doesn't have the circuit modeling, I think, and as a result it is lighter but a less accurate emulation. Also, it doesn't have the mix knob. I notice you didn't use it in these examples, but I do use this compressor a lot for just a little compression and the mix knob helps me dial it in by "feel", as you say. I agree the verbiage UAD is using is misleading but maybe they are just poorly describing the fact that the sidechain signal is what is hitting the cell and controlling the action of the compression. I never used the sidechain 'screw' to de-ess vocals so thanks for the suggestion and your low-end theory. (You on point Weiss?) I use that mostly to make sure I don't take all the life out of drums and bass.

[@danielmoscovitch9119]

This advice is nice, Weiss.

[@yuli8897]

oh come on matthew thats not fair, those. examples already sounded pretty good and by the way the waves looks. they are already processed they look like they already have some eq and compression everything look so even... but thank u !! definetly one of the greatest emulations of the LA2A

[@WeissAdvice]

Definitely some compression on the bass on the way in - but in my personal opinion I would not exactly say either the upright or the vocal sounded particularly great. I would say "ok", but certainly not spectacular.

[@Yerjckk]

I am enjoying the video

[@gift33]

I record in my bedroom. No matter how i turn down the gain knob on my interface the noise is amplified when i add compression on the vocal and this is very frustrating. Dont know what to do

[@WeissAdvice]

First thing would be the obvious - try to track down the source of the noise and eliminate it. Second thing would be to use something called an Expander before your compressor. An expander makes quiet sounds quieter - the opposite of a compressor. You can use this to reduce the noise that the compressor would otherwise bring up!

[@joost3783]

For me personally, not having another stage of compression before an LA2A on vocals is almost always impossible. I think it sounds best at 1-3dB GR. And me being a basic b**** like to pair it with an 1176 in front or sth similar. I think that really lets it shine

[@WeissAdvice]

Sometimes there's a reason these "basic" ideas have stood the test of time :)

[@gabrielr4329]

What do you think about something like the Chandler RS124? Would you choose the LA2A over it?

[@WildWildHame]

This video was great, have you done this with any other classic hardware units? If not I would love if you turned this into a series! Great stuff

[@WeissAdvice]

This is my first video like this - but I would love to do more.

[@jvonnjvonn4688]

The uad plugin bring up the low end i kinder stop using it I use plugin alliance or waves 😔

[@RockmannMusic]

I only want to see the schematic : )

[@ItsMetabtw]

I think it’s considered feedback because the signal goes to the TB4 from the middle of the voltage divider; so any compression would lower the sidechain signal. To be feed forward that split would happen before that voltage divider entirely

[@WeissAdvice]

That's what I've read... but does it really work that way? Genuinely I don't know, but I would think the voltage drop from the LDRs would only effect the signal after the second resistor... although that second resistor does get bypassed in comp mode...

[@ItsMetabtw]

@@WeissAdvice it’s certainly a unique design and not really how we’d think about feedback by today’s standards. But i think the sidechain signal would basically have to hit R2 before R5 and R6. Interesting discussion nonetheless!

[@WeissAdvice]

@@ItsMetabtw Ah. I see. So basically the LDR is dropping everything after R6. Maybe I can get a UA tech rep to come in and verify it and tell me I don't know shit about voltage dividers LOL. Typically when I think feedback I think of a tap after the amplifier - but I guess that's not inherently necessary.

[@RmonTheNewAge]

What is difference between UA LA-2A silver and LA-2A Tube compressor?

[@WeissAdvice]

They're both tube compressors, the silver is a late 60s emulation I believe, and is a little snappier and brighter than the some of the older models

[@RmonTheNewAge]

@@WeissAdvice ok thanks for responding, I was wondering, thought they were the same.

[@lahattec]

My Dad had 4 LA-2A's, in his 4 track studio, that he bought new in the early 70's or late 60's. He sold them in the late 80's. I don't know what he sold them for.

[@7171jay]

@lahattac. Probably traded those LA2A'S for Alesis Micro Limiters. ;)

[@lahattec]

@@7171jay Nope. But after he died I gave away what was left, including an LA-3A, and 5 Altec 9063 EQ's, thinking they were "old junk".

[@7171jay]

​@lahattec Ouch! Painful !!! I missed out on a UA175 back in the 1990s because I wasn't sure about what it was exactly and $400 seemed like a lot of money at the time. If you don't know the 175 is the earlier tube version of the 1176, they are super rare and current price is something like $15,000+ if you could even find one today.

[@WeissAdvice]

Oof. I think we've all been there. Fun fact - I purchased my 1176H for $1,176 - purely by coincidence.

[@marcusgarveyson]

Hey Weiss do I get a PHD after watching the whole video?

[@WeissAdvice]

Yes!

[@87degreespodcast]

"I think even Universal Audio is getting it wrong!".. WILD!!!

[@jvonnjvonn4688]

Math I'm hoping uad see this offer to have u on they platform to debate with you over this lol I'll pay for front row seats to hear this debate with them lol

[@WeissAdvice]

I actually sent this to UA directly yesterday, and I agree, I would love nothing more than a rep to come on my channel and explain to me why I don't know shit about voltage dividers :)

[@jvonnjvonn4688]

@@WeissAdvice I say u go the kendrick way like he did drake

[@jvonnjvonn4688]

@WeissAdvice imma go instigate this

[@alphaomega6062]

[@callmeastro2566]

whats the song tho? is it released?

[@WeissAdvice]

"It Couldn't Be" by Arrested Development, off of the album "Bullets In The Chamber"

[@Mr.MoonBunny]

You are telepathic, man! I was looking for this video among yours, this morning and it came out couple hours later 🤍 BTW love this video because I am evolving my channel sound crafting and want to know more about this specific compressor

[@WeissAdvice]

The universe told me to do it :)