The ULTIMATE Teletronix LA-2A SHOOTOUT against 10 dedicated PLUG-IN emulations.

[@zoo_sound]

24:50 analog 25:25 overloud 26:00 t-racks 26:34 slate digital 26:16 NI softube 27:08 uad 27:42 uad 2 25:08 waves

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks!

[@thestingcrazy2125]

This is by far, the best and precise comparison on KZbin. Unbelievably good

[@ПоепалуДам]

Are you idiot? Bullshit tests. Why Peak Reduction and GR are different on different plugins?

[@alanschwartz4047]

Peter-Thank you!!! I'm a pro session guitarist in NYC, & after watching this fabulous shootout you gifted us with, I am getting the GAP 2A, & NOS tubes. I have the UAD,& the Waves 2A's. I can't compromise on intimate acoustic guitar tracks. You've sold me on hardware. I had mic pre clones for years-Aurora, Vintech, real V76's, UAD.... Just got a Neve 1073 lb, & it DESTROYS everything . Was trying to get away with plugins, but they simply won't do! You're the man!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi alan, thanks for the nice comment. Why did you pick that replica and not go for the real deal?

[@alanschwartz4047]

I have it on great reliability that the GAP 2A w NOS tubes will get me where I want to be for like $500 USD. Im using a Stam ss-47 mk2 & Stam sa-87i

[@Alikhanlive]

Finally ! no pep talk, no gimmics, just pure brilliance...loved your approach to a fair comparison

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks!!

[@theblowupdollsmusic]

What an absolutely fantastic comparison of all these LA2A plug-ins. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi Matt, thanks for the comment! 🙏🙏🙏

[@DerekSamuelReese]

I have four words...This man is awesome

[@WheelieMix]

I know too well the time it takes to make such comparison, but yours goes even further, it's mental. Can't believe that anyone can watch that for free here. Congratz', excellent job !

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@MrMartijnDB]

Would be very interested to see you shoot out the 'Analog Obsession' plugin line against your hardware and UAD plugins!

[@vlastneme]

Sir this is the best proper test vid iv ever seen on youtube ... outstanding methodology .... liked/subscribed / belled ....

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks!

[@majamusic14]

thanks for the video! the Slate one is impressed!

[@benspinks342]

Great video. Considering the crap Waves get dealt on forums they did a really good job with this. Native I think the Slate and Overloud did a great job! Overloud in particular.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks for the comment! Yes indeed, a lit of people think waves is crap but they did a pretty good job on this one! How would you rank the top 3?

[@SuperIZL]

I don’t like waves, but there plugs are just good tbh

[@miguelpessanha]

Really nice comparison, it shows how important it is to calibrate things properly for a fair comparison. It would be great to hear it on vocals and bass to have a better understanding. Can't wait for the 1176 comparison!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@playjacks5637]

Крут

[@butzwonker6632]

Damnit I preferred the hardware every time.

[@sK3LeTvM1]

That is because you hear what you see...Check Andrew Scheps on YT. he says: Analog is a myth... And I'm afraid he's right.

[@janukomski6728]

I wish every shoutout and test on KZbin could be that professional.

[@fjlamela]

First thanks for your video. Overloud makes very good plugins. They are undervalued because they don't do aggressive marketing like other companies. Their plugins sound really good and are a step up from other developers, they care a lot about aliasing and other problems of the inherently digital. Actually his comp la2a and 3a are the most similar to the real units that I have heard. As well as their comp670 and their compG. Thank you for your analysis and to unveil gems that would otherwise go unnoticed. PS: I do not work for Overloud nor do I receive any kind of financial benefit from them, I just work with some of their plugins and in my opinion they are fantastic.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@devarni]

One of the best comparison! I only miss the Trackcomp 2 by DMG Audio (circuit modelled)

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Not really a dedicated 2A clone, with too much user adjustable parameters to be a real 2A clone...

[@alandeacon1988]

I love the Cakewalk CA-2A - find it very smooth sounding - shame Peter couldn't register it...

[@austinhudson6943]

Best shoutout I've seen! No fluff with a well structured video that made comparisons obvious with similar levels. Subscribed!

[@Cryovile]

waiting for your 1176, pultec and ssl buss comp comparisons :D

[@sun_tzu777]

Oh yes, and a veri-mu

[@MK-fw4to]

I've always thought that if I were to start a channel making shootouts, the quality would be this and no lower. GREAT JOB! Looking forward to more videos like this.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

ThNks !!

[@tomsiemerink8284]

Love the combination of technical testing with objective figures and the subjective listening to the sound.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@snotnosedpunk7995]

Fantastic video! Underrated channel for this kind of research, we need definitive testing like this in this world oversaturated by digital modeling, cloning, and big claims by marketing departments.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Many thanks!!!

[@johniles]

An amazing comparison

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi John, thanks for the comment! Which one is your favourite?

[@johniles]

@@MasterclaesVideos Hi! Honestly, I don't want to sound too predictable, but UA replicas are pretty on point. I was debating if I should purchase apollo for the plugin emulations and your video convinced me to do so

[@JonManness]

I tend to grab the UAD silver one most times, but the gray one might start getting more attention from me when I want a warmer sound. Great comparison!

[@josephthepoet2856]

glad I found you. great material. i love Slates 2A. one of my favorites

[@jacobsmith1877]

The Slate and Overloud versions were close enough for me. I'm a big fan of Slate's VMR and use it on most every track

[@GregorysMode]

i ve just trailed the Overloud LA and I love it. I got that one. Very versatile and sounds excellent.

[@BottleneckMoses]

Love your comparisons - thank you! I would also like to see an 1176 shoot-out please. And yes, I've liked/subbed etc.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi brad, just need to find the time! But it is coming! I’m going to pick up my rev C from repair, so I can add that to my comparison

[@unggoysolid940]

Have some of those tube-tech shootout please..

[@unggoysolid940]

Thanks for your videos sir, bless and more power to your channel

This is the best comparison I've ever seen. You are really comparing those plugins, very few people take time to loudness match everything. Only thing missing are time stamps

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@chaddonal4331]

@@MasterclaesVideos How about adding those time stamps?

[@abananainspace]

great video, mucho more sophisticated in its approach than most other shootouts out there. An 1176 one would be awesome

[@MasterclaesVideos]

The 1176 is top priority, just need to find some time!

[@MrShwir]

@@MasterclaesVideos Please)

[@nodaysback1]

Excellent comparison. Thank you. Having all of the major versions stand up alongside each other with the hardware as a base line is very revealing. More videos like this with classic hardware would be great! Thanks again..

[@MasterclaesVideos]

It’s coming up! Now that concerts are not allowed anymore due to Covid, it will give me time to make new video’s!

[@nodaysback1]

@@MasterclaesVideos Sub'd so I get the notification!

[@ProAudioOM]

1) Hardware 2) UAD Silver / Grey 3) Overloud 4) Slate 5) Waves

[@MasterclaesVideos]

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[@lestybarrazaburgos3348]

I like so much your comparision. Congratulation dude!!!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks! Which one is your favourite?

[@geertteekens]

Great video and great faces!

[@sitizenkanemusic]

I'm super impressed with the Waves Version. Their CLA-2A and 3A really tame the peaks but keep the musicality. It's almost subtle. Hell, I just bought a UAD compressor pack that came with a bunch of classics like the 1176, LA2A, Distressor and the Fairchild. UAD compressors COST A LOT and I use them in conjunction with my Apollo 4x Thunderbolt. But with Vocals amd Bass, I keep coming back to the Waves CLA-2A. I love that thing. Of course, the hardware has the most pleasant impact but for an in-home studio, the the CLA-2A is great.

[@sybillesztorm9006]

Overloud had the most depth, UAD grey the closest, T racks the richest saturation (and best sounding but need more compression to really hear it saturates in a soft way).

[@DMKahn]

Man that hardware, there's something about the dynamic character that is alive. Also it tamed the hi mid frequencies in such a pleasing way. None of the plugins touched that hardware. The UAD one was very close with regards to dynamics, but not that closewith the frequency response. With that said though, the Slate and UADs are really good for plugins!!

[@assessoroffice7212]

THE UAD'S compressor action is very cheap.

[@Rhuggins]

I think the overloud came closest here. the UA seemed to narrow the stereo image more

[@cameronpaulaudio7226]

It's a mono signal. There is no stereo image.

[@J3.16-]

Thanks for the awesome comparison

[@MasterclaesVideos]

My pleasure!

[@deonbolander6766]

My goto channel for shootouts. Highly recommended! No hidden agenda, when something doesn't do the job that well, he's not too shy to comment on it.. highly appreciate that!

[@simmermusic3894]

Very nice comparison, it's really interesting to hear how transparant and unbothered the hardware sounds, I get that vibe from the UAD legacy version as well as the sound remains stable. It would be interesting to hear the warm audio hardware unit too.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi! A hardware shootout is on my to do list! But if you had to pick one plug-in, which would it be?

[@simmermusic3894]

@@MasterclaesVideos I have all of the UAD LA-2A plugins and when mixing vocals for example, after going into the EQ to do some corrections, I'd first use the UAD 1176 (ratio: 4, attack: 5 and release: 7) tone shaping with in and outputs.. Then my preference is to go into the UAD LA-2A Silver one to mellow everything out.. To me the silver one is the most useful out of the bunch.. From there I'd add EQ for character like the UAD pultec, and then some de-essing (soothe2 or Rdeesser), a bit of Rvox compression to push it forward and then a low cut on the EQ (Pro-Q3) to prevent additional lows from the compression. From there depending on the songs needs I'd add a touch of harmonizer (eventide) and some saturation (SSL or Decapitator). Then on the send busses Id have a bunch of different reverbs, shorts, longs and delay. This is probably more than you asked for but maybe it's helpful to someone...

[@aldrinsereno]

Proud to have the CompLA! Also some of the emu had a weird response on the low end. Great video as always!

[@timoheinrich8763]

Yeah, I also felt like a lot of the PIs should perform better if you have a sidechain eq that reduces the low end.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@Eppie55]

Great test, thanks you. I have the Klark LA2A and the Overloud and very happy with those two.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

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[@antonioleon8041]

UAD and Overloud also have some good 1176 and Pultec plugins. It would be awesome to see a shootout since you have the hardware and specially the quality of your comparison videos which are the best I’ve seen so far on youtube ❤

[@audiosounddoctor5834]

I like overloud a lot, I use it all the time

[@Folk661]

They all seem to pump a little more than your hardware when those low notes hit. Surprisingly the waves was super close, I’m going to keep using that one. $$$ great test!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@1touchproduction]

I like how he uses his head to show how the correct compression should sound. Nice!

[@musicsynctank]

Thank you for the Video! I have the Slate, UAD legacy, Softube and T-Racks. This is a great comparison video, and confirms what my ears have told me. I've never got results with Softube or TRacks versions, but I use a bit of Slate or UAD on virtually every vocal bus.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@menasafwat4951]

Great work , waiting to see 1176 , 670 vari mu , pultec eq videos soon. 🙏🙏🙏

[@MasterclaesVideos]

I just got a pair of audioscape eqp’s, they make a good basis for a comparison. The 1176 is going to be a tough one because of all the revisions.

[@artysanmobile]

The UA emulations - 2a gray and 2a silver - come closest to the perfect musicality of the hardware. Waves is second best to my ears though GR/frequency mapping is off quite a bit. The rest are ‘forget it’ for me, as they all fail pretty badly at simulating the GR response of every 2A I’ve ever used. Btw, that’s a very nice UA hardware piece you have. It is spot on with my experience with vintage units.

[@yuriyoleynikoff]

Your emotions are amazing! 😊👍

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks for the comment! Which is your pick?

[@yuriyoleynikoff]

@@MasterclaesVideos Overloud Gem Comp LA

[@DreamsongsProductions]

I loved all the UA's and then Slate 2nd place....

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi, can you tell me why please?

[@Submangalam]

awesome, thank you so much! I can´t help notice that TRacks is on "limit" mode while all the rest are on "compress" mode.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

You are right, but then it should have more gain reduction with a ratio of Infinity:1

[@IamRami]

@masterclaes as a couple of other people have mentioned, the "T-racks" was in Limit mode. unfortunately. however this is one of the best if not the best comparison videos I have ever seen. Subscribed and liked off of one video! Great job. You should have way more subscribers with content like this. Keep up the great work

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Oh and about the T-racks: if you have between 3 and 10dB of gain reduction, you are way past "the hard or soft knee", and the meter should actually show MORE compression than in compress mode since the Limit ratio is infinity:1

[@miguelpessanha]

This goes to show how sometimes emulating the time constants response can be more important thna the sound of the unit itself. Some of them sounded very off, but all the UA, the Slate and the IK Multimedia sounded good. The UA silver sounded by far the best, and I dare to say that it sounded better than the hardware. At least for this acoustic guitar example, very similar but a bit tighter on the bottom end and opened on the top.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@demiangonzalezpetrich9166]

Here is some serious knowledge about audio matters, instant suscribe!

[@PereRevert]

Fantastic comparison technically wise. Keep going doing this Peter. Much appreciated the effort you put into this. What about a test of the Audioscape UA clones ?

[@MasterclaesVideos]

If Audioscape sends me their hardware I will be happy to include them in my tests!

[@Avatar7x7]

I like it when a plugin manufacturer leaves out the noise or gives you the choice to add or subtract noise.. As a rule I hate noise and view it as an improvement of the technology if I can get the same sound without noise !

[@ontogeny6474]

Excellent -- thank you!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks for the support!

[@boblowmixes2636]

Wow what a great video Peter! I'm glad I found your channel.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@hottubeproductions]

Good stuff! Very informative! Thanks a lot for taking time to do it!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

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[@hottubeproductions]

@@MasterclaesVideos all it was done when I first time watched this video ;)

[@LogicKeyz]

Nothing beating the hardware here.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@TheMrfuzzyface]

The Slate and the UA are really good.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks, but which one would you ultimately pick?

[@TheMrfuzzyface]

@@MasterclaesVideos probably the UA

[@NC17z]

Great Comparison Video and truly appreciate the time you and $ you put into this. I feel real bad for the Softube test, unfortunately there was some User Error in the demonstration. There is a DRY signal pot the works like a MIX knob/pot. When it’s on DRY you will not hear the effect/compression.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks for the comment, well at least there were 9 plugins working then 😉

[@scottyohorrison4066]

I like the UA and the overloud. The overloud gem can be matched and give you the harmonics that are great for a certain sound.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Indeed! I think if you use the Emphasis, you can get rid of the "grabbiness" on the low notes...

[@richardroskell3452]

Great video, thank you Peter. I liked the Slate Digital and UA emulations. Oh yeah, and the hardware version sounded pretty good too. :) I preferred the hardware sound overall. I found it smooth, warm, natural and transparent. The Slate and UA emulations came closest to that for me. Many of the other products had great sound, but were more distinctly compressing to my ear.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@nichttuntun3364]

What work you put into this. Amazing job. Thank you.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@SantaAgain77]

Thank You so much, Sir !! Very helpful !

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Sorry for my late reply!

[@jo_ey]

Happy to see the slate version between the comparison! 👍 well done!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks Joey!

[@yungswampfire]

1176 comparación pls

[@iangomes]

Another surprise that almost none of them can replicate the UA! I thought a lot of them had the same issue with being too aggressive (especially on the low notes). My favourite/closest was the UAD LA2, surprisingly. The other UAD were the closest with the Slate being next in line to me.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hardware still beats the plugins.. Happy to have the plug-ins if I run out of resources though...

[@GuttlinGuitars]

wow, way over my head, but it is quite clear: you, sir, are a wizzard! super, Peter ! groetjes, karel

[@djhansol4224]

great video! thanks for taking the time to make such a relaxed and straight forward video!

[@unclemick-synths]

The problem with emulation of classic gear is it depends which individual unit (if at all) was used as the reference. There can be considerable variation in initial components, construction quality (I smile when people wet their panties over "hand soldered" - if only they knew!), and in the different "life experiences" of the individual units. It wasn't until modern technology came in during the mid 80s that consistency improved. Even in 1985 I was often sat down with a multimeter and a reel of components!

[@levondarratt787]

Facts!!

[@liquidglycerinWilliams]

The three best emulations of LA2a are TimP's Opto 32 for Nebula, Pulsar Modular P11 Abyss which can mimic LA2a unbelievably and DMG Audio TrackComp 2.. UAD one is pretty good too

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks for the tip!

[@Juliusofmaverick]

Hardware clearly the winner on this guitar.

[@sebastiandior1315]

The clarity was no joke

[@justice6480]

I agree.... this software stuff is all about profit and it’s a Big Lie... they come close in certain circumstances only Stay away folks

[@dighawaii1]

@@justice6480 no, it's really about giving tools to more people who are not able to afford the eccentric prices of the "real" versions. The recording industry has evolved into a cottage industry, obviously. Come on in! The plugins are nice and warm!

[@justice6480]

@@dighawaii1 hey there. I get it. I am by no means a gear snob and use plugins, BUT over time I truly believe people will be better served using far less STUFf on their channels and investing is a few Choice pieces of equipment that will last them a lifetime Plug ins have a bam all shelf life and if people stop and think about what they actually spend on them they will probably realise it’s better to save your money and to get that unit

[@dighawaii1]

@@justice6480 Well, I disagree. When a musician has broken through to the point where enough money backs them, they can go to a proper A+ studio, where boutique gear will be available. On that path, a well-rounded recordist, mix engineer, and mastering process can do the trick. . If your music is good, it doesn't take much processing to impress. Having software L2's in my arsenal, as a "from analog days" guy, I can offer my hometown musicians some pretty stellar options that they can afford.

[@lokalbredstudios]

great content . I hope to own one of these soon

[@cesmcmyth]

Sr. I loved this, So clear. So neat and accurate. pffff. Very enjoyable and informative.Thank you

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@esahm373]

Fantastic realisation of the test! Can I suggest another shootout? Neve preamp (if you have the hardware): UAD 1073, Sknote Macroni 1, Waves Scheps 73, Sonimus Burnley 73, Arturia 1073 and Black Rooster VPRE-73 would be software options!

[@airbourne145]

YESSSS

[@mastermindesrpr]

Slate's the winner to my ears (I mean nothing like the real stuff)... Thank you for this comparison!!!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@ChrisDN]

My picks here: UAD Silver, UAD Legacy, Overloud, Slate (surprisingly, I tend to find most Slate plugins much too aggressive) The Black Rooster, T-Racks, Softube, and especially the Waves were fairly dreadful imo

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Nice ranking! Thanks for the comment!

[@estevesmarco]

Fantastic review!!! I have the UAD and I really love the transformer emulation of the non-legacy models, watching your video I got a nice view of others developers. Thanx so much!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

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[@Joe_Rainey]

What a great video

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Sorry for the late reply. Thank you! Which one would you choose to use?

[@ErnestoPossiSpanishVoiceOver]

Great shootout! Congrats!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

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[@lnxguit]

I really appreciate your scientific approach. Great comparison!

[@bedtimeread]

this is going to sound outrageous but a week after I got the overloud bundle I sold my la2a hardware. Thanks for the vid!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Was it an original one?

[@ITSYABOYDONTE]

great video. not sure if anyone noticed and pointed out that the T-racks was in limit mode instead of compress. Not sure if that made a difference, but still great comparison.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Hi Donte, that has been commented on many times before, and each time I replied: should have shown more gain reduction then, not? 😀 What is your top 3?

[@enzoreycode]

Thanks so much for this comparassions!!! You are a true legend :)

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you !!

[@slowestjabroni]

You've done god's work here. NGL though the best 2A emulation is the DMG TrackComp imo. The rest sound terrible besides the UAD and Slates!

[@PeteEdmunds]

Always enjoy your expressions and hand gestures 😊. Slate plugin sounded most like hardware. When you switched from it back to the teletronix I couldn’t hear any tonal difference.

[@mobyvic404]

Awesome video! Ive been lucky enough to compare side by side the modern LA-2A with UAD and waves. The Gray for me is phenomenal i haven’t wanted to use something else for a long time lol. The modern “UA Classics” for me was boring in comparison, pretty similar to the Legacy. Yours however....sheesh! Lol

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

What do you think of the Waves version?

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@FreakinOutOnAudio]

Additional thought: the compression action on uad, slate and overloud sound closest to your hardware, in how the low string notes are grabbed etc.

[@MasterclaesVideos]

What is your ultimate choice?

[@Padillajose]

Great shootout!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks Jose!

[@jwhelan709]

Thought the UA gray and Legacy #3 were closest but many had a pushed sound that seemed to boost 300 hz or so to me. Hardware was transparent and balanced. My opinion only of course

[@lematrix01]

Thank you. Well done

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@bosiiiiiiiiii]

Thank you! this kind of comparison you can be the best in youtube!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thank you! Please don't forget to like, subscribe and hit that bell button!

[@ronfrancois]

I really liked the grey UAD on this acoustic guitar. It didn't move around in space as much as the hardware and the closest emulations. Sounded natural and perfect for the speed of the picking patterns. BTW great comparison vid.

[@verbeeckjef5362]

Thanks Peter ! My heart goes out to the Grey UAD, but my ears say Waves cla 2a. Great shootout!

[@MasterclaesVideos]

Thanks Jef!

[@eugensagel9088]

Hi Peter, very good comparison! take more plugins in the future! for example: acustica audio, softube etc.