Hey, appreciate these videos. I've been binging these pre/post plugin videos. I'm training to become an audio engineer, and your one of the genuine UA-camrs who aren't just trying to sell or think increasing the volume will trick us into hearing a difference.
Just my 2 cents on this one. I like to go with peaks reduction as my goal, but I also use a vocal sum bus that has another stage of peaks compression on it. For the acoustic folk music that I most often mix, layers of soft compression helps to level out the dynamic peaks while maintaining that "natural" sound of the vocals that most folk artists want. Also, I use a parallel compression bus where I really squash the vocal to eliminate the peaks and use make up gain to bring out the quieter parts of the vocal, then I add just a little bit of this to the vocal sum bus to help establish the foundation of the vocal track. This "Vocal Crush" bus, (as I call it), is a very minor part of the vocal sum bus, but it can really make a vocal sound awesome because it fills it out. I notice the Waves LA-2A plugin has a "mix" adjustment down at the bottom, I'm guessing that would allow you to add a version of the plugin on a track, squash the vocals, then just add a little bit to the output of the track using the mix adjustment. I have used plugs that way before and it works fine, I just prefer to do it on a bus in case I decide to do a little parallel eq on that bus because something is too loud or too quiet. Great video once again Sir..!!!
Yes, personally the la-2a is too slow for rap vocals in my opinion. For rap vocals I like something with a quicker release like a 1176 or VCA style compressor
1176 or VCA and then finish off the vocal with a LA2A. You can even run LA2A into a faster comp. I actually track vocals (trap/hip hop) through a hardware LA2A because I like it, and then slap on a faster comp while mixing. Different strokes for different folks as they say.
You have got the LA2a fundamentals wrong. The gain knob is POST compression but before the amp at output... a make up gain in other words. Does not affect the compression at all. The input is determined by the input of, for example, the preamp placed prior to the la2a. Here is a link to waves manual to avoid misinformation. www.waves.com/1lib/pdf/plugins/cla-2a-compressor-limiter.pdf
@@TheAudioCzar 😂 yeah i think it happens a lot actually since the knobs placement aren’t exactly logical on the la2a and easily misleads to the gain coming first.
@@niklasmeltio6266 I was thinking that too trying to figure out how I messed that up. If you think signal flow left to right and the gain is on the left side of the unit.
There’s quite a lot of vintage stuff that does not make sense. A lot of fuzzes are right to left, treble knobs working backwards, 1176 attack and release time etc. to be really precise the la2a kind of has 2 gain stages. The peak reduction is actually a gain stage that drives the feedback circuit which in its turn reduce the level, compression. So maybe thru that analogy it might have made sense to a tech to place them like that. Even though the end user would not have a clue what actually happens inside the box and made it just confusing.
@Niklas. Exactly, this is a big enough gaff that this video should just be taken down. While it is a bit unusual that the gain knob is on the left side of the unit as it is indeed an output gain control if someone doesn't understand this they really shouldn't be making videos about how to use an LA2a.
Hey, appreciate these videos. I've been binging these pre/post plugin videos. I'm training to become an audio engineer, and your one of the genuine UA-camrs who aren't just trying to sell or think increasing the volume will trick us into hearing a difference.
I appreciate the clear and concise tutorial(s)!
Nice tutorial ❤
Just my 2 cents on this one. I like to go with peaks reduction as my goal, but I also use a vocal sum bus that has another stage of peaks compression on it. For the acoustic folk music that I most often mix, layers of soft compression helps to level out the dynamic peaks while maintaining that "natural" sound of the vocals that most folk artists want. Also, I use a parallel compression bus where I really squash the vocal to eliminate the peaks and use make up gain to bring out the quieter parts of the vocal, then I add just a little bit of this to the vocal sum bus to help establish the foundation of the vocal track. This "Vocal Crush" bus, (as I call it), is a very minor part of the vocal sum bus, but it can really make a vocal sound awesome because it fills it out. I notice the Waves LA-2A plugin has a "mix" adjustment down at the bottom, I'm guessing that would allow you to add a version of the plugin on a track, squash the vocals, then just add a little bit to the output of the track using the mix adjustment. I have used plugs that way before and it works fine, I just prefer to do it on a bus in case I decide to do a little parallel eq on that bus because something is too loud or too quiet. Great video once again Sir..!!!
the mix knob is new if you have the V14 version
Yup that is incorrect, that is a post gain knob
We need a video like for Rap Vocals with the 1176
say less!
5:50 that was a good tip!
Thanks
how much gain do u start with on interface
Can U tell me how to Set Up this Plugin while recording cuz i dont have an analog la2a
Is there a reason you had the sidechain filter set to half way instead of being set to off (full right)?
No reason, didn't even pay attention to it. I didn't move it so that be where it is by default
@@TheAudioCzar ok 👌🏾
would you avoid the La2a with very rhythmic vocal? Like rappin?
Yes, personally the la-2a is too slow for rap vocals in my opinion. For rap vocals I like something with a quicker release like a 1176 or VCA style compressor
@@TheAudioCzar appreciate the response! Enjoy your weekend sir!
1176 or VCA and then finish off the vocal with a LA2A. You can even run LA2A into a faster comp. I actually track vocals (trap/hip hop) through a hardware LA2A because I like it, and then slap on a faster comp while mixing. Different strokes for different folks as they say.
oh my god taylor swift voice 😮😮😮
You have got the LA2a fundamentals wrong. The gain knob is POST compression but before the amp at output... a make up gain in other words. Does not affect the compression at all. The input is determined by the input of, for example, the preamp placed prior to the la2a. Here is a link to waves manual to avoid misinformation. www.waves.com/1lib/pdf/plugins/cla-2a-compressor-limiter.pdf
🤦🏿♂️ good catch. Can't believe I messed that up.
@@TheAudioCzar 😂 yeah i think it happens a lot actually since the knobs placement aren’t exactly logical on the la2a and easily misleads to the gain coming first.
@@niklasmeltio6266 I was thinking that too trying to figure out how I messed that up. If you think signal flow left to right and the gain is on the left side of the unit.
There’s quite a lot of vintage stuff that does not make sense. A lot of fuzzes are right to left, treble knobs working backwards, 1176 attack and release time etc. to be really precise the la2a kind of has 2 gain stages. The peak reduction is actually a gain stage that drives the feedback circuit which in its turn reduce the level, compression. So maybe thru that analogy it might have made sense to a tech to place them like that. Even though the end user would not have a clue what actually happens inside the box and made it just confusing.
@Niklas. Exactly, this is a big enough gaff that this video should just be taken down. While it is a bit unusual that the gain knob is on the left side of the unit as it is indeed an output gain control if someone doesn't understand this they really shouldn't be making videos about how to use an LA2a.