Nice video! What I usually miss from this kind of content is examples and how you feel about those compressors and sounds you get with them, and why three spaces of you rack are worth them! Keep up the good work
TubeTech CL1B is also a good Option dude and it‘s definitly way more new than a LA-2A But yeah maybe its the nostalgic flavour of this old units whats make it so „good“ compared to new tech
Ummmm because record music is still a fairly new concept… two channels of audio only goes back to about the 70’s… about a good 50 years… but what u gotta understand recorded music really didn’t exist before then… if so barely
Fun fact, all buttons mode does not require all the buttons to work. The ratio buttons are switches that bypass resistors, essentially letting more signal into the side chain detector. But if you connect the circuit while bypassing all of the resistors you let it all in, saturating the sidechain basically. So how do you complete a circuit? Connect the beginning to the end. So you technically only need to press 2:1 and 20:1 at the same time, connecting the circuit without the resistors!
Thanks! This vid was made for my Music Production majors at Daytona State College who get to use this equipment all the time. My 2021 goal, though, is to film lots of general information vids on recording for everyone. Subscribe and you’ll see them start rolling out soon!
Glad you found it useful! This was filmed for a course I teach at the Daytona State College Music Production Technology program. Check us out: www.daytonastate.edu/thearts/musicproductiontechnology.html
Dear Scott, Thanks a lot for your clear explanation of how to work with the LA2A (and also with the 1176). There is one aspect of the LA2A that you have overlooked, though. It can be switched to work as a compressor or as a limiter. I'm familiar with the general difference between what a compressor does versus what a limiter does. But since this device has a slow attack time, I don't see how it could satisfactorily function as a limiter. What is the use of limiting material when the initial peaks are left alone...??? Could you clarify this point? Thanks, Joris
Excellent question, and certainly one that vexes many of us in the modern era. If you have experimented with that switch, you have probably found the difference is quite subtle (at least that has been my experience). My first thought would be that it probably was of more use to radio engineers who were trying to keep as much loudness as possible without audibly overmodulating the transmission. Quick distortion of attacks wouldn’t have been too noticeable over a radio broadcast, and the limiting function probably got them the little bit of extra loudness to get the signal farther before it was lost in static.
@@scottvelazco What's confusing - at least for me - is that working in the digital domain we expect limiters primarily to ALWAYS protect our mix from clipping above 0 dB. Whereas in the old days compression and limiting were both used to achieve more loudness, with limiting just being a more heavy form of compression.
One more time: is it true, that a lower ratio on the 1176 results in more compression because the threshold is also lower? Like: 20:1 ratio = -12dBFS threshold / and 4:1 ratio = -18 dBFS threshold. It says so in the manual for the waves plugin of the 1176.
Excellent question! Let’s run the test with a hardware 1176 and a few popular plug-in versions and see how they all react. Expect a reply vid later this week.
Y hola buenas soy Pedro de España lo siento no sé inglés así que no he entendido nada de lo que has dicho, me esperaba una prueba de sonido de audio o una comparativa con algún clon hubiera estado muy bien tal vez lo hagas para la próxima vez gracias😊
Great! I thought I knew anything about these compressors, but no, I did know nothing. Thx for this expert insight! Much appriciated!
Best description I’ve heard on the functionality of these devices.
U know ur stuff man. Thank you for your inputs and how well you articulate your thoughts. You are an amazing teacher.
Nice video! What I usually miss from this kind of content is examples and how you feel about those compressors and sounds you get with them, and why three spaces of you rack are worth them!
Keep up the good work
Perfect descriptions of both devices. Well done. Thank you.
Great video on these two classics. Well done.
By far the best in depth and practically explained video about these comps on YT 👌🏼👌🏼
Best video I’ve seen on these two… simple and clear
And the big question is ... WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR NEW DESIGN ENGINEERS ???? Almost everything that sounds good is from the 60´s.
TubeTech CL1B is also a good Option dude and it‘s definitly way more new than a LA-2A But yeah maybe its the nostalgic flavour of this old units whats make it so „good“ compared to new tech
Its nostalgia, and also a field of audio engineering that has essentially been mastered already so difficult to re-invent analog gear.
There’s nothing wrong with our design engineers. They just know that this challenge has been met - so concentrate on other areas.
Nostalgia
Ummmm because record music is still a fairly new concept… two channels of audio only goes back to about the 70’s… about a good 50 years… but what u gotta understand recorded music really didn’t exist before then… if so barely
Fun fact, all buttons mode does not require all the buttons to work. The ratio buttons are switches that bypass resistors, essentially letting more signal into the side chain detector. But if you connect the circuit while bypassing all of the resistors you let it all in, saturating the sidechain basically. So how do you complete a circuit? Connect the beginning to the end. So you technically only need to press 2:1 and 20:1 at the same time, connecting the circuit without the resistors!
Very cool. Wish we got to see some demonstrations.
Thanks! This vid was made for my Music Production majors at Daytona State College who get to use this equipment all the time. My 2021 goal, though, is to film lots of general information vids on recording for everyone. Subscribe and you’ll see them start rolling out soon!
Thank you for this video! Very informational for someone new to analog world.
Glad you found it useful! This was filmed for a course I teach at the Daytona State College Music Production Technology program. Check us out: www.daytonastate.edu/thearts/musicproductiontechnology.html
A lot of people think of "Gain" on the LA2A as the input gain. It's output gain as you stated. Thanks for setting the record straight on this.
Man , you REALLY explained it well ! Great job !!! 👍
Sheeeeeesh! That studio and the rack are so inconvenient. I have to leave the console to work? Doesn't make sense.
Great explanation of these compressors. Thank you!
I was going to like this video, then I realized I had already watched it and liked it before 😂
Great tutorial, Thank you.
Very good explanation. About to build LA-2A.
This is so well explained, Great video!
Thank you Ian Kirkpatrick!
Haha, what a compliment. If only!
@@scottvelazco yeah but you do look alot like him hahah
Really like the idea of the racks being in the wall. I’m guessing there is a crawl space behind them.
Doesn't make sense. I'd like them within reach of the sweet spot.
I heard a rumors, that T4 of LA-2A module need to be replaced every 2-3 years, otherwise it compress much less as if it was brand new :)
When deciding to buy a compressor with tubes, how often should they be replaced with new ones to maintain sound quality?
What a masterclass!!!
Dear Scott,
Thanks a lot for your clear explanation of how to work with the LA2A (and also with the 1176).
There is one aspect of the LA2A that you have overlooked, though.
It can be switched to work as a compressor or as a limiter.
I'm familiar with the general difference between what a compressor does versus what a limiter does.
But since this device has a slow attack time, I don't see how it could satisfactorily function as a limiter.
What is the use of limiting material when the initial peaks are left alone...???
Could you clarify this point?
Thanks,
Joris
Excellent question, and certainly one that vexes many of us in the modern era. If you have experimented with that switch, you have probably found the difference is quite subtle (at least that has been my experience).
My first thought would be that it probably was of more use to radio engineers who were trying to keep as much loudness as possible without audibly overmodulating the transmission. Quick distortion of attacks wouldn’t have been too noticeable over a radio broadcast, and the limiting function probably got them the little bit of extra loudness to get the signal farther before it was lost in static.
@@scottvelazco What's confusing - at least for me - is that working in the digital domain we expect limiters primarily to ALWAYS protect our mix from clipping above 0 dB. Whereas in the old days compression and limiting were both used to achieve more loudness, with limiting just being a more heavy form of compression.
great breakdown
Found you! How did I not know you were making videos like this?
Nice outboard gear!
Nice wall rack! 👍
Wonderful explanation thank you!!!
One more time: is it true, that a lower ratio on the 1176 results in more compression because the threshold is also lower? Like: 20:1 ratio = -12dBFS threshold / and 4:1 ratio = -18 dBFS threshold. It says so in the manual for the waves plugin of the 1176.
Excellent question! Let’s run the test with a hardware 1176 and a few popular plug-in versions and see how they all react. Expect a reply vid later this week.
@@scottvelazco nice! Thxs Bruh
I have ben using my 2a and 3a wrong this whole time
What do you use tha 1176 for ? Kick ?
Great video
How's that something invented in the 60's is so good 64 years later, i mean it's cool and all but where's the progress?
Awesome
ohhh thats why the la plugins behave differently..
Its actually an emissive light panel not a light bulb
Y hola buenas soy Pedro de España lo siento no sé inglés así que no he entendido nada de lo que has dicho, me esperaba una prueba de sonido de audio o una comparativa con algún clon hubiera estado muy bien tal vez lo hagas para la próxima vez gracias😊
Thank you !
Awesome! Keep up!