"Studio" Compressor anyone?

[django49]

I have recently become a fan of the LA-2A compressor. Here is one way of getting there on your pedalboard at a very reasonable cost. And it is on sale at a large discount for a short time.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UALA2APedal--universal-audio-teletronix-la-2a-studio-compressor-pedal

The Effectrode Limiter Amp is another way of getting there with actual tubes more like the original studio rack gear and has more ways to tweak it. As well as a footswitchable boost. It IS much larger. Is it WORTH five times as much(?)

[santellavision]

Universal Audio gear is really great stuff. Don't know how they do it, but glad they do!
 

[RobB]

Compressors. Nothing like adding more hiss to your rig. 

[JGale]

Au contraire! In my limited experience two standout as cleaner than your average bear.

Engineers Thumb v.4+, Public Domain circuit, deetles here.

ThorpyFX Fat General. https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/collections/thorpyfx-pedals/products/the-fat-general-parallel-compressor-copy
 

[RobB]

Bah. Humbug.

Edited April 30, 2025 by RobB

[django49]

Depends on how you use it......

[Dutchman]

I've just slapped a LA2A on my board. Very little time with it. It's going against some tough competition with a Barber little feet compressor and a Diamond Compressor. At first use it acts very much like the Diamond. Close parameters on the led color changes.

I think they're all more better pedals just running thru them. More to come!

[mathman]

So I have digital versions of the LA2A and use them on my computer mixing/amplitube amp sim all the time.  For fun, I stuck my old Alesis 3630 compressor and my Electra EP-401 digital delay with modulation in my bass and guitar pedal board chain.  The compressor is considered crap except for "daft punk" music.  Ha.  I love the electra to get marginal King's  X sounds.   I am only having fun at this point so I enjoy even a shitty compressor.   I've had these racks since the early 80's.   May as well use them.

Edited May 25, 2025 by mathman
forgot photos...

[scottcald]

2 hours ago, mathman said:

So I have digital versions of the LA2A and use them on my computer mixing/amplitube amp sim all the time.  For fun, I stuck my old Alesis 3630 compressor and my Electra EP-401 digital delay with modulation in my bass and guitar pedal board chain.  The compressor is considered crap except for "daft punk" music.  Ha.  I love the electra to get marginal King's  X sounds.   I am only having fun at this point so I enjoy even a shitty compressor.   I've had these racks since the early 80's.   May as well use them.

I used one of the Alesis compressors back in the day in a project studio I was at recording on ADAT.  Worked fine then.  

The real way to go is an old LA-2A on the board modded with a footswitch on it. 

[django49]

LA-2A with a footswitch (sorta). In  fact TWO footswitches.....

 

[Dutchman]

LA-2A report.

Well it came off the board. I used it trying the compressor and limiter sides and the release time features along with the buffer/bypass features. It's a great compressor, very similar to the old Diamond compressor. 

I also compared it to the Barber Tone Press. All tests where done thru a Blackface AB763 Circuit and the final judge my very old ears! 

Impression! I think the LA-2A would make a great compressor for Bass Guitars along with guitar. I also think it would work well as a percussion compressor. 

It's quiet, easily dialed in and didn't get pumpy like some do.

Final impression! It's a great multi purpose compressor. Just Like the Diamond is, but has more features.

I went back to the Barber Tone Press. I just like what it does to the upper spectrum in guitar Tone. Sweeten's it up. But that's just me. YMMV!

Edited June 19, 2025 by Dutchman