The main action, though, lies on the front panel. There is also a fuse holder which can actually be inverted so that you can use the unit with 115V or 230V current. You will also find that it has some really impressive audio transformers.Īt the rear panel of the unit, you will find a trio of XLR connectors. The panels of the unit are covered in vintage knobs and buttons. All the parts are mounted in a rack mounting case. The design of this unit is vintage yet impressive. This alone is enough to make any audiophile heavily interested in this particular product. This particular unit is an amalgamation of two of the most popular products from this maker the Teletronic LA2A compressor and the Putnam 610 preamp. Universal Audio is a renowned name in the audio product industry, and the LA-610 is one of the best products from the manufacturer. The reason for this is unknown (although you will find many professionals arguing that the vintage units offer better overall performance). It also comes with default 4dB gain boost.ĭespite the improvements in vocal compressors over the years, many folks are still interested in vintage compressors and audio preamps. However, I did not appreciate the default gain differences. I also observed that there is an Emphasis feature that helps in rolling off low frequencies. You also get a Gain knob that, as the name implies, makes up the output gain. For instance, you have the Peak Reduction knob, which serves to reduce the threshold and help you set compression levels. It comes with several knobs and buttons that are clearly labelled and easy to reach. They are known for their ease of use, and fortunately, this latest iteration is no different. Interestingly, all three versions come with similar controls. It takes giant strides in performance over predecessors as it utilizes the UAD-2 systems and their truly incredible processing capabilities. With this product, Universal Audio has taken three of the most popular LA-2A versions and mixed them together to birth this new version. It looks great though, and Universal Audio have made it in different optical versions so that you don’t have to choose that which of the classics you can have them all! It combines three different versions: Silver, Gray version, and a ‘Legacy’ version. This unit takes advantage of the improved technology of recent years to deliver impressive vocal compression for a relatively low price.ĭesign-wise, this is a pure-vintage unit. Therefore, it is great to have a new set of plug-ins to rejuvenate the line. The original plug-ins from Universal Audio are over a decade old and have started to show their age. The LA-2A is an analogue classic plug-in that delivers some truly excellent overall performance. This isn’t very surprising considering that the company is known for the high quality of its products. The company, with the LA-610, already has a vocal compressor on this list of the best vocal compressors on the market right now. Vintage vocal compressors are slowly making their way back to studios around the world, and the LA-2A is Universal Audio’s response to this trend. While I appreciate the classics, my top options are cheaper, more versatile units that can fit a serious home producers needs. We cater mostly to home producers on this blog, and my pick of the best vocal compressor shows that. While I acknowledge that classic compressors have an analog warmth that newer digital and software compressors can't match, I also understand that these classics are extraordinarily expensive. There are others who believe you should be willing to experiment with newer compressors, including some of the increasingly popular “all-in-one” units. There are some who believe you should stick to the classics like the LA-2A compressor. Opinion is usually divided among producers when it comes to vocal compressors. Best Vocal Compressor for Recording: dbx 160A.Best All-in-One Compressor: Tascam TA-1VP.Best Budget Vocal Compressor: GAP Comp3A LA-3A.Best Vocal Compressor for Home Studios: UA LA-610 Mk II.
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