Universal Audio Debuts Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Plug-In Collection for UAD & Apollo
Universal Audio already knew how to emulate one of the most beloved optical compressors ever – now they know a lot more.
In an announcement sure to attract attention, and ears, the company has introduced the soon-to-be-released Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection for the UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform and Apollo High-Resolution Audio Interface.
A dream collection for producers, mixers, and artists, the new LA-2A plugin collection offers up the most advanced emulations yet of three distinct Teletronix units, in painstaking detail.
Hearing triple: three LA-2A levelers are better than one.
The LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection will be available as part of an upcoming UAD Software release coming in February 2013, and will be available for $299 US from UA’s Online Store. The price will be $149 for current owners of the original LA-2A Leveling Amplifier plugin.
Here’s the inside info, as explained by UA:
“Picking up where UA’s legacy LA-2A plug-in left off, the new LA-2A plug-in collection provides unrivaled emulations of three distinct Teletronix hardware units, right down to their transformers, amplifiers, and aged luminescent panels.
The original LA-2A hardware — still hand-built at UA headquarters in Scotts Valley, California — is an audio industry icon, bringing smooth, warm compression to anything it touches, especially vocals. With the new LA-2A Classic Leveler Plug-In Collection, Universal Audio modeled the entire electronic path of three highly coveted hardware units — ‘Silver,’ ‘Gray,’ and the original LA-2 model — providing the most authentic plug-in emulations available of this iconic compressor.
‘While our original LA-2A plug-in provided a breakthrough rendition of the original hardware, we’ve learned a lot about analog emulation over the past 10 years,’ explained Bill Putnam Jr., Founder and CEO of Universal Audio Inc. ‘Our new Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection adds tube amplifier and transformer modeling, improvements in T4 gain reduction nonlinearities, and superior time constant behaviors. Put simply, these are the most musical and authentic LA-2A emulations ever created.’
The Bill Putnam-era LA-2A ‘Silver’ model features a fast time constant, making it suitable on all sources, including drums and percussion. The Jim Lawrence-era LA-2A ‘Gray’ model maintains an average time constant, providing a range of ‘medium-speed’ compression. Finally, the LA-2 plug-in models the rarest of original Teletronix units, providing a super-slow compression response and a unique ‘mellowed’ sound due to 50 years of luminescent panel aging.
Additionally, the LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection plug-ins includes presets from famous LA-2A users, including Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, R.E.M., Ziggy Marley), Carl Glanville (U2, Billy Joel, Jason Mraz), Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg), Vance Powell (Jack White, Red Fang, The Dead Weather), and Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Shinedown, Train).
Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection features include:
• Superior plug-in emulations of revered Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier
• Includes three historic versions: LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and original LA-2 — each with their own distinctive sonic attributes
• Models entire electronic path — including transformers, tube amplifiers, and luminescent cell aging process — for unmistakable analog color and character
• Easy-to-use Peak Reduction and Gain controls
• Includes plug-in presets from famous LA-2A users Ross Hogarth, Jeff Juliano, Carl Glanville, Darrell Thorp, and Vance Powell
• Ideal optical compression sound for vocals, bass, drums and more”
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