Exactly because of the fast attack time I use UAD LA-3A on vocals and it's absolutely incredible! Always the winner over UAD LA-2A, UAD 1176, Slate Distressor or even hardware WA-2A I even used the UAD LA-3A on most channels across the whole mix once, it's really a workhorse
Best plugin comparison video out there. Love it. Also the most insightful and comprehensive. It's great that you stay silent and let the audio speak for itself with some sign language and you also help us understand what to listen for. And the back to back/ bar by bar/ comparison works great, you know exactly what we want. Please do more :)
Thanks so much for doing this video. I was never impressed by the UAD LA-3A. Now I know why. I just bought the Overloud 2A, 3A plugin and love it. I just falsely assumed that UAD would model their own hardware better than anybody else, but you proved otherwise.
Very nice video mate, I know how much time it takes to do such videos comparing software and hardware (did quite a few on my channel, including one about a piece of gear I can see in your rack ;)). Overloud was quite convincing here. BRA felt completely off (in terms of timing and harmonics), CLA3A was too "dry" as you say for me, and the UAD's attack felt wrong to me. I think the Overloud one might be even closer if using in combo with a plugin such as True Iron (Kazrog) or Kush TWK. To add that extra harmonic excitement it's missing. Super nice video !
I think Overloud's GEM series are all great, most of them fantastic. I believe Apogee's Opto-3A is the other one I'd put at the top of the heap currently.
Apogee 3A was one of the best comp plugins I have ever used for sure there is no other 3A simulation better than him, I compared it with Waves and Overload and they lost
The sound of hardware so realistically adorns and conveys the blow itself, unlike plugins that bring artificiality to the sound and smear it along the panorama... I can understand why your studio is full of wonderful equipment))))
@@MasterclaesVideos In this case, the hardware :D But I think the UAD captures the tone of the release and the snare right, only lacks that punch of the initial transient.
Great shootout! Overloud has been killing it. Best modeling IMO. They are the first plug in where I really hear coloration on the sources I put it on. Please do an 1176 shootout. Overloud makes a great 1176. Their Fairchild is the best.
A shootout of 1176's is going to be a great challenge: because there are so many plug-ins doing an emulation. Please give me a list of the best emulations available and I'll see what I can do! But it would be a multi-video series, because where do I start?? With My Bluestripe against other Bluestripes and the my D vs Plug-in D's? Tell me your thoughts!
@@MasterclaesVideos Well the overloud models 3 1176 that you can select from (REV A (Blue) REV D and Rev F). Universal Audio has the blue stripe, rev E and rev AE (anniversary edition). Slate digital has the bluestripe and Rev D. Purple Audio MC 77 Models a REV H. Those are the best ones we have. Now waves has the blue stripe and revD but to be honest, they haven't updated those plug ins since they came out ten years ago. So I am not sure how fair it is to compare given the old modeling technology they used but you can include it anyway. We definetely want to hear Model vs Model for accuracy. UAD, tho it models a rev E, I am sure most of us would not be bothered to still shoot that out against your rev D.
@@MasterclaesVideos Agreed, please do a multi series comparing different revisions. Especially Waves, Slate, UAD since they all did Blue Stripe and Rev D versions.
That Overloud sounds really good! Time for UAD to compare their hardware to another one. That T4 makes an huge difference! Send them your video, Peter. They'll have to update theirs anyway.
Thanks for this wonderful and thoughtful comparison! I really can’t understand why some plugin developers fail to realize the importance of a simple sidechain filter. It shouldn’t be so hard to code it in every compressor and it helps tremendously when tuning your exact desired response. Agree with overloud being the nicer sounding and more versatile... pleasantly surprised by waves, disapointed with the extremely fast attack from uad and interesting long release (dryer sounding) of black rooster. If you’d allowed me to be (extremely) picky... i would say that there was a little, just a very very tiny loudness advantage in favour of the hardware that complicates an absolutely fair comparison, but it was really minimal and I got your point perfectly. Thanks a lot!
Thanks! About the loudness: i measured every comp through izotope insight when setting up and also in post i was able to do that... the tollerances should have been within 0,3 dB. I think the hardware sounds louder due to the fact that there is more “ambience” retained in the sound. Thanks for the great comment!!
Mindblown by the overloud! Sounds fantastic to be honest. With a plugin like that there is no need to have a hardware unit (even tho its awesome to have one and i would have them if i could:)) I liked the CLA 3A a lot too, its tightness feels pretty modern whereas the Urei has a more vintage sound with its breathness and harmonic distortion.
Hi, thanks for the comment, I am Mixing a song as we speak and instead of going to the CLA, I used the overloud. With it being on many tracks, the transparancy and character is more obvious than on one track. Do you have the overloud as well and what donyou use it on?
The CLA nails the kick action of the hardware. That was enlightening, as I don’t have the latter. The UAD is really surprising, way too fast attack, losing all the charm of the hardware. I simply would never use it.
Waves gets a lot of crap, some of it for good reason, but folks that just dismiss their whole catalog as bad sounding are missing out on some great, ridiculously affordable tools. The CLA 3A is my favorite electric guitar comp and I own SO many really expensive compressor plugins. RBass gets used every single session haha, even though it’s OLD
@@MasterclaesVideos Yes, exactly what I was thinking. I can imagine that their T4 responded that way, but I still can't understand why they released something that different from the competition. And not in a good way. ;) I feel the UAD LA2A is more uniform to the other ones, what do you think Claes?
@@MasterclaesVideos yep and in my 20 years of using every trick under the sun the uad la3a makes the transient pop like no other due its speed like the arouser or distressor.combined with spl transiet tool great results.even the most dense rock mix i never haver trouble getting the attack
Surprisingly, None of them really nail it. The UAD gets the release, but botched the attack! Also, I'm going to have to try an la3a on snare next time I'm tracking. Sounded great!
Overloud is not quite there. After matching levels and EQ matching, I can still pick out the Urei blind. Maybe it's a different amount of compression but I doubt it. Urei is quite nice. Is your Gates unit modded for fast release with the 1.5Meg resistors swapped in on R36 and R37?
Fantastic comparison Peter, what about an Audioscape test ? It seems their hardware clones, mostly their UA ones are on top, but there's no technicall comparison over internet like you do man. Keep up the good work dude !
@@MasterclaesVideos I'm trying to catch myself a piece of gear from them since ages... without no success. It seems they only make their products available to the USA market, as their time zone inventory it's usually at 8pm there overseas, but at 3-4am over here. Rest time. Keep posting these fantastic in-depth tests !
Hi Peter, you forgot to turn on the noise on Waves Plugin. I don't know if that would have changed the sound, but it was closer to the hardware. I think your lectures are very good!
What a great video. Thank you for sharing. I'm on my own journey to improve my recording/mixing skills and videos like this truly are masterclaeses. Cheers to you for sharing! Thank you.
This was great. I do feel like software compression still has a way to go to be close to hardware compression. EQ wise software is basically the same as hardware, to me at least.
Great video and comparison of the various Compressor/Limiters. There's nothing yet that can replace real hardware units, their character and personality have yet to be perfectly emulate. That being said the Overloud is the closest to the real thing. The software plugins seem to lack the space because of the slower attack time of the hardware.
Overloud sounded very much like the real thing w/ a slightly better sounding(punchier) low end to the kick. I found they all sounded like they lost air compared to the real one so I listened again turning the volume up slightly for each plugin & felt like I could better compare them that way.
your review videos are a true reference! Thank you for keeping such a professional level! One of my favourite LAs is the LA-4 emulation from Fuse Audio Labs. Could you have a look at that one, even though I don't expect you to have a real one?
the plugins sound tighter and have less depth.. the hardware sound more relaxed and so much bigger it's almost as having a bit of reverb, the sound is fuller and longer.
It'd be interesting to compare an oversampled Waves plugin using Metaplugin with Overloud LA Comp. I have been quite surprised when oversampling Waves plugins. Most of what they lack, specially compressors, it's just due to lack of internal oversampling.
What i believe but might be wrong, is that the Hardware has some noise-hiss that gives it an "airy" open feeling which the plugins do not seem to model but i might be hearing wrong
Hi, it depends on what you are listening on... if i listen to it on good headphones or my studio monitors, I hear more “ambience” with the hardware, on a phone it might sound like hiss...
@@MasterclaesVideos i listened on dt1990pro. Maybe “hiss” is the wrong word. What i am trying to say is only a theory of mine as i lack the actuall technical knowledge tbh so it might sound stupid. Imho hardware , especially older devices Add “something” extra that is not on the original signal in the form of non linearities, circuit noise and also i think one thing that is being underestimated is the line output amp on all analog hardware, even on older walkmans, has a lot of influence on the output character. While plugins “work with what they have got” and color less,, in a way.
@@MasterclaesVideos well now I feel better. You know how it sometimes is when you hear something but can't grasp it 100% but you know its there. Thank you for the insight! Love your channel btw
@@MasterclaesVideos the first compressor (1176) with slow attack and fast release is for better articulation, then I use an eq to correct and boost some frequencies that I need to, then I use opto or vari Mu compressor for better sit vocal in mix. I don’t use too much compression on both compressors.
Personal impressions before playing beyond 14:00 : Waves loses a bit of tail, slower release maybe? UAD what the hell is with all those armonics, seems like someone has forgotten a danish cookies box near the drum. Overloud seems on the right way, maybe it has a bit more of bottom end and like the Waves, it loses a bit on the decay. BR too many mids. To me, being the LA-3A a less popular module than, say, 1176 or EQP1, it seems that developers have also spent less effort in making a faithful emulation. Which is not a bad thing in itself, I don't think there is a "best sound" nor that "hardware is better", but for now if one is looking for the very LA3A sound, no plugin among these four can really recreate it, imho. But if I were forced to choose, I'd go for the Overloud.
Thanks for these videos. Please do a 2500 comparison!! I'm looking at the new 2500+, curious your thoughts if it's worth the investment (iI'm assuming it is, if you still own the 2500) Cheers
Agreed the UAD is slower but EQ wise it's also the one that doesn't change much from the original, most of the other ones are darker and a bit dull compared to the Urei which is very lively. It also seems less narrow than the others. The CLA is pretty good too but narrower, tighter and a bit less bright. Overloud good compressor feature but definitely darker and a bit dull. Too bad you didn't play acoustic guitars through them it would have been very interesting to hear with a richer harmonic content. Thanks for the great video!
I like the "Waves" Plugin...and i think you came maybe more to the original sound, when you modify the Peak Reduce. or Input Gain ...than the result is maybe better? But the Overloud is in my Opinion the Winner too!!
Great video. Have you compared UA LA2A vs Golden Age LA2A . Thx . For price difference. Have you ever tried LA2A kit some creative guys they put together. Thx .
@@MasterclaesVideos thx for replying. I just subscribed your channel, it's great . Teletronix is very expensive for a hobby, but GA is affordable. That's the reason why I'm leaning towards it. I have the mic preamp, for the price I can't complain. Thx again.
Hey, fijne videos! Ik zag dat je een fabfilter gebruiken bent, misschien een leuk idee voor een video om naar die plug-ins te kijken en hoe ze zich onderscheiden van andere plug-ins en hardware randapparatuur.
If I am not mistaking, they are all set to COMP. A higher ratio can have an effect on the release time, but not in this case since they were all calibrated to do the same amount of gain reduction.
At the time of the making there was no FG-3 if i can recall correctly. At this date there is also no FG-3 to be found on their website. So probably that’s the reason. Which was your favorite?
The settings were *WAY* hotter than the others. I don't know why he didn't adjust them. You can clearly see how much hotter the signal is coming in. Default != equal.
@@MasterclaesVideos I think UAD nails the character the best, but obviously the attack time is very different. Waves and Overloud are both good in their own right. I didn't like the Rooster as much.
So the fact that you explaining the Bob Clearmountain modidication and shows and tell the standard setting you mean that you using the modification because it would be to noisy for the previous owner and even for you.
Hi Viktor, it all has to do with the internal calibration, non of my LA-3’s, LA-2’s or 1176’s set up in exactly the same way, nor do they sound the same because they are analog and run out of calibration after a while, but they all sound fantastic in their own way. Don’t you think so?
The First audio problem is low sampling rate and FPGA/CPU bogging down apparently. The Plugins need 96K or better to help cut latency and improve accuracy. Second, nothing like the real analog balanced hardware to print drums. It's hard to know that all these plugins could not be tweaked a bit to "copy" the hardware including meters. Third A note for Plugin Software Developers: The evolution of these plugins for compression should offer quick Switch between LA2A, LA3A, 1176, SSL 4000, Dbx160, NEVE 500, and Fairchild. Then a multiband digital compressor.
@@MasterclaesVideos just to inform finally had chance to make a comparison thanks to a friend that owns Apollo interface. And i can report the new native version of LA-3A plugin has slower attack time and faster release than the older DSP version. Now considering what i can hear in your test i guess the closer and better compromise to the real thing is probably the Overloud plugin. I look forward to have a test between Comp LA and UADx LA-3A 😎
Hi Alice, making a video like this will take about one week of (almost) non-paid labour. What I can do is if you send me audio files, i can run them through my gear for a small fee and you can have a listen to the results.
Well if the hardware still sounds better than the plug-ins time after time in each review video... what’s the influence? Maybe different converters and cables will give a different result, but still the character of the Urei surpasses that discussion.
very sharp analysis thanks for that video ... I've just discover you channel -Instant subscription ! Have you tried London Acoustic's Brighton that goes for Acustica Audio's Nebula ? Became my go to ... i'd be pleased to see you check Acustica Audio's stuff VS hardware . They have a bunch of incredible gear emulations that you can compare with what i see on your back - Pultec vs Purple -Neve 2254 VS Gold -Tubetech VS Titanium -Avalon VS Amber -Massenburg VS Green
I'm sure if I left the names in reverse, the uad plugin with the hardware name in the video. Many would find that the hardware sounds better without knowing that it is really a sample of the plugin, Many comment only for sujestion, finding a big difference between both, Even though it is only a prejudice to know that one is the plugin and the other is the hardware.
Man I really miss these shootouts - they are an invaluable resource to the audio world, legitimately.
I am taking a sabatical next year to make more content!
@@MasterclaesVideos Looking forward to it!
Exactly because of the fast attack time I use UAD LA-3A on vocals and it's absolutely incredible! Always the winner over UAD LA-2A, UAD 1176, Slate Distressor or even hardware WA-2A
I even used the UAD LA-3A on most channels across the whole mix once, it's really a workhorse
Thanks for the comment! The people at Universal Audio will be happy to read this!
LA3A hardware my fav also.
Best plugin comparison video out there. Love it. Also the most insightful and comprehensive. It's great that you stay silent and let the audio speak for itself with some sign language and you also help us understand what to listen for. And the back to back/ bar by bar/ comparison works great, you know exactly what we want. Please do more :)
Your videos are time-consuming, but it is time well employed. You go deep in the subject and it is a plus.
Thanks so much for doing this video. I was never impressed by the UAD LA-3A. Now I know why. I just bought the Overloud 2A, 3A plugin and love it. I just falsely assumed that UAD would model their own hardware better than anybody else, but you proved otherwise.
I am happy you saw the video so you made the not obvious choice!
Very nice video mate, I know how much time it takes to do such videos comparing software and hardware (did quite a few on my channel, including one about a piece of gear I can see in your rack ;)). Overloud was quite convincing here. BRA felt completely off (in terms of timing and harmonics), CLA3A was too "dry" as you say for me, and the UAD's attack felt wrong to me. I think the Overloud one might be even closer if using in combo with a plugin such as True Iron (Kazrog) or Kush TWK. To add that extra harmonic excitement it's missing. Super nice video !
In these examples, in my opinion, the Urei is at a special level. However, when it comes to plugins, I like Overloud for its balance and functionality
Thanks for your insight!
I think Overloud's GEM series are all great, most of them fantastic. I believe Apogee's Opto-3A is the other one I'd put at the top of the heap currently.
I missed that one in my search...
agreed, the apogee is the best one i've tried
Apogee 3A was one of the best comp plugins I have ever used for sure there is no other 3A simulation better than him, I compared it with Waves and Overload and they lost
The sound of hardware so realistically adorns and conveys the blow itself, unlike plugins that bring artificiality to the sound and smear it along the panorama... I can understand why your studio is full of wonderful equipment))))
Thank you for the nice comment!
I think the overloud sounded closest to the hardware and I also prefered this one to the hardware! :)
I love how much is said with just a couple of hand motions.
Your comparisons are the best on the Internet!
Wow, thank you! Please spread the word!
UAD LA-3A with the mix knob dialed a bit down might be the perfect one.
Thanks for the reply! Would that be your top choice?
@@MasterclaesVideos In this case, the hardware :D But I think the UAD captures the tone of the release and the snare right, only lacks that punch of the initial transient.
I really like my golden age comp 3a clone. It has a faster attack time then the la2a . On vocals it sounds great. 👌
Just ordered this one! Just for vocals 🎶🔥
Great shootout! Overloud has been killing it. Best modeling IMO. They are the first plug in where I really hear coloration on the sources I put it on. Please do an 1176 shootout. Overloud makes a great 1176. Their Fairchild is the best.
A shootout of 1176's is going to be a great challenge: because there are so many plug-ins doing an emulation. Please give me a list of the best emulations available and I'll see what I can do! But it would be a multi-video series, because where do I start?? With My Bluestripe against other Bluestripes and the my D vs Plug-in D's? Tell me your thoughts!
@@MasterclaesVideos Well the overloud models 3 1176 that you can select from (REV A (Blue) REV D and Rev F). Universal Audio has the blue stripe, rev E and rev AE (anniversary edition). Slate digital has the bluestripe and Rev D. Purple Audio MC 77 Models a REV H. Those are the best ones we have. Now waves has the blue stripe and revD but to be honest, they haven't updated those plug ins since they came out ten years ago. So I am not sure how fair it is to compare given the old modeling technology they used but you can include it anyway.
We definetely want to hear Model vs Model for accuracy. UAD, tho it models a rev E, I am sure most of us would not be bothered to still shoot that out against your rev D.
@@matthewray5343 ok nice list! An E and a D are the same except voor a 110/220V switch so that would do!
@@MasterclaesVideos Agreed, please do a multi series comparing different revisions. Especially Waves, Slate, UAD since they all did Blue Stripe and Rev D versions.
I think no one soundet like the hardware. Thanks for your shootout!
Overloud seems to have the nicest harmonics
Great shootout. I loved your silent, expressive gestures during playback! Overloud is def the closest to this hardware on this source.
Your "hardware resources" are quite impressive. All the emulations seem to attenuate the very low end of the kick. GREAT video!
The Urei sounds great.
Urei all the way! Overloud was surprisingly the closest though. GREAT video! So well articulated and set up to win. :)
Thanks!
Yep, still keeping my HW for sure.
I love all of your videos - and this is hands down the best LA3a analysis I have seen! Keep it going!
What you said about the hardware displaying ambience more is what I've noticed with 1176 plugins too.
I actually use uad 2254 plugins to reduce ambience if i have too much!
That Overloud sounds really good!
Time for UAD to compare their hardware to another one. That T4 makes an huge difference! Send them your video, Peter. They'll have to update theirs anyway.
UAD Just updated their LA-3 to what you see in the video!
Thanks for this wonderful and thoughtful comparison!
I really can’t understand why some plugin developers fail to realize the importance of a simple sidechain filter.
It shouldn’t be so hard to code it in every compressor and it helps tremendously when tuning your exact desired response.
Agree with overloud being the nicer sounding and more versatile... pleasantly surprised by waves, disapointed with the extremely fast attack from uad and interesting long release (dryer sounding) of black rooster.
If you’d allowed me to be (extremely) picky... i would say that there was a little, just a very very tiny loudness advantage in favour of the hardware that complicates an absolutely fair comparison, but it was really minimal and I got your point perfectly.
Thanks a lot!
Thanks! About the loudness: i measured every comp through izotope insight when setting up and also in post i was able to do that... the tollerances should have been within 0,3 dB. I think the hardware sounds louder due to the fact that there is more “ambience” retained in the sound. Thanks for the great comment!!
@@MasterclaesVideos yes of course, that's very probably the reason.
Mindblown by the overloud! Sounds fantastic to be honest. With a plugin like that there is no need to have a hardware unit (even tho its awesome to have one and i would have them if i could:)) I liked the CLA 3A a lot too, its tightness feels pretty modern whereas the Urei has a more vintage sound with its breathness and harmonic distortion.
Hi, thanks for the comment, I am
Mixing a song as we speak and instead of going to the CLA, I used the overloud. With it being on many tracks, the transparancy and character is more obvious than on one track. Do you have the overloud as well and what donyou use it on?
@@MasterclaesVideos I don't have it yet but i am considering on getting it for christmas as i need an LA2A too!
@@emesbiUAD la2a is free right now.
overloud is an amazing plugin brand. curious how purafied vu comp would sound against your urei's. great video!
Thanks for the tip! I will use it when i do the elaborate 1176 comparisson video!
LOVE the Overloud Comp LA, and it's on sale for one week only, until April 12. :) You're welcome!
bought it too. The 1176 is absolutely fantastic from Overload! All their Gems are fantastic! And they are all LOW-CPU! Unbelievable!
Thanks, Peter! I think you've just sold scores of the Overloud plugin! Many more features and, to my ears, the closest emulation!
Maybe one Day you can compare them to the golden age hardware version. Thanks. Good videos
The CLA nails the kick action of the hardware. That was enlightening, as I don’t have the latter. The UAD is really surprising, way too fast attack, losing all the charm of the hardware. I simply would never use it.
Waves gets a lot of crap, some of it for good reason, but folks that just dismiss their whole catalog as bad sounding are missing out on some great, ridiculously affordable tools. The CLA 3A is my favorite electric guitar comp and I own SO many really expensive compressor plugins. RBass gets used every single session haha, even though it’s OLD
Apogee 3A was missing, I did tests here and liked it more than the overload and waves
I'll never make that mistake again 😉.
@@MasterclaesVideos lol he told you
Hello, loved all the shootouts videos ! Any possibility for 1176 shootouts in the future ?
Great stuff,
Cheers
Hey there, yes a 1176 shootout is on the planning, I just need more time! Which video did you like the most?
@@MasterclaesVideos Hello, for me it was shootouts, la-2a, la-3a, microphones etc... Nobody is doing quality shootouts like that.
Great shootout! Crazy fast attack on the UAD. Why would they have done that?
Thanks for the comment! I think UAD had a T4 that was responding the way the plug-in is simulated...
let me assure you the uad fast attack is a bonus.you wont beat it on kick and snare....it allows all the transients to pop away
@@markward2436 aren’t those transients what we are looking for to get a punchy kick & snare?
@@MasterclaesVideos Yes, exactly what I was thinking. I can imagine that their T4 responded that way, but I still can't understand why they released something that different from the competition. And not in a good way. ;)
I feel the UAD LA2A is more uniform to the other ones, what do you think Claes?
@@MasterclaesVideos yep and in my 20 years of using every trick under the sun the uad la3a makes the transient pop like no other due its speed like the arouser or distressor.combined with spl transiet tool great results.even the most dense rock mix i never haver trouble getting the attack
Excellent video. Thank you for all the time you spent making this.
Overloud LA3A and 2A are on sale for $69
UAD LA3A on sale for $49
Great shootout
I just grabbed the Overloud
Thanks for the comment. Are you happy with your choice?
Keep uploading this type of plugins vs hardware comparison videos
its depressing how much better the real thing is.
Hardware easily slayed them all obviously.
Really interested in how the Apogee Opto-3A would stack up!
That was not available free for use in audio units. But please do te comparisons and let me know!
Surprisingly, None of them really nail it. The UAD gets the release, but botched the attack! Also, I'm going to have to try an la3a on snare next time I'm tracking. Sounded great!
Thanks Ian, Hardware kills it again ! Thanks for the nice comment!
Great videos and great gear. Thanks. I think I spot a pair of AML compressors in your rack. Nice.
Hi John, They are not AML compressors, but a Vintage racked pair of Neve 2254e's
Overloud is not quite there. After matching levels and EQ matching, I can still pick out the Urei blind. Maybe it's a different amount of compression but I doubt it. Urei is quite nice. Is your Gates unit modded for fast release with the 1.5Meg resistors swapped in on R36 and R37?
Hi Dirk, thanks for your comment… in the meantime i sold the gates, maybe now that I know the release time can be modded, I’ll give it another try!
Really great demo. Thanks again.
Thanks for the comment, what is your favorite?
@@MasterclaesVideos I can’t remember lol.
Fantastic comparison Peter, what about an Audioscape test ? It seems their hardware clones, mostly their UA ones are on top, but there's no technicall comparison over internet like you do man. Keep up the good work dude !
If you know the people from Audioscape and can convince them to send me their clones, I will be happy to make a video about them!
@@MasterclaesVideos I'm trying to catch myself a piece of gear from them since ages... without no success. It seems they only make their products available to the USA market, as their time zone inventory it's usually at 8pm there overseas, but at 3-4am over here. Rest time. Keep posting these fantastic in-depth tests !
Hi Peter,
you forgot to turn on the noise on Waves Plugin.
I don't know if that would have changed the sound, but it was closer to the hardware.
I think your lectures are very good!
Hi Eugen, It would get the plugin closer to the original on the noise level, but not the overall character, thanks!
What a great video. Thank you for sharing. I'm on my own journey to improve my recording/mixing skills and videos like this truly are masterclaeses. Cheers to you for sharing! Thank you.
Masterclaeses you mean! 😃
@@MasterclaesVideos Indeed I did!!! Editing now!
Hi Joe, I can also help you on a personal basis by doing a 1-on-1 session over zoom. If you are interested, let me know: info@masterclaes.be
This was great. I do feel like software compression still has a way to go to be close to hardware compression. EQ wise software is basically the same as hardware, to me at least.
Indeed! It is easier to emulate eq’s than compressors, especially if they are more complex like an LA-3A
Great video and comparison of the various Compressor/Limiters. There's nothing yet that can replace real hardware units, their character and personality have yet to be perfectly emulate. That being said the Overloud is the closest to the real thing. The software plugins seem to lack the space because of the slower attack time of the hardware.
I think ima end up getting the overloud plugins
Hi, thanks for the comment! 🙏🙏🙏
I love to hear your hardware against the Audioscape clones
Overloud sounded very much like the real thing w/ a slightly better sounding(punchier) low end to the kick. I found they all sounded like they lost air compared to the real one so I listened again turning the volume up slightly for each plugin & felt like I could better compare them that way.
That’s what i usualy miss in most plugins: air and depth… do you agree?
I fell the atack time in digital much more fast than analog , but the original is fantastic . the UAD is more next .
Hey Fernando, thanks for the comment. Which plugin is your favorite compared to the hardware?
@ i like cla3a and la3a uad
your review videos are a true reference! Thank you for keeping such a professional level! One of my favourite LAs is the LA-4 emulation from Fuse Audio Labs. Could you have a look at that one, even though I don't expect you to have a real one?
Hi Johannes, yeah sorry but if i cannot compare it to a real one, than there is no use doing a review.
Wow, the Uad sounds totally off. I like the Overloud and the Waves one. Doesn´t sound exactly like the hardware but pretty usable and nice.
Thank you for sharing all these knowledge
the plugins sound tighter and have less depth.. the hardware sound more relaxed and so much bigger it's almost as having a bit of reverb, the sound is fuller and longer.
Yeah! Good way of describing it!
True!
It'd be interesting to compare an oversampled Waves plugin using Metaplugin with Overloud LA Comp. I have been quite surprised when oversampling Waves plugins. Most of what they lack, specially compressors, it's just due to lack of internal oversampling.
Hi, thanjs for the message! Have you compared the dsp load between the overloud and the Metaplug with waves?
Hardware wins. What's your favorite hdw tracking compressor? Can you make some recommendations. Do u like la3a for vocal n instruments tracking?
Hi Zane, thanks for the comment. My favorites are either the CL-1b or an LA2. I mainly use my LA-3’s on Kick and snare with an 1178 on overheads.
Knob sensitivity is an underrated feature 😏
What i believe but might be wrong, is that the Hardware has some noise-hiss
that gives it an "airy" open feeling which the plugins do not seem to model but i might be hearing wrong
Hi, it depends on what you are listening on... if i listen to it on good headphones or my studio monitors, I hear more “ambience” with the hardware, on a phone it might sound like hiss...
@@MasterclaesVideos i listened on dt1990pro. Maybe “hiss” is the wrong word. What i am trying to say is only a theory of mine as i lack the actuall technical knowledge tbh so it might sound stupid. Imho hardware , especially older devices
Add “something” extra that is not on the original signal in the form of non linearities, circuit noise and also i think one thing that is being underestimated is the line output amp on all analog hardware, even on older walkmans, has a lot of influence on the output character. While plugins “work with what they have got” and color less,, in a way.
@@saardean4481 the modification is not perfect, they still are a bit noisy, so that’s probably what you are hearing. Good judgment!
@@MasterclaesVideos well now I feel better. You know how it sometimes is when you hear something but can't grasp it 100% but you know its there. Thank you for the insight! Love your channel btw
@@saardean4481 please subscribe!
Thank You very much!
Super informative and to the point! great job! subscribed!
Many thanks! What is your favourite?
@@MasterclaesVideosLA3 - infrequently. My favourite vocal chain is: low cut filter - 1176 - eq - vari Mu or optical compressor (sometimes it’s LA3))
May I ask why you use the eq between both compressors?
@@MasterclaesVideos the first compressor (1176) with slow attack and fast release is for better articulation, then I use an eq to correct and boost some frequencies that I need to, then I use opto or vari Mu compressor for better sit vocal in mix. I don’t use too much compression on both compressors.
Personal impressions before playing beyond 14:00 : Waves loses a bit of tail, slower release maybe? UAD what the hell is with all those armonics, seems like someone has forgotten a danish cookies box near the drum. Overloud seems on the right way, maybe it has a bit more of bottom end and like the Waves, it loses a bit on the decay. BR too many mids.
To me, being the LA-3A a less popular module than, say, 1176 or EQP1, it seems that developers have also spent less effort in making a faithful emulation. Which is not a bad thing in itself, I don't think there is a "best sound" nor that "hardware is better", but for now if one is looking for the very LA3A sound, no plugin among these four can really recreate it, imho. But if I were forced to choose, I'd go for the Overloud.
Thanks for the reply! What would your top 3 be?
I've seen you have Binson Echorec can you do a video on that one.
Thanks for these videos. Please do a 2500 comparison!! I'm looking at the new 2500+, curious your thoughts if it's worth the investment (iI'm assuming it is, if you still own the 2500) Cheers
Agreed the UAD is slower but EQ wise it's also the one that doesn't change much from the original, most of the other ones are darker and a bit dull compared to the Urei which is very lively. It also seems less narrow than the others. The CLA is pretty good too but narrower, tighter and a bit less bright. Overloud good compressor feature but definitely darker and a bit dull. Too bad you didn't play acoustic guitars through them it would have been very interesting to hear with a richer harmonic content. Thanks for the great video!
I like the "Waves" Plugin...and i think you came maybe more to the original sound, when you
modify the Peak Reduce. or Input Gain ...than the result is maybe better?
But the Overloud is in my Opinion the Winner too!!
more of these please
Great job P (especially the technical explanation )
Great video. Have you compared UA LA2A vs Golden Age LA2A . Thx .
For price difference.
Have you ever tried LA2A kit some creative guys they put together.
Thx .
No I haven’t... but i did with the IGS LA-2A and i reeaaaaally liked that one!
@@MasterclaesVideos thx for replying.
I just subscribed your channel, it's great .
Teletronix is very expensive for a hobby, but GA is affordable. That's the reason why I'm leaning towards it.
I have the mic preamp, for the price I can't complain.
Thx again.
Thanks for this! Is there anyway to download the session files?
There is not… sorry… but i will do that on my future video’s. Which one would you pick?
Hey, fijne videos!
Ik zag dat je een fabfilter gebruiken bent, misschien een leuk idee voor een video om naar die plug-ins te kijken en hoe ze zich onderscheiden van andere plug-ins en hardware randapparatuur.
I noticed in the Black Rooster Audio one, the VST was set to comp instead of limit. Could that explain the slow release time you were mentioning?
If I am not mistaking, they are all set to COMP. A higher ratio can have an effect on the release time, but not in this case since they were all calibrated to do the same amount of gain reduction.
Why did you not use the Slate FG-3A in this shootout?
At the time of the making there was no FG-3 if i can recall correctly. At this date there is also no FG-3 to be found on their website. So probably that’s the reason. Which was your favorite?
great video will be waiting for more you remind me of andrew scheps the way you act
Wow thank you! If you appreciate my effort please subscribe to my channel!
would if you would have added the analog 50 or 60 on the cla3a? maybe the air would show?
It would only generate 50 or 60 cycles of hum… what was your favorite?
Good video, surprisling the UAD sounded alot different. Really squashed...Thanks for sharing....Sub this guy!
The settings were *WAY* hotter than the others. I don't know why he didn't adjust them. You can clearly see how much hotter the signal is coming in. Default != equal.
Fantastic job on this video, great information!
Thanks, which is your favorite?
@@MasterclaesVideos I think UAD nails the character the best, but obviously the attack time is very different.
Waves and Overloud are both good in their own right.
I didn't like the Rooster as much.
Htere's a insane diffrence... why emilate?
I had an LA-3A left over here in the house from my Dad's studio after he passed. I was young and dumb and gave it away.
so sad and sorry you lost your pop.
What dB setting (30 or 50) do you use for the UREI? Do yo have make the Bob Clearmountain modification?
Oh that my friend is explained in the video... 😉
So the fact that you explaining the Bob Clearmountain modidication and shows and tell the standard setting you mean that you using the modification because it would be to noisy for the previous owner and even for you.
Yes, you need the mid for them to become less noisy. Yes I use it with the 50dB setting
Overloud, well done!
So why analog 3a was in more gain then plug-ins? And what a HF counter setup was on plugins?
Hi Viktor, it all has to do with the internal calibration, non of my LA-3’s, LA-2’s or 1176’s set up in exactly the same way, nor do they sound the same because they are analog and run out of calibration after a while, but they all sound fantastic in their own way. Don’t you think so?
The HF setup was the same where possible. Not really relevant with a 1kHz test tone…
Analog Obsession Lala > Overloud 2A. Surprised you left it out, since it's basically free.
At the time of making the video, The lala was not available as AU (i explained that in the video)
how does the LA-3a compare to the compressor on the SSL 6 Peter Claes?
They both compress and that’s where the similarity ends... The comp of the SiX is VCA based and much faster...
great video!
Thank you! Which one would you choose?
The First audio problem is low sampling rate and FPGA/CPU bogging down apparently. The Plugins need 96K or better to help cut latency and improve accuracy. Second, nothing like the real analog balanced hardware to print drums. It's hard to know that all these plugins could not be tweaked a bit to "copy" the hardware including meters. Third A note for Plugin Software Developers: The evolution of these plugins for compression should offer quick Switch between LA2A, LA3A, 1176, SSL 4000, Dbx160, NEVE 500, and Fairchild. Then a multiband digital compressor.
hello Peter, do you know if the actual new updated UAD native version has slower attack time then dsp version you tested here ?
Hi Fausto, I should give it a try, I don’t know if they updated the plugin. Give me some time and I will check!
@@MasterclaesVideos no prob thanks for reply, keep up with your good job here 👍 i'll probably would try the demo too
@@MasterclaesVideos just to inform finally had chance to make a comparison thanks to a friend that owns Apollo interface. And i can report the new native version of LA-3A plugin has slower attack time and faster release than the older DSP version. Now considering what i can hear in your test i guess the closer and better compromise to the real thing is probably the Overloud plugin. I look forward to have a test between Comp LA and UADx LA-3A 😎
great A/B and good info!
Thank you! any chances to do this on female vocals? bass?
Hi Alice, making a video like this will take about one week of (almost) non-paid labour. What I can do is if you send me audio files, i can run them through my gear for a small fee and you can have a listen to the results.
would be great, thanks! how can I reach you?
@@duoluabrasil info@masterclaes.be at your service!
Have you messaged me?
Its hard to beat the hardware!
Thanks for the comment! Which plugin would you choose if you had to pick one?
Whats your calibration method to get the same amount of compression and level makeup?
With insight as explained in the video 😉
But how much does your converters and cabling influence the sound
Well if the hardware still sounds better than the plug-ins time after time in each review video... what’s the influence? Maybe different converters and cables will give a different result, but still the character of the Urei surpasses that discussion.
very sharp analysis thanks for that video ... I've just discover you channel -Instant subscription ! Have you tried London Acoustic's Brighton that goes for Acustica Audio's Nebula ? Became my go to ...
i'd be pleased to see you check Acustica Audio's stuff VS hardware . They have a bunch of incredible gear emulations that you can compare with what i see on your back
- Pultec vs Purple
-Neve 2254 VS Gold
-Tubetech VS Titanium
-Avalon VS Amber
-Massenburg VS Green
I just purchased a tele m82. Do you like it? I'm still messing with the settings.
I leave it flat and use a bit of EQ on the desk!
Thanks awesome stuff!
Overloud and then waves
Hello.. Anybody know what mic is on the 1st channel of the SSL SiX ?
It is my shure dualplex lavalier mic
@@MasterclaesVideos thank you mate!
@@MasterclaesVideos how does it cnnect to xlr? Is it modded ?
@@sinyodrumboy no it has an xlr to tiny xlr converter
I'm sure if I left the names in reverse, the uad plugin with the hardware name in the video. Many would find that the hardware sounds better without knowing that it is really a sample of the plugin, Many comment only for sujestion, finding a big difference between both, Even though it is only a prejudice to know that one is the plugin and the other is the hardware.
fantastic video!!! Thx a lot for that!