NPD: Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A pedal

[smatanovic]

I’ve had UA’s 1176 pedal for about a year and Ive come to like it. I’ve also been looking for a smoother, more squishy and analog compression sound but don’t want the fragility of tubes, so I figured I would try the 1176’s sibling, the LA-2A.

This morning I put them both on the compact board that I keep at my office. I figure I will get very little done today due to pre-election jitters, so I might as well do some A/B compressor testing to calm my nerves.

I played through the new pedal for about half an hour last night, and found it very musical and less sharp than the 1176. I will run them through their paces today and see what’s what.

 

[Verticos]

If you have any desire to, I'd love to know how they are in tandem. Do they work well for "the trick"?

I had no idea that these little things exist - curious to hear more about how you like them!

 

[fivestringgecko]

Subscribed out of curiosity about both pedals, for a while now. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

5sg.

 

[MojoPin]

I don't really like how digital pedals are all selling for basically the same price as analog pedals, though these area little cheaper depending on which compressor you are comparing them to. I know they sound great but I bet BOTH of those compressors have the exact same chip running their compression, the only difference is the compression emulation running on them. I won't get any single digital pedal for this reason, multi-effects only for digital ANYTHING imo.

 

[Mr. Business]

I’ve been interested in trying this pedal.

 

[LowendG]

Interesting. For me, the LA-2A is the studio comp for bass. Since I don't own one, the Waves plug-in gets me there pretty well in my DAW. I will have to check this out.

 

[fundando]

man if this thing had balanced in and outs it would be hitting the signal chain for so many other instruments.

 

[smatanovic]

I don't really like how digital pedals are all selling for basically the same price as analog pedals, though these area little cheaper depending on which compressor you are comparing them to. I know they sound great but I bet BOTH of those compressors have the exact same chip running their compression, the only difference is the compression emulation running on them. I won't get any single digital pedal for this reason, multi-effects only for digital ANYTHING imo.

I will say, they both sound appreciably better than any of the compressors that come in the POD Express.

As for comparisons, the TC Spectra Comp has been my go-to recently, so both of these require some getting used to. That said, so far I prefer the LA-2A with this board. Compression feels more musical and squishy, which is what I wanted. My board at home centers around a Hagerman Valve and SGT-DI, so I will experiment some more tonight, and see what comes of it. The valve already gives natural tube compression and sag, so the LA-2A might be too soft.

 

[smatanovic]

If you have any desire to, I'd love to know how they are in tandem. Do they work well for "the trick"?

I had no idea that these little things exist - curious to hear more about how you like them!

UA makes a pedal called Max, which has both compressors, in addition to a dynacomp. @scubaduba didn’t review it well at all, but it certainly would work as you suggest.

 

[Verticos]

UA makes a pedal called Max, which has both compressors, in addition to a dynacomp. @scubaduba didn’t review it well at all, but it certainly would work as you suggest.

Man, Scuba's opening paragraph totally echoes how I'd feel about this comp just by looking at the specs. It's a shame about the issues and UA's apparent lack of care.

 

[johnk_10]

i have both the UA 1176 and LA-2 comps and really like both of them.

 

[ravlin]

I don't really like how digital pedals are all selling for basically the same price as analog pedals, though these area little cheaper depending on which compressor you are comparing them to. I know they sound great but I bet BOTH of those compressors have the exact same chip running their compression, the only difference is the compression emulation running on them. I won't get any single digital pedal for this reason, multi-effects only for digital ANYTHING imo.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm compressor shopping and thought the 1176 might be an alternative to the Cali76 I'm considering.
Agreement rant: I completely agree that multieffects are the only way digital makes sense, I've had only bad luck with my digital pedals (bought not knowing it was digital) running anywhere but the front of my signal chain, not to mention the power supply noise they introduce (the only pedal that needs to be isolated). Seems these days unless the marketing clearly states "100% analog signal path" it isn't.
That leaves me to decide between an Accountant and a Diamond, each of which I like on paper for different reasons. Also considering the Wampler Ego76 but can't find analog confirmation on the page...

 

[fundando]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm compressor shopping and thought the 1176 might be an alternative to the Cali76 I'm considering.
Agreement rant: I completely agree that multieffects are the only way digital makes sense, I've had only bad luck with my digital pedals (bought not knowing it was digital) running anywhere but the front of my signal chain, not to mention the power supply noise they introduce (the only pedal that needs to be isolated). Seems these days unless the marketing clearly states "100% analog signal path" it isn't.
That leaves me to decide between an Accountant and a Diamond, each of which I like on paper for different reasons. Also considering the Wampler Ego76 but can't find analog confirmation on the page...

You will not regret purchasing the Cali 76. Tons of control and really easy to dial in using the lights when I switch basses.

 

[eeyorebass]

Also considering the Wampler Ego76 but can't find analog confirmation on the page...

Ego76 is most definitely an analog pedal. I don't think any of Wampler's designs are digital.

 

[ravlin]

Jerry at Wampler con

Ego76 is most definitely an analog pedal. I don't think any of Wampler's designs are digital.

firmed via email.

Edit: I don't know how I got the quote in the middle of the sentence but I'm leaving it.

 

[paskisti]

I don't really like how digital pedals are all selling for basically the same price as analog pedals, though these area little cheaper depending on which compressor you are comparing them to. I know they sound great but I bet BOTH of those compressors have the exact same chip running their compression, the only difference is the compression emulation running on them. I won't get any single digital pedal for this reason, multi-effects only for digital ANYTHING imo.

In digital pedal it depends on the programming, not the used processor as long as it is suitable for signal processing. You are correct that why to make single feature pedal when they can add more features easily in digital design. They doesn't need to be multi effects, but at least midi control, and several presets should be added for design just because digital can have added value.

When we talk about good compressors, they can be analog or digital, and I would check out Source Audio Atlas compressor (digital, but top design). You do not need to use all features if you don't like, but they are there for future needs. It has 6 default compressor engines even without using Neuro Editor software so most of us would find one or two to favor just by selecting presets in pedal and adjusting for taste.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Ego76 is most definitely an analog pedal. I don't think any of Wampler's designs are digital.

You’re correct about the Ego76, but Wampler does have some digital pedals.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

I have not tried UAFX's 1176, but I have an LA-2A and I love that pedal. On one of my boards, I have the Empress at the beginning of the signal chain, which is a 1776 clone in a pedal format, and after the dirt pedals (Boss OC-2, Aguilar Agro, Aguilar Filter Twin, and Minifooger MF Ring) I have the LA-2A. I use both compressors in parallel mode and they are always on. After the LA-2A, I have my UAFX Starlight Echo Station, UAFX Golden Reverberator, Blackstar Dept 10 Boost (tube), tc Electronic Flashback for Looper/Reverse Delay effects and EHX Freeze pedals. LA-2A is surprisingly smooth and transparent while its compression, even at higher Peak levels, is not muddy or squashy at all. In comparison to my Effectrode PC-2A pedal, I want to "not" like this pedal, but every time I try them side by side I end up preferring this one strictly!

 

[MojoPin]

In digital pedal it depends on the programming, not the used processor as long as it is suitable for signal processing. You are correct that why to make single feature pedal when they can add more features easily in digital design. They doesn't need to be multi effects, but at least midi control, and several presets should be added for design just because digital can have added value.

When we talk about good compressors, they can be analog or digital, and I would check out Source Audio Atlas compressor (digital, but top design). You do not need to use all features if you don't like, but they are there for future needs. It has 6 default compressor engines even without using Neuro Editor software so most of us would find one or two to favor just by selecting presets in pedal and adjusting for taste.

Unless the digital pedal offered more than one or two effects I'm just not interested. Multiple digital pedals add too much noise imo and it would need to be something that did way more than 1 or 2 things for me to be interested in it plus would have to be incredibly reasonable price wise. I have an Hx Stomp and in terms of functionality it's AMAZING and it's the only digital pedal I need atm, it does SO much. It goes on my board when playing guitar, experimenting on bass or if I just need some modulation/delay/reverb on bass.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

The ability to do multiple simultaneous effects is entirely dependent on the hardware implementation. Just because it's "digital" does not mean the processor can handle all the independent threads or has the necessary cache or off-board memory to handle multiple effects threads at once. If you want really deep processing at a "reasonable" cost (whatever that is to you), don't expect to get a generic implementation that can run multiple effects. And if you do want that, then you're gonna have to deal with menus and lots of extra user interface instead of dedicated user inputs.

Sure, UA could sell you a pedal that can do everything REALLY well, but you won't want to pay for it when you can buy a get-the-job-done-maybe Zoom for a lot less. And there's no way in the world you're going to get even close to an authentic LA-2A or 1176 in a small format pedal without extensive DSP. Sure, you can capture the vibe with modern SMT analog components, but you're not getting UA plug-in quality from a small analog pedal. DPS can get you a lot closer to the real thing.

I don't have any UA gear whatsoever, but I've experienced it in studios and I do appreciate their technical approach. I also understand the hardware limitations of DSP. It's not actually magic, and nothing is free - even with software.