Description
With its gentle, program dependent optical compression, and meticulously designed tube amplifier, the LA-2A is the go-to compressor for professional mixers around the world. In 2001, Universal Audio set the standard in analog emulation with the original UAD LA-2A plug-in.
Today, UA’s engineers have redesigned the LA-2A plug-in with more obsessive detail. The LA-2A Classic Leveler Plug-In Collection features immaculate models of three highly sought-after LA-2A units, giving you the most authentic emulations ever of this iconic compressor.
The Teletronix Story
Teletronix founder Jim Lawrence first used photocells for controlling audio gain in the early 1960s. His ingenious optical compression design was a technological breakthrough, far surpassing the stability and transparency of earlier circuits. Universal Audio founder M.T. ”Bill” Putnam later purchased this patented technology, continuing to manufacture the LA-2A for years to come.
Three Historical Units
The Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection puts three of the most coveted incarnations of the iconic Teletronix processor at your fingertips. Like the hardware, the LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and LA-2 models offer distinct variations in time constants, compression knee, headroom, distortion, program and frequency dependence, and more.
LA-2A Silver & Gray
With a brushed aluminum panel and original T4B gain reduction module, this cherished late-1960s “Silver” version of the LA-2A, manufactured by Bill Putnam, is perhaps the most flexible of the three plug-ins in the collection. Its fast time constant makes it suitable for the widest variety of program material, including transient-rich sources like drums and percussion. Jim Lawrence’s original mid-1960s “Gray” version the LA-2A maintains a more average time constant, providing a range of “medium-speed” compression.
The Original LA-2
The exceptionally rare, early 1960s LA-2 unit preceded the LA-2A by several years. It provides the slowest response and a unique “mellowed” sound due to 50 years of luminescent panel aging inside the T4 module. Use the LA-2 with legato tempos and vocal sources for a transparency and sublime mood unlike any other compressor.
Key Benefits
- Use any audio interface, with both UAD Native and Apollo Realtime/UAD-2 versions included
- Track and mix with three historic versions of revered Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifiers—LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and original LA-2—each with its own distinctive sonic attributes
- Record through a Teletronix LA-2A/LA-2 in real time with Apollo interfaces
- Dial-in ideal optical compression textures for vocals, bass, drums, and more
- Harness presets from LA-2A users Ross Hogarth, Darrell Thorp, and Vance Powell
Native UAD System Requirements
Included Version
UAD Native Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.
UAD Spark and Native UAD System Requirements
- (Mac) macOS 10.15 Catalina, 11 Big Sur, 12 Monterey, or 13 Ventura
- (Windows) Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit editions)
- Intel, AMD or Apple silicon processor
- Internet connection to download software and authorize native UAD plug-ins
- Free iLok account with iLok Cloud or iLok USB (2nd generation or higher)
- Free UA Connect application for managing native UAD plug-ins
Native UAD Instruments Requirements
- Sample-based UAD instruments require SSD storage with:
- APFS formatting (Mac)
- NTFS formatting (Windows)
- 1 GB to 10 GB available SSD storage (space requirement varies per UAD Instrument)
- Individual UAD Instrument storage requirements are listed on UA Connect’s UAD Plug-Ins tab
Notes
Operating systems not listed above are untested. Although untested operating systems may work, they are not supported by Universal Audio.
Pre-release and beta versions of operating systems are not supported.
Native UAD plug-ins on Apple silicon Macs automatically run natively on Apple silicon in DAWs that support native Apple silicon.
Windows running via Bootcamp on Mac systems are not supported.