cclarry
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 17:12:32
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I have to agree...it is definitely THE best Cakewalk Pro Channel Module to date...
I'm hoping the trend toward "higher" quality from Cake continues...
not that the PC4K stuff was bad, or the CC Limiter, but this one REALLY shines out of all
of them...
I agree...I hope more 3rd Party Plugs go PC included with VST like Softube did with
the mix pack....hope Softube also gets more of their plugs in the PC as well...
That would definitely be bonus...
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mixmkr
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 17:58:06
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and is the VC 64 now obsolete?...or just needing too much oomph to run it a lot?...or just meant for mix busses?
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vintagevibe
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 19:58:29
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wizard71
How does it compare to the TRacks white? I already have that and am wondering if its worth the purchase?
Bibs
What wizard71 said.
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Teds_Studio
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 20:05:05
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I haven't taken the time to read each response here....but....YES...it is very well worth it.
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tbosco
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 20:40:45
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tacman... thanks for your post. It alerted me to the sale. Now I'm a proud owner of the PC2A! Anxious to try it out.
Cheers! Tony SONAR Platinum JNCS Computer with Asus X99 Motherboard (i7) Win10 Pro 64bit, 32GB RAM Motif XF7, Komplete 11, Ozone 7, Komplete Kontrol 88 keys, Softube Console 1, PreSonus Faderport 8, Focusrite ISA 430 Mk 2 Mic Pre, Yamaha HS8s and Sub Drawmer 3.1 Monitor Controller Fractal Axe FX 2 XL Guitar Processor Lots-o-Guitars
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jb101
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 20:51:06
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tbosco
tacman... thanks for your post. It alerted me to the sale. Now I'm a proud owner of the PC2A! Anxious to try it out.
Tell us what you think when you've had a chance to use it - I love it. Same goes for anyone else who bought it. I got it on the initial sale when it was released, and use it a lot. Not every track, but certainly every project.
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Muziekschuur at home
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 21:31:17
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Even if you have the Tracks... The convenience allone .... You should get this Cakewalk La2a.
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Jeff M.
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:02:37
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I needed an LA2A-type comp and this was one of the few on my radar, so I snapped it up.
Initial test on a drum track - I like it a lot.
I expected it to be more transparent than say, the comp in DNR Mix Control Pro or the PC76 comp, and it is.
This will get a lot of use, for sure.
Platinum 64 RME UCX | Studio Cat Platinum: i7 2700k @ 4.5Ghz | 16Gb DDR3 | Win 7 64Komplete Kontrol S61 Gibson, Jackson, Parker, Suhr, Breedlove, Taylor, Lakland, Peavey, Marshall, Kemper
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Splat 
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:25:00
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Damn you guys, after listening to all of you I had to spend some more hard earned cash.
Thankyou!
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Beepster
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:27:55
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Did a VERY quick test just to take a listen. In retrospect this might have been a chain thing but I tried it on a bass track... didn't seem to do much. Then I tried it on a distorted rhythm track. Same deal. Tried it on a lead track... could notice it a little more but not much. So I said screw it and tried it on the master buss... whoa. Lots going on there. So I'm assuming as I said it either inserts itself by default in a weird spot on tracks or it is an extremely subtle yet cumulative effect. It did really slick up a really raw un-EQd un-mixed track in a very drastic way on the master though so I'll say it's certainly doing something and it's good. Just gotta learn how to use it. I also don't think these are the type of tracks it's at home on... except for the master. I didn't really anticipate this being a buss compressor though. Hmmmm... so much to learn. :-/
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Beepster
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:29:01
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And cumulative may not be the right word as it was only on the master but I don't know how else to describe it. It was very dramatic there though.
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daryl1968
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:33:16
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Beep - did you play with the dials? The effect should be pretty pronounced on tracks and buses
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Beepster
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/19 22:53:38
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I was tweaking and freakin' them like beeples. The only time it had a drastic effect was on the Master. I'll play with it more this weekend and see what's up. It did make that Master tighten up quite nicely though.
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Psychobillybob
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 03:38:36
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I think it is very good, compared to the UAD LA2A, it seems to be a little cleaner (which is by design I'm sure)...
Here's the deal, Waves/UAD/Etc...all these other vendors are probably 2-3 times more expensive...BUT (and as Pee Wee Herman says "Everyone has a BIG BUTT") the cost for this as a native plug in your already purchased DAW is a NO BRAINER...
If you can scrap the moola together to get it for this price you will never regret it...basically for the cost of 10 lattes...you get a really good emulation of a $2000.00 Vactrol Compressor that is legendary...
I think UAD does an outstanding job on their stuff the Pultec is one of the very best EQ's you can slap on a track, but the entrance price and the price to remain current is kinda steep with those guys and frankly I'm tired of it...I own a lot of UAD1 stuff and its beginning to feel kind of useless from a support point of view...which makes me not want to give them any more money...
The Bakers on the other hand...seem to be giving great product for the price...
You will not find a better La2A for this price and it keeps up with all the big boys...
Well worth it.
I'm using SOnar Platinium on a 6 core Lynx Audio machine and a ton of vintage pre-amps/eq's/comps I build for fun and sometimes money, REDD.47/API/Neve I also use the UAD stuff, and also use a Macbook Logic 9 through Apogee...
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sharke
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 03:47:50
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Beepster
I was tweaking and freakin' them like beeples. The only time it had a drastic effect was on the Master. I'll play with it more this weekend and see what's up. It did make that Master tighten up quite nicely though.
Sometimes, when I think I cannot hear what a compressor is doing, I turn the volume down real low and do an A/B and all of a sudden it becomes apparent. Compression is probably the hardest effect to master, in terms of listening skills. It's oftentimes I will sense the effect almost subconsciously without being able to put into words what it's doing. Sometimes I cannot tell whether or not a compressor is making an improvement until it catches me unawares on a later listening and I think "boy this track is sounding really coherent now."
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mrneil2
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 07:16:54
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Just got it, love it. Hope they do the same with the Concrete Limiter!!!!
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tbosco
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 09:13:28
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Actually... I am sometimes under the impression yer NOT supposed to hear the compressor... it's just supposed to quietly do its thing... LOL (Someone told me if ya can hear it, yer doin' something wrong.) That's true sometimes, I'm sure. Thoughts?
BTW- The Concrete Limiter works GREAT!
Cheers! Tony SONAR Platinum JNCS Computer with Asus X99 Motherboard (i7) Win10 Pro 64bit, 32GB RAM Motif XF7, Komplete 11, Ozone 7, Komplete Kontrol 88 keys, Softube Console 1, PreSonus Faderport 8, Focusrite ISA 430 Mk 2 Mic Pre, Yamaha HS8s and Sub Drawmer 3.1 Monitor Controller Fractal Axe FX 2 XL Guitar Processor Lots-o-Guitars
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wormser
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 10:44:07
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This works on Sonar X2 Producer as well, correct? IOW there is no Sonar X2 "Expanded". Unless I missed something :)
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 10:55:04
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tbosco
Actually... I am sometimes under the impression yer NOT supposed to hear the compressor... it's just supposed to quietly do its thing... LOL (Someone told me if ya can hear it, yer doin' something wrong.) That's true sometimes, I'm sure. Thoughts?
BTW- The Concrete Limiter works GREAT!
Just reading this thread through and I was about to post exactly the same thing.........
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tacman7
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:00:22
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Thanks Everyone!
Just bought it, I was away and forgot about this post but got back in time.
I use the UAD LA2A a lot on my XP/UAD computer so this should be nice to have on the Win7 machine.
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Beepster
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:06:29
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Heh. Yeah I get the light as possible compression philosophy but usually when you reef on the knobbies you get some drastic results which I wasn't on the tracks which I found odd especially on the ultra distorted guitars. This is a scorching metal song so hearing the compression a bit is somewhat desirable (IMO). Like I said when I tossed it on the master it was very noticeable and turning it up really tightened everything up so it definitely works.
However that's not exactly why I bought it but I don't have any acoustic/vocal tracks to play with yet. That'll come after this bleeping metal song is finished (only got the outro solo left and I've got a theme mapped out... just need to record a good take of it.)
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:16:04
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I think you should definitely be able to hear the PC2A if you abuse it. It is a great compressor without a doubt. My favourite in the PC anyway.
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michaelhanson
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:25:22
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It's been my favorite as well. It has been on nearly every vocal and acoustic track since I got it. It does something really nice to vocals. I remember Craig Anderton had a thread going a couple of weeks ago where he basically said the same thing...using it on all of his vocals lately.
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meh
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:29:37
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Sometimes, when I think I cannot hear what a compressor is doing, I turn the volume down real low and do an A/B and all of a sudden it becomes apparent. Compression is probably the hardest effect to master, in terms of listening skills. It's oftentimes I will sense the effect almost subconsciously without being able to put into words what it's doing. Sometimes I cannot tell whether or not a compressor is making an improvement until it catches me unawares on a later listening and I think "boy this track is sounding really coherent now." sharke
I will second that!
I bought this when it first became available and use it for all kinds of track and bus "warming" ... I have found this to be a welcome tool for all kinds of subtle sweetening.
meh
p.s but I still can't get the hang of this forum software :-(
SONAR Version 2017.09
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FastBikerBoy
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 11:30:48
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meh
Sometimes, when I think I cannot hear what a compressor is doing, I turn the volume down real low and do an A/B and all of a sudden it becomes apparent. Compression is probably the hardest effect to master, in terms of listening skills. It's oftentimes I will sense the effect almost subconsciously without being able to put into words what it's doing. Sometimes I cannot tell whether or not a compressor is making an improvement until it catches me unawares on a later listening and I think "boy this track is sounding really coherent now."
sharke
I will second that!
I bought this when it first became available and use it for all kinds of track and bus "warming" ... I have found this to be a welcome tool for all kinds of subtle sweetening.
meh
p.s but I still can't get the hang of this forum software :-(
LOL... no kidding. 
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scook
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 12:04:43
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wormser
This works on Sonar X2 Producer as well, correct? IOW there is no Sonar X2 "Expanded". Unless I missed something :)
Yes, it works in X2 Producer or X1 Producer Expanded.
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wormser
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 12:42:26
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Windows 8 x64 Intel i7 950 3.06ghz 6 GB DDR3 1333(1066) OCZ memory Gigabyte X58A-UD3R v.2.0 Delta 66. Seagate 1.0tb drives x4 OS, Audio, VST, Backup Stuff. Mackie MCU Pro Latest. Faderport. Sonar X2, PreSonus 2.x, Reaper.
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Teds_Studio
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 13:31:13
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Me too Karl. I was always taught that if you can hear a comp working....you don't have it set right. That is unless you're looking for that "pumping" sound.
FastBikerBoy
tbosco
Actually... I am sometimes under the impression yer NOT supposed to hear the compressor... it's just supposed to quietly do its thing... LOL (Someone told me if ya can hear it, yer doin' something wrong.) That's true sometimes, I'm sure. Thoughts?
BTW- The Concrete Limiter works GREAT!
Just reading this thread through and I was about to post exactly the same thing.........
ASRock X99 Extreme4 MB....Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 4 GB DDR 5.....Intel i7 5820k 3.3 Ghz....Corsair RM850i power supply....3 Seagate 1TB SATA III drives....32 Gig G.Skill Ripjaws DDR4 3000.....Win 10 Pro.....Sonar X1 Producer Exp & X2, X3...Platinum....Superior Drummer 2 & 3 w/ N.Y. Vol 2 SDX.....Sony VEGAS Pro 11.0 32 & 64 bit Pro 12.....Sony VX2100.....Sony HVR-Z7U....Sony HDR-CX130....Alesis HD24....Behringer X32 console....Focusrite 18i20....JBL LSR2328P studio monitors with LSR2310P sub.
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Chrisma
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 14:15:03
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That's the thing I like about this compressor...you see the gain reduction happening yet it doesn't sound like it is compressing (at least not much as what the needle shows). It just simply gives takes with sustained notes a smooth transparent energy making the dynamic range smaller but alive. Helps sit things nicely in the mix and I was actually quite surprised by just how transparent it does this. With any compressor you have to know what to listen for in order to understand what it is best suited for (not respective what is being compressed but what the compressor actually does and how it does it). Missed the half off deal the first time around but jumped on it this time. So glad I did!
Teds_Studio
Me too Karl. I was always taught that if you can hear a comp working....you don't have it set right. That is unless you're looking for that "pumping" sound.
FastBikerBoy
tbosco
Actually... I am sometimes under the impression yer NOT supposed to hear the compressor... it's just supposed to quietly do its thing... LOL (Someone told me if ya can hear it, yer doin' something wrong.) That's true sometimes, I'm sure. Thoughts?
BTW- The Concrete Limiter works GREAT!
Just reading this thread through and I was about to post exactly the same thing.........
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Psychobillybob
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Re:PC2A Compressor
2012/10/20 14:20:15
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The LA2A style comp is a very aggressive device, the fact that the real units are tube reveals that in many fashions it also functions a bit as a "pre"...I use my Mohog 1176's as pre's all the time and it is a really one of the primary go-to's for the 2 buss, not really intended as a pre...
Thats why I thing UAD has done a great job on their version, it sounds remarkably like a pre with a bit of dirt and lots of "color" when you push it...having owned the real thing and compared it to the emulation I can say the difference between the two is very thin, and the difference between the UAD and Cake versions is one step removed from that...the Cake version stays pretty subtle, clean if you will, the real life units do not.
But ultimately back on discussion IF a comp can be used in a noticeable fashion, its not hard to dial it back to "un-noticed" but the reverse is not always true...
I'm using SOnar Platinium on a 6 core Lynx Audio machine and a ton of vintage pre-amps/eq's/comps I build for fun and sometimes money, REDD.47/API/Neve I also use the UAD stuff, and also use a Macbook Logic 9 through Apogee...
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