by default it's on fast so it should take the first ....

about to start the video .....stay tuned ;)

As far as "the first transient" goes, I've noticed that behavior on other comps (Waves Rcomp for one). Maybe it's a sonar issue.

You are correct ProjectM, it is not a limiter as much as it is a booster from what I read.

Ok, little update. First off, my other test was flawed. I thought I could get away with setting both comps to the same settings which is what I did. Massive failure as they behave differently so they can't be set the same. Upon finding the closest match I could get, I still see a few transients slipping by the PC2A that don't get past the UAD version. The UAD still seems a little warmer and smoother to me.

As far as that R37 thing...I hear no frequency changes in it. It lowers volume and doesn't seem to specifically target any frequency to where you can notice a change in the tone. I'm not doubting it does that, I'm just saying it's not something *I* can hear.

Like I say, it's close to the UAD in my opinion, but it doesn't blow it away.

James: I actually just tried that test. In my opinion, the CLA is just about identical to the UAD version. The only difference between them is with the CLA, you literally use less to get the same sound, comp level and output level. For example, with the UAD at 50 gain and 50 peak reduction, the same settings on the CLA make it a different animal. Set the CLA to 35 gain, 49 peak reduction and it's spot on with the UAD and handles the transients the exact same way. The wave forms look so spot on, it's kinda scary. As far as the sound, to me the CLA seems a bit darker and dirts up a bit faster than the UAD. Like I said, you use less of it to get the same results.

The PC2A is closer to the CLA than the UAD in my opinion as far as how it reacts. To get the same sound/reaction, the PC2A had to be set at 44 gain and 40 peak reduction. But again, it misses a few transients here and there that seem to just come through where the other 2 control them a little better. Nothing drastic or anything...you just have a smoother wave form with less peaks. What gets me is how close the CLA and the UAD are. The PC is right there too. I don't mean to sound like it's way behind the others. Make no mistake, I'd take IT over the other two if price was an issue or I just wanted to get a quality 2A comp. It's every bit as good....I just didn't find it quite as warm and like I said, not quite as smooth on *some* transients.

Oh bro...you so gotta get a UAD card. Seriously, don't even procrastinate if you get a little cash to spend. The Precision stuff (especially the multi comp...best one ever made in my opinion), NEVE, Studer, EMT 250, Pultec, Fairchild, Fatso....I'd seriously be lost without that stuff and in my opinion, it's made a world of difference in my recordings since I've started using it. Granted, I have no problems getting good sound using the stock Sonar plugs. But something about the UAD stuff...it just seems to give me a polish and tone unlike any plugs I've ever used. Definitely consider it if you can. Even if you got a UAD 2-Solo card and had to freeze stuff. I'd say no less than a Duo though because you're gonna love it. But I have a solo in one of my service boxes and it works really well. You can't put much on it though as far as the UAD 2 plugs. So you'll need to freeze. I have a Duo on another machine that is perfect for most situations and 2 Quads that can handle just about anything. They just totally blow me away as far as high end processors go.

-Danny

Danny, don't you read the manuals for your toys?

the R37 is explained in the LA2A manual from UA

"The LA-2A was designed for use in broadcast applications. The audio signal in FM

broadcasting undergoes pre-emphasis and results in a 17 dB boost at 15 KHz. Due to this

increase in signal level, transmitters are subject to over-modulation. The LA-2A provides a

control (R37) which controls the amount of high-frequency compression.

This potentiometer is factory set for a “flat” side-chain response (clockwise). Increasing

the resistance of this potentiometer by turning it counter clockwise will result in

compression which is increasingly more sensitive to the higher frequencies."

Don't know if this make anything clearer. I have used a hardware unit in the past and I remember this particular feature did save us on a certain thing. But with this module I can't hear much of it either. However, I haven't been able to test it thoroughly yet and will do so this week. I don't have or know the UAD version so can't compare the two.

Heh, that's something innit Danny

Does it work on the UAD version? It's definitely a high end thing and should boost the highs for better clarity on speech. Have you tried it with vocals? It does only affect very high frequencies so guitar riffing may not be the where you'd listen for it. I'll give it a whirl when I get home tonight for sure. It's interesting

Hmm thanks Danny, that's quite an endorsement! I dunno though, I guess I'll just have to try some UAD stuff - might ring around and find a studio that uses it and go check it out. I just find it hard to believe that it's worth spending yet more money to buy more plugins - a lot of the Waves stuff is excellent I think, and I'd feel like a plugin whore, blaming my tools if I were to get more!! But I'll go and check out some UAD stuff - I know you don't talk anything up without good reason, so maybe I'll be blown away and feel compelled to lay out the cash for a UAD card! Also, is it not a bit weird using a DSP card in this day and age?

Anyway, don't want to hijack the thread, carry on...

The LA2A or the PC2A in this case, I would not apply them to fast transient electric guitars. They are slower opto style and are generally better on vocals or bass. First transients are something you should expect would get through the detection part of the circuit. This is why you hear about putting an 1176 compressor in front of the LA2A when tracking. I actually like the the PC2A better than the UAD version because it has less effect on the original signal but can get aggressive. I find the UAD version a little heavy handed and cloudy for lack of a better word. Ultimately it's your ears and you have to live with the sound.

uploaded 3r video tyo try to show frequency  response of the R37 


other videos messing with the R37   http://youtu.be/STecWeDMWhc  http://youtu.be/8GT097vDKkc  

Be sure to check in HD

Just compared the PC 2A against IK Multimedia's 2A on vocals and bass. I had to push the PC module a little harder to achieve the same results but it sounded great. 

can we expect a LA3A ?

<retracted>  

Dean

Razorwit


Something odd that I just found here.  When making LA2A emulators usually companies will add additional harmonics to the output of the plugin to emulate the sound of tubes.  This is true for the IK, NI and UAD versions, but not for the PC2A. This probably accounts for some of the difference in sound between the different emulations.  Wonder why Cake chose to not model that aspect of the original hardware?

Dean

We absolutely modeled the tubes as well. Every aspect is accounted for in the model. You can actulaly read about the effect the tubes have on the PC2A pages.

Danny Danzi


We don't have that option on the UAD. Yeah safe to say guitar riffing may not be a good test. But I did use a nasty sound with way more high end than I normally use. Now Zo did a video that sort of proved what I was seeing and hearing, however, he did a test messing with the R37 thing. The problem with his test was, it boosts the volume so I'm not hearing anything apparent frequency changes.

When I tested it, I ran two versions of the PC2A and when I dialed out the R37 to 100% and then matched the output to the other instance that was set to 0, I still didn't hear a frequency change. Maybe I'm losing my hearing or something or did too much work from last night into today...but honest when I tell you, if there is a warmer sound coming from R37, I honestly can't hear it. Volume can change our perception pretty easy which is why I used two instances and matched up the volumes. It sounded the same to me...then again, my high end frequencies may be burnt for today. I'm going to work on this a bit more with fresh ears.

Thanks for the video Zo....if you're reading, try doing what I said and see if you hear a difference. Run two instances, run one at R37 100%, the other instance at 0% and match the volume so that it sounds identical to the one at 100%. See if you hear a treble difference. I really think the volume boost may be clouding our hearing. But, it's probably me being cooked for the day. LOL! I'm gonna get home, get some sleep and mess around again later. Good stuff. :)

-Danny

Hey Danny!
 
 
Funny that the option is not on the UAD. Anyway, I spent some time talking through a Røde M1 straight into my Ultralite with nothing else but the PC2A to process the sound and took the dial from left to right, back and forth while talking and recording (audio and automation). I couldn't hear any effect of the R37 while talking, nor when I played back the recording. It definitely doesn't have the effect on the sound like I remember the hardware unit we used a while ago had. However, I really like the PC2A and will find lots of great use for it I'm sure. It sure is a smooth sounding plug!
 
So I'm not sure what the R37 does in the PC version. I didn't do any scientific analyzis of this with spectrograms and what not, I just used my ears, listening through my cans as well as my speakers.
 
Perhaps it should be submitted a bug report?