Slightly worrying development that you have to pay for known bug fixes here. Yes I know there are enhancements.

bladetragic


I find it hard to believe it would sound different, but Cake would make no mention whatsoever of improving the sound (or algorithm) of the compressor. That would be a major selling point!!!

I think you make a very good point here, and I've done the upgrade just tonight.
 
Obviously it's early in my usage of this plugin, but I do hear a difference in the sound of the upgrade vs. the older plugin.
. . . but you're right, Cakewalk do not market it as sounding better, perhaps because it's subjective to each listener.
 
Of course, you can't do a proper A/B comparison, because it basically replaces the old plugin.
 
I did the upgrade because it's one of my favourite Pro Channel plugins, so to me it's worth the $20.00
I'm also hoping it fixes some of the (minor) bugs I've had while using it, and while I don't like the idea of paying for bug fixes, I believe this one
is an upgrade of one of Cakewalk's better ideas that I'd like to see more of.

I thought it was an update for use as a VST and now includes side chaining ability.

Why would it sound different? No mention of any other form of tweaking with it.

I am completely skeptical about any claims that it sounds better. The ears can be very deceptive, especially when the brain wants to hear something. I can hear voices in running water if I listen to it with voices in mind  If your heart is set on the idea of it sounding better, then chances are it's going to sound better. 

Of course someone from Cakewalk could settle this once and for all if they wanted to. But I agree with others that if they had improved the emulation audibly, then they would say that they had. Why wouldn't they? It would be a very marketable feature. Nobody's going to put the effort into coding improvements into the sound of a plug and not broadcast the fact. 

I don't think you can go wrong with a good quality LA-2 emulation, it's a relatively simple design. I have both the ProChannel version and the SoftTube VC-2A version and they both sound fantastic. To be honest though I cannot rate one over the other. 

Having said that, I think the upgrade is well worth the money for a standalone version that supports side chaining. 

mudgel


I thought it was an update for use as a VST and now includes side chaining ability.

Why would it sound different? No mention of any other form of tweaking with it.

No, its a new version of the plugin. I think the old were at 1.0.1 and the new version is on version 2.0. In the software industry there are certain rules referring to numbers of version upgrade procedures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_versioning
 
 
Call it 2.0 version means alot new things has been added, a complete overhaul has been done with the software. If it was just add of VST extension and small update fix it would be called 1.2 or something.

I doubt it sounds different from first version. And yes, for now it is best LA2A emulation. But in few days, it will be history. UAD LA2A is coming...

Freddie H

mudgel


I thought it was an update for use as a VST and now includes side chaining ability.

Why would it sound different? No mention of any other form of tweaking with it.

No, its a new version of the plugin. I think the old were at 1.0.1 and the new version is on version 2.0. In the software industry there are certain rules referring to numbers of version upgrade procedures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_versioning
 
 
Call it 2.0 version means alot new things has been added, a complete overhaul has been done with the software. If it was just add of VST extension and small update fix it would be called 1.2 or something.

But do you really think they would improve the way it sounds and not advertise the fact? 

sharke

Freddie H

mudgel


I thought it was an update for use as a VST and now includes side chaining ability.

Why would it sound different? No mention of any other form of tweaking with it.

No, its a new version of the plugin. I think the old were at 1.0.1 and the new version is on version 2.0. In the software industry there are certain rules referring to numbers of version upgrade procedures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_versioning


Call it 2.0 version means alot new things has been added, a complete overhaul has been done with the software. If it was just add of VST extension and small update fix it would be called 1.2 or something.

But do you really think they would improve the way it sounds and not advertise the fact? 

I can only say to my ears it sounds better, warmer. I think you will notice the same thing if you update...

 
  
 
Here you can hear the difference on the new plugin VS the old one. Gswitz made this video to show the different!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKighyBEmBc&feature=youtu.be

Freddie H


 
  
 
Here you can hear the difference on the new plugin VS the old one. Gswitz made this video to show the different!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKighyBEmBc&feature=youtu.be

He says in the video: "The settings on the compressor I'm not sure are identical."