Hello guys after reading this forum for a while i decided to make an account.
My question is about opto compressors like waves la2a style compressors i have problem with setting up a compressor of this style.When i compress the audio gets softer i know that i need to apply make up gain,but when i do that the audio still remains the same i need to do crazy amount of make up in order to compensate for the lost signal but the peaks go crazy and i clip what can be the problem.Do i make something wrong i've skipped this style of compressors for years because of this.

 

Maybe you are using it the wrong case... I remeber... high dynamic range needs VCA or FET (ie 1176).

 

Last edited: Mar 16, 2016

Have you revised your gain staging? Opto compressors are emulations of their hardware counterparts, then they act like hardware. Set your input gain before hitting the compressor at -18 and see how it goes.

 

Guys thanks for the opinions.

 

personally I find cla67 killer, but cla la-2a not at all.

I do not own nor used a real Teletronix la-2a, but I only started to like that compressor 'emulated'
since I've met CA-2a from cakewalk (which u can use in any daw)

ca-2a and me have been friends ever since BTW

 

Opto comps are "slow" by design. They are great for bringing up overall RMS levels. By slow I mean they dont have fast attack times, hence they will not catch fast transients that cause peaks. I would put a vca comp like dbx 160 or a fet comp like 1176 before it to catch the peaks then put the opto after it. Set it up like this: 1176 with fast attack and fast release, then say put an la2a. Read above for gain staging. You can lower the output of the 1176 as to not to hit the opto comp too hot. Hope this helps.

 

After few days of experimenting with gain staging the results where really shocking.Warm sound on guitars "in your face" vocals.Even plugins that i thought sound like shit now can find their place in my channel strip.