cheep opto-compressors

al burn · Post by **al burn** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 4:23 am

I'm looking for an opto-compressor and I can not afford a LA-2A are there any other for less ( $1,000 and a lot lower )

I'd be willing to buy a cheap opto-compressor and modify it buy replacing componets etc...

thank's
alex

rhythm ranch · Post by **rhythm ranch** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 5:55 am

Anthony DeMaria makes a version of the LA2. They show up on eBay all the time.

Here.

wing · Post by **wing** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 6:09 am

the LA-4 is a lot cheaper (under $1000) from what i hear, and still quite good.

E-cue · Post by **E-cue** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 6:17 am

Ditto the ADL. They are, of course, different than the LA2A. I notice they don't darken the sound as much as the LA2A, but are great compressors. They used to go for $600 used, but the price has gone up quite a bit in the last 2 years. Great units.

todd · Post by **todd** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 6:22 am

don't forget bill skibbe's red stripe compressor....

check out:
http://www.keyclubrecording.com/

thanks,
todd

bigtoe · Post by **bigtoe** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 8:06 am

go skibbe! and ask him to make an la3 copy when you order...

signing off in post modern as fuck oberlin (gag)-

Mike

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 8:10 am

Those Skibbe comps look really cool!

Check out daviSound.

I got a TB2, custom with VU's that Hayne is going to offer as a "special" model.

Sweet.

They even look beautiful.

The blackfinger is an opto. That is by Electro Harmonics.

I think the ADL comps are too "tight" and though they work just fine, they arent the "fun" kind of nice slow opto compressor I think you are describing.

An LA4 was the best suggestion so far. I actually love the silver face LA4, especially as the last thing in my vocal chain. Even the slow slew rate, which some people consider a problem with the silver ones, sounds great to me for vocals when hit relatively hard!

tony moore · Post by **tony moore** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 10:25 am

art pro-vla - the best cheep opto comp you'll find.

i've been using a pair for about 5 years now and love them. some folks use to make fun of them and now i see folks mentioning them in articles. seriously, give them a listen.

tony

rhythm ranch · Post by **rhythm ranch** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 10:40 am

Here's another you might be interested in: Summit TLA-100, $935.00 BIN.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=23793

Slider · Post by **Slider** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:32 pm

todd wrote:don't forget bill skibbe's red stripe compressor....

check out:
http://www.keyclubrecording.com/

thanks,
todd

whoa!! i've never seen these. does anyone have one?
how close is it to a LA-2A?

Recording Engineer · Post by **Recording Engineer** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:34 pm

I'd take any of the ones mentioned any day... Now I think it boils down to what you want from it.

I've a DaviSound TB-3 (which adds a tube option to the TB-2) that I use without the tube in the signal path in conjuction with an LA-3A, that I use on vocals a good 75% of the time.

That Red Stripe 5-9C looks bitchin'!

My next compressor I buy with probably either be another 1176LN Reissue or a Red Stripe 5-9C... Of course that won't be for another year. Within two years, I WILL have both though; assuming the Red Stripe 5-9C is still available and stays in the same price range.

Then again, I may buy a custom DaviSound FET comp... So you never know... So much gear-lust with such little dough. But one new compressor once a year seems reasonable.

todd · Post by **todd** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 4:26 pm

whoa!! i've never seen these. does anyone have one?
how close is it to a LA-2A?

i think the skibbe comp is supposed to be a "copy" of the la-2a but i've never used either so don't go just by my word...they have them at electrical and at zero return (among the many) and i bet you can find a description on the electrical audio website about it.

thanks,
todd

rhythm ranch · Post by **rhythm ranch** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 4:29 pm

todd wrote:...they have them at electrical... i bet you can find a description on the electrical audio website about it.

Electrical says: "Modern LA-2A copy built by former Electrical Audio employee Bill Skibbe. We have two, and some sweet day, when Bill gets off his ass, we'll have two more."

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 7:09 pm

I'll second the VLA as an incredibly under-rated piece of gear.

I haven't heard Skibbe's Opto. Is he selling them for less than a grand? Personally, I have a buddy who built a pair of INCREDIBLE sounding LA2A clones and we're currently working on one for me. The key is in finding actual UTC transformers and I think the whole thing will run me about $500 in parts when it's all said and done. Can't wait!

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

drewbass · Post by **drewbass** » Sun Nov 30, 2003 8:48 pm

I made one, it's available from Midwest Analog Products. it was easy to assemble, solder and I think it sounds cool in certain contexts. I'm playing my bass through it now. super punch and sustain.
d
"How to build a tube compressor/limiter" by dave jahnsen. I bought the book and a slowly building it and learning exactly how the el-opto thing works. parts are what dave says:$500.

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