Teletronix® LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection
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The ultimate collection of the most
revered optical compressor ever.
With its gentle, program dependent optical compression, and meticulously designed tube amplifier, the LA-2A is the go-to compressor for professional mixers around the world. In 2001, Universal Audio set the standard in analog emulation with the original UAD LA-2A plug-in.
Today, UA’s engineers have redesigned the LA-2A plug-in with more obsessive detail. The LA-2A Classic Leveler Plug-In Collection features immaculate models of three highly sought-after LA-2A units, giving you the most authentic emulations ever of this iconic compressor.Track and mix with three historic versions of revered Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifiers, each with its own distinctive sonic attributes
Record through a Teletronix LA-2A/LA-2 in real time with Apollo interfaces
Dial-in ideal optical compression textures for vocals, bass, drums, and more
Harness presets from LA-2A users Ross Hogarth, Darrell Thorp, and Vance Powell
Ways to Buy
Buy for your Apollo interface/UAD hardware or get with UAD Spark on subscription.
Buy for Apollo and UAD- •Buy once — no subscription required
- •Runs in realtime with Apollo on Mac and Windows
- •UAD Spark native version included
- •Requires Apollo or UAD hardware
Get with UAD Spark$19.99/month- •Subscribe and save
- •Runs natively on Mac
- •An evolving collection of UAD plug-ins & instruments
- •No UA hardware required
TAKE A LISTEN
The Teletronix Story
Teletronix founder Jim Lawrence first used photocells for controlling audio gain in the early 1960s. His ingenious optical compression design was a technological breakthrough, far surpassing the stability and transparency of earlier circuits. Universal Audio founder M.T. ”Bill” Putnam later purchased this patented technology, continuing to manufacture the LA-2A for years to come.
Three Historical Units
The Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection puts three of the most coveted incarnations of the iconic Teletronix processor at your fingertips. Like the hardware, the LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and LA-2 models offer distinct variations in time constants, compression knee, headroom, distortion, program and frequency dependence, and more.
LA-2A Silver & Gray
With a brushed aluminum panel and original T4B gain reduction module, this cherished late-1960s “Silver” version of the LA-2A, manufactured by Bill Putnam, is perhaps the most flexible of the three plug-ins in the collection. Its fast time constant makes it suitable for the widest variety of program material, including transient-rich sources like drums and percussion. Jim Lawrence’s original mid-1960s “Gray” version the LA-2A maintains a more average time constant, providing a range of “medium-speed” compression.
The Original LA-2
The exceptionally rare, early 1960s LA-2 unit preceded the LA-2A by several years. It provides the slowest response and a unique “mellowed” sound due to 50 years of luminescent panel aging inside the T4 module. Use the LA-2 with legato tempos and vocal sources for a transparency and sublime mood unlike any other compressor.
“This sounds exactly like I hoped it would — real, warm, and 100% fantastic.”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)
“Turn up the input gain on the new UAD LA-2 plug-in and listen to the life it brings to your track. One word. Wow.”
– Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Charlotte Gainsbourg)
“The LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection opens up a wonderful sonic palette that's rich and a pleasure to use.”
– Carl Glanville (U2, Billy Joel, Counting Crows)
“The UAD LA-2A Collection has the best models of the real hardware I've ever heard. It's like owning the real deal, that will never require a tech guy.”
– Jeff Juliano (John Mayer, Shinedown, Train)
“The UAD LA-2A is the first thing in my vocal chain. It brings unmatched attitude to lead vocals and sets the tone for songs.”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)
“I'm flipping out with the new UAD LA-2A Collection! Having the tonal and response variations between the different versions gives me more brushes to paint with, especially on bass guitar and vocals.”
– Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers)
“The LA-2A plug-in is the closest thing to my analog version that I have found.”
– Ross Hogarth (Van Halen, Ziggy Marley, Motley Crue)
“My vocal chain is an LA-2A, SSL E Series Channel Strip, an 1176LN, and a Precision De-Esser. They're amazing plug-ins.”
– Hector Delgado (A$AP Rocky, Selena Gomez, Jay-Z)
“The UAD LA-2A plug-in has become my go-to compressor for lead vocals and acoustic guitars. ”
– Ariel Borujow (Chromeo, Mac Miller, Madonna)
“To put it simply, the UAD LA-2A emulations sound more like a physical box with tubes and transformers. It’s the real thing.”
– Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Jónsi)
“The UAD LA-2A and API Series plug-ins not only feel and sound like my hardware, they react the same when I push them hard. ”
– Mark Needham (The Killers, Neon Trees, P!nk)Customer Reviews
C. McDermott
August 8, 2022
Mighty Helping Hand
I can’t believe I did without them for so long! Glad to have them. I can always depend on them to get me where I need to go. The LA-3A though is the ultimate....
Read MoreS. Dana
July 28, 2022
The best compressor emulation of which I am aware
The UAD L2A2 blew doors open for me that I didn't even know were there. This is my "desert island" compressor. If I had to make the unfortunate call; would literally forego all...
Read MoreJ. Song
July 21, 2022
CLASSIC. AWESOME
UAD is famous for its hardware emulations, but I heard so many good things about the LA-2A in particular I could hear why
Read MoreS. Shaw
July 20, 2022
classics
a staple for tracking and they sound good on everything, yes, everything!! thank you UAD. This is "the" emulation we need without second guess. Native on Spark is icing on cake!!
Read MoreC. Preston
July 15, 2022
In another league… on another ‘level’
These emulations are so close to the originals it is hard to tell them apart. Definitely my favourite of the UAD plug-in family.
Read More -
Key Features
Superior plug-in emulations of revered Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifiers.
Includes three historic versions — LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and original LA-2 — each with their own distinctive sonic attributes.
Models entire electronic path — including transformers, tube amplifiers, and T4 optical cell distortions — for unmistakable analog color and character.
Incredibly easy-to-use Peak Reduction and Gain controls.
Offers the ideal optical compression sound for vocals, bass, drums and more.
Includes plug-in presets from famous LA-2A users Ross Hogarth, Jeff Juliano, Carl Glanville, Darrell Thorp, and Vance Powell.
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Customer Reviews
Teletronix® LA-2A Leveler Collection
C. McDermott
Mighty Helping Hand
I can’t believe I did without them for so long! Glad to have them. I can always depend on them to get me where I need to go. The LA-3A though is the ultimate.
S. Dana
The best compressor emulation of which I am aware
The UAD L2A2 blew doors open for me that I didn't even know were there. This is my "desert island" compressor. If I had to make the unfortunate call; would literally forego all other compressors in lieu of this one. While it is considered ideal for certain applications; I've never found a situation where the L2s couldn't improve the sound quality in some way.
J. Song
CLASSIC. AWESOME
UAD is famous for its hardware emulations, but I heard so many good things about the LA-2A in particular
I could hear whyS. Shaw
classics
a staple for tracking and they sound good on everything, yes, everything!! thank you UAD. This is "the" emulation we need without second guess. Native on Spark is icing on cake!!
C. Preston
In another league… on another ‘level’
These emulations are so close to the originals it is hard to tell them apart. Definitely my favourite of the UAD plug-in family.
N. Cifaldi
Classic!
definitely become an essential tool!
A. Yaskevich
The must have in the world of plugins
This is what I always use. And now it's also in spark so I don't have to overload my Apollo processor.
g. faraone
Beautiful and smooth.
such a wonderful compressor and surprisingly versatile
M. Bernabel
BEST LA-2A OUT THERE
Why touch other emulations when you can have this? If you still don't have this collection then you are behind.
E. Lee
Must have
A really nice Improvement from legacy, sounds so close to my analog unit, perfect.
e. stewart
OMG!!!!
Sounds AMAZING!!!
E. Ananda
Thick and Fast
Quick go to for me when levelling out some vocals
D. Matas
A must have!!!!!!!!!!
Great sounding compressor, and easy to use. You can't go wrong with this one.
V. German
Magic sound! Very worthy instruments!
Unprecedented sound quality! The bass and voice sound amazing!
J. Harris
Compression vibe it is
Pretty glad I grab this set!
J. McLachlan
Magic
I cannot describe the beauty of the LA-2A other than it being absolutely magical. Throw it on anything and it brings it to life.
D. Van der Merwe
Multipurpose workhorse
Does everything. Soft bass compression, slammed parallel drum bus, master bus glue. Or get really creative and put two of these back to back and slam them to max db on drums/Lead. No vst reacts like this thing at extreme settings. Only LA-2A I'll ever need
J. Corredera
Sencillamente perfecto
Calidez, brillo y un rugido para las voces.
P. Sierra
Fantástico
El complemento perfecto para Avalon 737
M. Indovina
Magic in a plugin
There's a real sort of magic to these plugins. When you put them on your vocals (especially the Gray model), all of a sudden they just sound so much more warm, polished, and smooth.
