Cakewalk has made the CA-2A (their emulation of the legendary Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier) available as a free download via their free Command Center software, also available on their website. If you don’t already have a Cakewalk user account, I can assure you that signup is a breeze. A lot of people worked very hard to create the CA-2A, so hopefully the small amount of time it will take you to install the Command Center software and download it for free isn’t a complete deal breaker.
Invented by James F. Lawrence II (founder of the Teletronix Engineering Company) and distributed by Studio Electronics two years after acquiring the Teletronix brand in 1969, the LA-2A Leveling Amplifier was a tube-based compressor that applied gain reduction with an electro-luminescent panel combined with a cadmium-sulfide light-dependent resistor…known as the “T4 Circuit”.
This was one of the first “program dependent” designs; unlike common compressors with attack, release and ratio controls at fixed values, a program dependent compressor will adjust the attack, release and ratio depending on the frequency and amplitude of the incoming signal. So now you don’t have to be confused the next time you hear the term “frequency dependent compression ratio”.
The CA-2A “T-Type” Leveling Amplifier is modeled after the T4 optical photocell with a fixed attack time of ten milliseconds and a program dependent release time varying between 0.5 to 5 seconds. It also has a (here it comes) frequency dependent compression ratio, with Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) that adds even and odd harmonics in order to recreate the analog characteristics of the original hardware.
A toggle switch on the front panel switches between Limiter and Compressor modes. In Limiter mode, the frequency dependent compression ratio (there it is again) becomes significantly increased, ranging from 4:1 to 20:1… which will obviously produce a noticeable amount of distortion.
The “R37” knob will adjust the gain reduction frequency response, attenuating frequencies above 1 kHz in the “HF” position, while attenuating all frequencies equally in the “Flat” position. This parameter is often used to reduce sibilance in vocal recordings. Although you can also use it to iron out a good balance between low and high frequencies in Limiter mode.
The rest of the controls are relatively self-explanatory, though there are a few hidden surprises lurking about the interface, such as additional options available in a context menu for “External Sidechain” and “Photocell Memory” modes, the “Fast Reset” mode being considerably less sluggish than “Classic Mode”. Also, there are four “VU Meter Modes” that determine how you monitor output level and gain reduction.
The CA-2A Leveling Amplifier is obviously a very popular choice for mastering vocals, and by itself is ideal for material that calls for a more conservative use of compression. There are noticeable gain spikes when processing audio with sharp transients in high gain situations, but if you don’t mind placing a limiter at the end of the signal chain, you can really fatten up pretty much anything you feed through it.
CA-2A Leveling Amplifier is available for free download via Cakewalk in AU, AAX and VST3 for Mac, and AAX, VST2 and VST3 (32-bit and 64-bit) plugin format for Windows.
26 Comments
Esol
onSweet! :D
Bryan Lake
onDude! :D
alex
onBest LA-2A clone!!!!!
Ike
onMost reviews I found online actually said that it’s not a very accurate emulation of the LA-2A.
Bryan Lake
onObviously nothing beats the real thing. Some people say the attack time is significantly faster. If that’s true, then I personally feel that the original LA-2A is a bit sluggish for my personal taste, which is why I prefer to use the “fast reset” photocell memory mode.
However, some of the critics aren’t doing very much research. I noticed someone on the KVR forum insisting that “it makes no attempt to model the distortions”. It most certainly does. Perhaps the distortion sounds noticeably different than the original, but there is an “attempt” to reproduce the analog character of the tubes.
Again, nothing beats the real thing. That much is true. But I think this is a pretty solid emu.
Ike
onI actually meant in comparison to other software emulations of the LA-2A, specifically the UAD ones. For levelling amp style compression I still use ThrillseekerLA by Varietyofsound, which is actually one of the best software analogue style compressors aside from ThrillseekerVBL, which emulate Vari-Mu style compression.
Bryan Lake
onI wouldn’t doubt for a nano-second that the UAD versions are more accurate. Their stuff is amazing :)
Adam
onAs with most analog stuff they vary from unit to unit because of circut design and manufacturing (even on mechanical structure). So having two working exactly the same is imposible.
Poofox
onI coudn’t submit the form to get to the download in Firefox, but in Chrome it worked.
alex
onI compared all available emulation on the PC… СА-2А you turn the knob all the way to j37 right in the Fast reset mode it compresses sometimes better than my UAD1 la 2a and color completely analog
PTT
onI could not download using Chrome but Microsoft Edge browser did the deed – surprising
Wing Yee
onThanks – great plugin!
Misha
onis it possible to install 32 bit version of the plugin? seems that only 64 bit version appears after installation
Tomislav Zlatic
onThe 32-bit version is located in the default VST plugin directory on your computer. You can cut/paste it from there.
Misha
onThank you for your prompt reply! And by the way, thank you very much for the bedroom producers blog!
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for reading BPB! :)
SHIVA PRASAD SAHOO
oncan you give me that pluging. I missed the offer.
[email protected]
Sylvan
onI found out that If you go in the Command Center settings and turn on the “verbose” option you will have the choice to install the 32 bit version too when reinstalling. It was off by default in my case.
Misha
onIt works! =) thank you!
MSVR
onAfter donwloading its showing it as demo version ? Why ?…….does it will register for free ?….or its just a demo version free to download ?
Esol
onYou have to download the ‘Cakewalk Command Center’ first. Install it, then download CA-2A and register it.
Gabriel90
onActually, for those who don’t like installing anything other than the plugin, it’s also possible to avoid installing the Command Center:
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013384/Offline-Activation#CA2A
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for the tip!
Joe
onDo you know how i can get this plugin in 2019 or alternatives to this plugin
Tomislav Zlatic
onIf you’re looking for a freeware alternative, try DC1A by Klanghelm. There’s also Thrillseeker LA if you’re running a 32-bit digital audio workstation on Windows. If you want a budget-friendly solution, let me know and I’ll add a few suggestions.
Joe
onThanks, I’ll check out the ones mentioned. And yes please, I’d be interested in the budget friendly ones you will recommend.