How It Was Recorded

Gear · compressor

Teletronix LA-2A

Records it appears on · 41

  • Walk This Way

    Aerosmith · Toys in the Attic, 1975

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedEngineer believes this compressor was in the lead vocal chain.
  • Jagged Little Pill

    Alanis Morissette · Album, 1996

    • Lead and backing vocals · Input chainVerifiedOld compressor the C12 vocal chain went through after the preamp on the album.
  • Plastic Letters

    Blondie · Album, 1978

    • Outboard used while tracking · Input chainVerifiedEngineer used several of these tube compressor/limiters heavily during tracking; the parts are not stated.
  • Night Moves

    Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band · Night Moves, 1976

    • Lead and backing vocals · Input chainReportedAdded a light amount of compression to the vocals (drums and the final mix as well).
    • Drum kit · Input chainReportedAdded a light amount of compression to the drums (and vocals and final mix).
  • Get Lucky

    Daft Punk · Random Access Memories, 2013

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedVocal compression at mix
    • Bass guitar · Input chainVerifiedCompressor on the bass on the way in
    • Drum kit · Mix effectsVerifiedLight parallel compression on kick and snare (this or an 1176)Settings: Parallel, used sparingly
  • Daylight

    David Kushner · The Dichotomy, 2023

    • Lead and backing vocals · Input chainVerifiedProducer's own hardware compressor used to process Kushner's vocals.
  • ÷

    Ed Sheeran · Album, 2017

    • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedFallback vocal tracking compressor when a Tube-Tech CL 1B was not available.
  • Burning Love

    Elvis Presley · Elvis: Burning Love and Hits From His Movies, Volume 2, 1972

    • Lead vocal · Input chainInferredUsual practice, not stated for this record: The engineer thinks he may have put a little LA-2A compression on Presley's vocal.
  • My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)

    En Vogue · Funky Divas, 1992

    • Group vocals · Input chainReportedCompressor in the vocal chain between the mic/line mixer and the tape machine.
  • Rise

    Herb Alpert · Rise, 1979

    • Overall recording and mix · Mix effectsVerifiedHahn says LA-2A compression was among the processing used at the mix; the part is not stated.
  • Take Me to Church

    Hozier · Hozier, 2013

    • Vocals · Input chainVerifiedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: Compressor on Hozier's vocals while tracking.
    • Bass and synth bass · Input chainVerifiedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: Compressor on the bass after the preamp.
  • Right Time of the Night

    Jennifer Warnes · Jennifer Warnes, 1977

    • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedUsed heavily on the lead vocal, two in series: one limiting on the way in, and at the mix the vocal was run through again in compression mode for light compression.
  • Margaritaville

    Jimmy Buffett · Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, 1977

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: The vocal was compressed by this unit with little other processing.
  • The Lonesome Jubilee

    John Cougar Mellencamp · Album, 1987

    • Lead vocal · Input chainInferredCompressor at the end of Mellencamp's usual vocal chain, after the mic preamp.
  • All of Me

    John Legend · Love in the Future, 2013

    • Lead vocal (album-wide chain) · Input chainVerifiedAlbum sessions, not stated for this song: Tozer says an LA-2A was sometimes used in place of the 1176 on the vocal.
  • Double Fantasy

    John Lennon · Album, 1980

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedCompressed the lead vocal and its double-track together once the double had been recorded.
  • What Do You Mean?

    Justin Bieber · Purpose, 2015

    • Lead vocal · Mix effectsVerifiedUsed as part of Gudwin's usual three-plug-in treatment on most of the lead vocal tracks in the mix session.
    • Bass · Mix effectsVerifiedEvened out the bass a little.
  • Walk Away

    Kelly Clarkson · Breakaway, 2004

    • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedCompressor on the vocal, used only lightly because Clarkson largely compresses herself; Maida chose it over an 1176 for its slightly warmer sound.
  • The Gambler

    Kenny Rogers · The Gambler, 1978

    • Lead vocal · Input chainReportedCompressor on the lead vocal while tracking, ahead of the tape.
  • 7 Years

    Lukas Graham · Lukas Graham, 2015

    • Lead vocal · Input chainVerifiedCompressor in the album vocal chain at the Beachwood studio (album sessions, not tied to this song).
And 21 more records

Sources for each use are on the record’s own page.

Get the sound

First choice · Emulation of this unit

Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection

compressor

Universal Audio owns the Teletronix name; this is its own model of the LA-2A.

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Alternative · Emulation of this unit

Waves CLA-2A Compressor / Limiter

compressor

Models an LA-2A from Chris Lord-Alge's collection. Cheaper and runs without UA hardware.

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