Why do we still use leveling amplifiers during the recording process?

12 Apr by Stefan Wyeth | Approximate reading time: 6 Minutes

The LA-2A: ahead of its time. · Source: Universal Audio

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So what exactly are leveling amplifiers? Is it just a fancy word for a compressor? Well yes, but there is slightly more to it than that. Levelers are compressors that adjust the gain of a signal automatically according to the input level. They generally have fixed ratio, attack, and release settings which may sound rather limiting(pardon the pun).

Why do we still use leveling amplifiers?

However, the reason these famous designs are still relevant today is because of the incredibly musical results they produce. Levelers use various topologies such as tube, optical, variable-MU, FET, and sometimes a combination of multiple circuitry types.

You can find many different variants on the market in formats such as rack-mount, 500 series, and software plug-ins. Each has certain benefits and can be extremely useful for tracking and mixdown, particularly when working in the box.

Some designs aim to mimic and exceed the sonic quality of the classic levelers, while others might borrow from the basic blueprint with the aim of creating more versatile tools for today’s recording process.

Opto-controlled leveling amplifiers

Optical compressors and limiters use a Light Dependent Resistor(LDR) to regulate the dynamics of a signal. This process is non-linear and it is neither fast-acting nor particularly precise. However, it is the very reason they are so sought after for tracking and mixing.

The resultant compression happens in an extremely natural and musical way. Listen carefully and you’ll find that even when high gain reduction is applied, the dynamics and character seem to remain preserved. This astonishing phenomenon is why optical compressors continue to be used to this day as one of the most coveted recording tools.

Bill Putnam’s Teletronix LA-2A from the early 1960s is arguably the most singular example of an optical leveling amplifier that has since inspired many other great designs. They are especially well-suited for vocals, guitars, mix bus, and even mastering purposes.

Tegeler’s Vocal Leveler is a popular choice for tracking.

Plug-ins:

Cakewalk CA-2A T-Type
Waves CLA-2A
IK Multimedia White 2A
Softube Native Instruments VC 2A
PSP – MixPressor2
Avid BF-2A
Brainworx bx_opto
Acme Audio Opticom XLA-3
UAD Teletronix® LA-2A Leveler Collection

Waves CLA-2A

Available for €37.12 at

Pedals:

Effectrode LA-1A

500-Series:

Fredenstein Artistic Leveler
Tegeler Audio Vocal Leveler
Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500
IGS Audio Photon 500
Inward Connections The Brute
IGS Audio One LA
Serpent Audio Chimera

Tegeler Audio Vocal Leveler

Available for €703.99 at

Rackmount:

Klark Teknik 2A-KT
Golden Age Project Comp-2A
ART Pro VLA II
Warm Audio WA-2A
Acme Audio Opticom XLA-3 MKII
Manley ELOP+
Universal Audio LA-2A

Manley ELOP+

Available for €2,793.21 at

Tube-controlled leveling amplifiers

Tube levelers use vacuum tubes to control the gain of an input signal. Some designs may feature tubes at additional stages in the circuit or even a hybrid of tube and solid-state elements. While not typically as fast responding as VCA compressors, tube levelers are still faster than opto-controlled designs.

The compression happens through the re-biasing or remote cutoff of a tube. This means that the current rises and fades gradually, rather than instantaneously. Tube levelers are especially well-suited for vocal tracking, and have been used this way on our favourite recordings for over 60 years! They are also extremely useful for applying parallel compression.

Enhance your drum sub-mix, mix bus, overheads, or any signal with low-level nuances you wish to bring into focus. Famous tube levelers like the Gates Sta-level from 1956 and the Summit TLA-100 are still used extensively today.

The Summit TLA-100A remains the longest-standing continuously produced piece of outboard gear.

Plug-ins:

Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A
Arturia Comp Tube-STA
Antelope Audio SMT-100A
UAD Summit Audio TLA-100A

Softube Volume 5

Available for €895.55 at

500-Series:

Anamod AM-660
Retro Instruments Doublewide II

Rackmount:

Summit Audio TLA-50
Wes Audio Timbre
Retro Instruments Sta-Level
Summit Audio TLA-100A
Retro Instruments 176

Summit Audio TLA-50

Available for €1,004.50 at

FET peak limiters

For the most part, FET limiting amplifiers or peak limiters are generally classed as compressors rather than levelers. However, because of their design and application as some of the most widely used set-and-forget compressors available, we can put them in a similar category. Feild-effect transistor or FET technology was a definitive move away from the use of vacuum tubes in the mid to late 1960s.

Bill Putnam’s iconic UREI 1176 LN went on to become one of the most essential recording tools ever produced to this day. FET compressors respond faster than optical or tube-controlled compressors. This makes them far more versatile and better suited for shaping transients.

Although they may not offer as wide a dynamic range as tubes, transistors bring their own coloration and texture to the sound. This makes 1176-style compressors useful in almost any application. Use it on vocals, guitars, bass, and drums.

Universal Audio reissued the 1176LN back in 2000.

Plug-ins:

Waves CLA-76
Arturia Comp FET-76
IK Multimedia Black 76
Softube Native Instruments VC 76
Avid MC77
Empirical Labs Arousor
Brainworx MC77

IK Multimedia T-RackS 5 Deluxe

Available for €114.94 at

Pedals:

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe

500 series:

Lindell Audio 7X
Empress Effects ECM-519
Fredenstein Artistic Compressor Plus
Lindell Audio 7X Vintage Edition
IGS Audio Alter 500
Purple Audio Action
IGS Audio 576 Blue Stripe
Pete’s Place BAC
Wes Audio MIMAS NG500
Chandler Limited Little Devil
Serpent Audio Splice-500 MkII

IGS Audio 576 Blue Stripe

Available for €797.37 at

Rackmount:

Klark Teknik 76-KT
Fredenstein V.A.S. Compressor
Warm Audio WA76
Black Lion Audio Seventeen
UK Sound 176
Wes Audio Beta76
Black Lion Audio Bluey
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8
Chandler Limited Germanium Compressor
Tierra Audio Boreal
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8-X
Purple Audio MC77
Serpent Audio Splice MkII
Studio Electronics Slate Pro Audio Dragon
Universal Audio 1176LN

WES Audio Beta76

Available for €1,346.92 at