Why do we still use leveling amplifiers during the recording process?
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.
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
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
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+
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.
Plug-ins:
- Softube Summit Audio TLA-100A
- Arturia Comp Tube-STA
- Antelope Audio SMT-100A
- UAD Summit Audio TLA-100A

Softube Volume 5
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
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.
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
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
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
More about leveling compressors:
- History of the LA-2A
- SSL bus compressors
- All about compressors
- Thomann’s guide to audio compressors
Videos:
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- Tegeler's Vocal Leveler is a popular choice for tracking.: Tegeler Audio
- The Summit TLA-100A remains currently the longest standing continuously produced piece of outboard gear.: Summit Audio Inc.
- Universal Audio reissued the 1176LN back in 2000.: Universal Audio