The Black Rooster Audio VLA-2A is the developer’s attempt to bring the LA-2A opto compressor from the late 50s to the modern age in plug-in form. In addition to a faithful model of an original unit, VLA-2A Mark II offers an impressive set of expanded features that let you get more – or less – of the LA-2A’s characteristic compression. VLA-2A Mark II is a major update that brings plenty of new functionality and optimizations to the plug-in. The developer has also put it on an introductory sale for a brief time.
VLA-2A Mark II from Black Rooster Audio Mark II has the following new features: Cell Selector: Choose between 3 different opto-electric cell emulations, each with its own set of attack and release times. Sidechain: Control the gain reduction on your signal from the envelope of an external sidechain signal. Emphasis Control: Helps tame high frequencies to control the sidechain and prevent overmodulation. Make-up Gain: Trim the output signal with the new make-up gain control. Mix Control: Blend the dry and compressed signal for maximum control. DSP operations are optimized using the SSE2 instruction set. User interface optimizations and enhancements (high DPI support). "<yoastmark Pricing and Availability VLA-2A Mark II costs EUR 49 through the introductory period. Owners of the original VLA-2A get the upgrade for free. The plug-in is available in 64-bit VST, AU, and AAX formats for macOS 10.9 (macOS Big Sur is not yet supported) and Windows 7 or newer. A free trial version can be downloaded from the website. All in all, VLA-2A Mark II looks like a worthwhile addition to your opto compressor plug-in collection. I like the detailed controls and opportunity to extract more depth out of the original unit’s unmistakably simple and satisfying character. |
