FG‑2A has a couple of useful features that the UA plug‑ins lack: a Mix control and a Stereo Link switch. But that’s moot, since you could easily place Trim (which has a level meter) in VMR slots either side of FG‑2A and see all three simultaneously. UA’s GUI has switchable metering (input/output level or gain reduction) whereas the FG‑2A indicates gain reduction only. All have the expected Gain and Peak Reduction controls, as well as a tiny emphasis control which, as you turn it anti‑clockwise, makes the compressor less sensitive to low frequencies. The LA‑2A is a lovely design but a very simple one, so it’s no surprise that the UA and Slate models have similar features. They were also my strong preference when comparing a range of LA‑2A plug‑ins a few years ago.įor this review, I made a point of testing FG‑2A alongside the UAD plug‑ins on a range of material, including male and female vocals, bass guitar, a drum bus and a mix bus. But first let’s consider the feature set. These three plug‑ins model different specimens of the LA‑2A and earlier LA‑2, and impressed me a great deal when I compared them with hardware. It would be impossible for me to test that claim, of course, even if I had a hardware LA‑2A in the studio (which currently I don’t): how could I be sure the unit sounded like FG‑2A’s muse? A reasonable point of comparison, though, is Universal Audio’s LA‑2A Leveler collection for the UAD platform. Slate claim that not only is FG‑2A the most authentic recreation of a real LA‑2A yet, but that it models the best‑sounding LA‑2A they found during extensive listening tests. To use it, you can buy it outright or sign up to the All Access Pass. The latest to enter the VMR stable is FG‑2A, an emulation of the Urei/Teletronix LA‑2A tube opto compressor. Since I last auditioned their range, Slate have added a remarkable number of emulations to this ecosystem, making VMR much more useful in the process: if you subscribe to Slate’s All Access Pass you’ll rarely need to leave it to access other developers’ plug‑ins. This DAW plug‑in (in the usual Mac/Windows formats) hosts a range of Slate’s analogue modelling plug‑ins, which you can drag and drop to add, delete and reorder. It’s only recently that I’ve really got into using Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack (VMR). The world’s not short of LA‑2A plug‑ins, but some are more convincing than others.

Slate virtual mix rack