As we all know the term "plug-in emulation" is used to describe or categorise digital processors that have been developed to be close (if not identical) software representations of "insert popular studio outboard gear of old here". Over the years, countless plug-in developers have gone to great lengths to reproduce some of the world's most sought-after studio gear, many of which are without doubt very good but I can't help feeling as though many plug-in version of vintage studio hardware miss one vital real-world feature.
Take The LA2A For Example
I'm going to talk about the LA-2A to help illustrate my point here. Compressors do not come any simpler to use than this. The front of the unit features two dials, one for peak reduction and another for makeup gain. I was lucky enough to have a UA LA-2A on loan last year for six months. I borrowed this unit to find out if there were any differences between an LA-2A emulation I've used for years and the real hardware. In my opinion, the sound of the hardware wasn't too dissimilar to my go-to LA-2A plug-in... no real surprises there but what made the hardware experience different from the plug-in was how I interacted with the controls. I was using both my hands to dial in compression settings. My right hand would set peak reduction whilst at the same time my left hand was twisting up makeup gain. This was a simple, effective and engaging way to set perfect compression amounts every time but we can't really work with plug-in emulations in this way with just a mouse, why not?
Obviously, we can only turn one plug-in dial at a time with a mouse so why do plug-in emulations not have control linking features that could act as our other hand?
The LA-2A plug-in emulation I use all the time is the CLA-2A by Waves. You can watch our video shootout between the hardware and plug-in below:
Did you know Waves plug-ins have control linking which enables us to move multiple dials and faders together from one control? It's very easy to set, hold down shift on your keyboard and select the dials you want to link with your mouse. The only problem with this way of linking controls in Waves emulation plug-in is that the linked dials all move in the same direction...
Close but no cigar. The only way we can interact with plug-in emulation controls in similar ways to how we interact with hardware is by using control surfaces with rotary pots, as you'll see in this free tutorial video below.
So, plug-in emulations, as close they can sound like the original hardware they all miss out on a vital feature... and it's a simple one, interaction. Can plug-in developers do more to give us a more realistic "feel" when we use their plug-in emulations?