Golden Age Project Comp-3A

Incredible bass, guitar and vocal compressor!

This compressor is rather on the subtle side, probably due to the fact that unlike its brother, it lacks tubes. However, just like 2A, this comp can be pushed all the way without almost any artefacts (unlike most plugs).

I found it to be absolutely spectacular on bass guitar, where it makes it sound like a record instantly - controlled and even but full and exciting. It also works well on female vocal. But of course its application depends on the source audio and genre (desired effect). To be short and on subject - as a compressor it works extremely well, and beats all 3A plugins out there - which given its price, is rather a steal!

A good unit but for me it has two issues: the release time (too slow for certain applications) and the way it brings out some extra presence, often resulting in unwanted harshness or sibilance.

Very nice compressor

I have 2 comp3a compressors that I use on guitars, keys, piano, etc.. The sound is very nice and the build quality is very sturdy! Would advise!

Absolutely stunning

I've always heard about LA3As doing "that thing" on guitars and basses but I never quite caught what. Now, with the COMP-3A, I truly get what it is. This compressor make every track you pass through it more detailed, powerful and "stable" in a certain sort of way.

While the compressor itself is very straightforward there are a lot of functionalities like the variable HPF and the the two super useful mods.

For me it is 100% a keeper and I can't see working on any of my next project without using it on at least a couple of tracks.

Nothing like a plugin

I use this one to record vocals and voice overs mostly. Also electric guitars. I have used it during mixing to maximize drums or other material, which it's really good for.

I think it has a sort of a vintage sound, which counteracts nicely the digital, sometimes too pristine nature of modern recordings. For example, 99% of the time I record with an ELAM251 clone, which I really like, but has an extended HF range. I have set the sidechain detector of the COMP 3A to maximum HF, which means that it will react more to high frequency content. In this way, it pushes literally warms up the signal a bit, by compressing the upper range, and helps with strident or sibilant parts of the speech or any delivery.

The other thing is, it really helps with recording dynamic parts. You can compress a vocal with 20dB, and it is not exactly transparent, but too my ears, the compression and the coloration is almost always preferable.

I intend to get one more of these, or maybe a Comp 2A.