Gem COMP LA

Name: Gem COMP LA
Price: 99 USD
Author: Overloud

by Overloud · Compressor · Optical compressor (2A and 3A styles)

Not rated yet

Gem COMP LA simulates two classic optical compressors, a tube 2A and a solid-state 3A, in one plugin.

It adds mid-side, parallel compression and harmonics control. It costs about $101.06 (€89, regular €139).

Best for: Vocals, Bass, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: opto, mid/side, parallel processing, solid-state, vocals, tube, bass, bus processing, metering, mixing, resizable UI, undo/redo, A/B compare, analog-sounding, classic, electric guitar, full mix, gentle, harmonic enhancer, mix bus, oversampling, single-band, smooth, transparent, warm.

What it does

Gem COMP LA puts two optical compressors in one plugin: the tube-based 2A, with a softer attack and a warmer, harmonically rich tone, and the solid-state 3A, with a faster attack and a more transparent sound. Overloud's aim is to add "the flexibility of the digital world" to the analog character.

Two models: 2A tube and 3A solid-state opto compressors, switchable in the same window.
Opto behaviour: a simulated opto-attenuator with a dual-stage release, about 70 ms for the first stage and 0.5 to 5 seconds for the second.
Main controls: Peak Reduction and Gain, as on the hardware, plus an LF sensitivity (R37) control that sets how much the low end drives the compression.
Harmonics: a user-set amount of harmonic generation, with its own metering.
Mid-side and parallel: compress the mid and side separately, and blend dry and wet signal without a separate bus.
Quality and CPU: an ultra oversampling mode; Overloud quotes 500+ instances on a MacBook Pro Retina.
Workflow: resizable interface, A/B comparison, multilevel undo/redo, scribble strips and meter calibration at four levels.

KVR lists version 1.0.7. A trial is available.

Source: Overloud product page

When to use it

Gem COMP LA is the better pick when you want both the LA-2A and LA-3A styles, mid-side and a mix knob in one low-CPU plugin. Compared with the Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection and CLA-2A, it adds the faster solid-state 3A model and built-in parallel blending, but Sound On Sound found it a little flat-sounding next to the Universal Audio and IK Multimedia versions. It also gives you more control than those plugins, through the R37 low-end sensitivity and a harmonics amount. Compared with Pro-C 3, it is far simpler and slower, with opto character in place of precise attack and release settings.

Best for: smooth leveling of vocals, bass and acoustic instruments, and gentle bus compression; the 3A model for slightly faster control on guitars and vocals.
Genres: pop, rock, singer-songwriter, R&B and most mixing work.
Look elsewhere if: you want the richest LA-2A tone (Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection) or fast peak control (Gem COMP76 or CLA-76).

What producers say

Reviewers rate it as a flexible and efficient opto compressor, though not the most characterful one.

Sound On Sound (Sam Inglis, 2021, Gem Studio review) welcomed the mid-side, saturation, LF sensitivity and parallel controls, but found it "a little bit flat-sounding" next to IK Multimedia and Universal Audio rivals.
Criticisms: the same review found the meter ballistics somewhat unnatural.

Sound On Sound review (Gem Studio)

Where to buy

PluginFox: $99
AudioDeluxe: $99
Overloud: $101.06 (regular $157.83) (€89 (regular €139) incl. VAT converted to USD (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))

Tutorials and reviews

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