Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We just took delivery of a vintage pair of mid-80s Urei LA4 compressors, and I am stoked to get these legendary units back into peak condition! Often called the "secret weapon" by legendary producers like Butch Vig, the LA4 is a unique beast combining both opto character of a Teletronics La2a and the vintage grit of a solid state Universal Audio 1176.
In this video we are:
-Replacing the barrier strips with modern 1/4" jacks for a more reliable studio setup.
-Swapping out burnt-out VU meter bulbs with new lamps from Mouser.
-Performing a full stereo calibration to ensure both units track perfectly together.
-Testing them out on drums, bass, and synths to hear that vintage mojo in action.
Whether you're looking for that analog warmth to take the edge off digital synths or adding smooth analog compressor warmth to your master bus, the LA4 has a character all its own.
#musicproducer #recording #producer #UreiLA4 #VintageGear #StudioRestoration
00:21 Intro and Origin
02:13 La4 Barrier Strips
02:48 New Audio Jacks
03:50 Preparing the Chassis
04:28 Wiring the Audio Jacks
05:26 Replacing the VU Meter Bulbs
06:51 Stereo Pair Calibration
08:12 Audio Examples ( Use high Quilty Headphones to hear the difference )
Gear used in my video reviews:
------------------------------------------------------------
Hollyland Ultimate Wireless Mic Combo
amzn.to/41Q6dnO
Klark Teknik 1176 Style Compressor
amzn.to/49n8Fqs
Klark Teknik La2a Style Compressor
amzn.to/47nWDdW
Behringer 676 Tube Mic Preamp
amzn.to/4qvwuTh
Behringer 1273 Mic Preamp/EQ
amzn.to/47d6BAa
ARC ON-EAR Headphone calibration DAC
amzn.to/4qk6L04
Yamaha YC-88
amzn.to/3EoB0iP
amzn.to/45egppX
Yamaha YC-73
amzn.to/4gHsoS5
Yamaha YC-61
amzn.to/3YExzKY
Black Lion Audio Seventeen Compressor
amzn.to/3RL0LeB
Nikon z6iiI Body
amzn.to/44vxpKB
Nikon Z6iiI w/24-70 f4
amzn.to/40gPyt2
Nikon Z30 w/wide angle zoom
amzn.to/3GIMKOD
Samyang AF 14mm f2.8 lens
amzn.to/3HcQQfz
DJI Mic 2 Wireless Microphone
amzn.to/46HJrSl
DJI Mic 2 Transmitter Black
amzn.to/4eKYtZA
DJI Mic 2 Transmitter White
amzn.to/4o43yRh
DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo
amzn.to/3H9NA4i
Rode Wireless Go
amzn.to/3w9iYK8
amzn.to/3G0ITHh
Shure SM7b Microphone
amzn.to/3ITfpiJ
Mackie ProFXv3 10 Channel Mixer
amzn.to/3ZJpCo3
amzn.to/3XyEOCy
IK Multimedia Z-Tone DI Box
amzn.to/3XeEEAz
( Affiliate Links )
Gear purchased through these links provides the channel
a very small percentage at no coast to you and helps us
continue to make these videos.
---------------------------------------------------------
As a thank you...here is a -10% off coupon to Waves Plugins!!
waves.com/r/02gslu
-----------------------------------------------------------
#mix #audioengineer #homerecording #studiobuild #mixing #audio #plugins #audioengineer #mixer #namm #recording #record #suno #ai #ikmultimedia #yamaha #shure #emi #blackmagicdesign #fender #neumann #warmaudio #presonus #waves
Contacts
Email: contact@featherlightstudio.com
Website: featherlightstudio.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Featherlight-Recording-Studio-185636861461478
Twitter: twitter.com/StevenMHartwell
Instagram: instagram.com/featherlightstudio
c.2015-2026
All materials and video are the sole property/copyright of Featherlight Studio and cannot be resold or distributed without the express permission/license of Featherlight Studio.
We just took delivery of a vintage pair of mid-80s Urei LA4 compressors, and I am stoked to get these legendary units back into peak condition! Often called the "secret weapon" by legendary producers like Butch Vig, the LA4 is a unique beast combining both opto character of a Teletronics La2a and the vintage grit of a solid state Universal Audio 1176.
In this video we are:
-Replacing the barrier strips with modern 1/4" jacks for a more reliable studio setup.
-Swapping out burnt-out VU meter bulbs with new lamps from Mouser.
-Performing a full stereo calibration to ensure both units track perfectly together.
-Testing them out on drums, bass, and synths to hear that vintage mojo in action.
Whether you're looking for that analog warmth to take the edge off digital synths or adding smooth analog compressor warmth to your master bus, the LA4 has a character all its own.
#musicproducer #recording #producer #UreiLA4 #VintageGear #StudioRestoration
00:21 Intro and Origin
02:13 La4 Barrier Strips
02:48 New Audio Jacks
03:50 Preparing the Chassis
04:28 Wiring the Audio Jacks
05:26 Replacing the VU Meter Bulbs
06:51 Stereo Pair Calibration
08:12 Audio Examples ( Use high Quilty Headphones to hear the difference )
Gear used in my video reviews:
------------------------------------------------------------
Hollyland Ultimate Wireless Mic Combo
amzn.to/41Q6dnO
Klark Teknik 1176 Style Compressor
amzn.to/49n8Fqs
Klark Teknik La2a Style Compressor
amzn.to/47nWDdW
Behringer 676 Tube Mic Preamp
amzn.to/4qvwuTh
Behringer 1273 Mic Preamp/EQ
amzn.to/47d6BAa
ARC ON-EAR Headphone calibration DAC
amzn.to/4qk6L04
Yamaha YC-88
amzn.to/3EoB0iP
amzn.to/45egppX
Yamaha YC-73
amzn.to/4gHsoS5
Yamaha YC-61
amzn.to/3YExzKY
Black Lion Audio Seventeen Compressor
amzn.to/3RL0LeB
Nikon z6iiI Body
amzn.to/44vxpKB
Nikon Z6iiI w/24-70 f4
amzn.to/40gPyt2
Nikon Z30 w/wide angle zoom
amzn.to/3GIMKOD
Samyang AF 14mm f2.8 lens
amzn.to/3HcQQfz
DJI Mic 2 Wireless Microphone
amzn.to/46HJrSl
DJI Mic 2 Transmitter Black
amzn.to/4eKYtZA
DJI Mic 2 Transmitter White
amzn.to/4o43yRh
DJI Pocket 2 Creator Combo
amzn.to/3H9NA4i
Rode Wireless Go
amzn.to/3w9iYK8
amzn.to/3G0ITHh
Shure SM7b Microphone
amzn.to/3ITfpiJ
Mackie ProFXv3 10 Channel Mixer
amzn.to/3ZJpCo3
amzn.to/3XyEOCy
IK Multimedia Z-Tone DI Box
amzn.to/3XeEEAz
( Affiliate Links )
Gear purchased through these links provides the channel
a very small percentage at no coast to you and helps us
continue to make these videos.
---------------------------------------------------------
As a thank you...here is a -10% off coupon to Waves Plugins!!
waves.com/r/02gslu
-----------------------------------------------------------
#mix #audioengineer #homerecording #studiobuild #mixing #audio #plugins #audioengineer #mixer #namm #recording #record #suno #ai #ikmultimedia #yamaha #shure #emi #blackmagicdesign #fender #neumann #warmaudio #presonus #waves
Contacts
Email: contact@featherlightstudio.com
Website: featherlightstudio.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Featherlight-Recording-Studio-185636861461478
Twitter: twitter.com/StevenMHartwell
Instagram: instagram.com/featherlightstudio
c.2015-2026
All materials and video are the sole property/copyright of Featherlight Studio and cannot be resold or distributed without the express permission/license of Featherlight Studio.
