EA-3A · v1.2.3 · VST3 · AU · AAXDynamics · one of the 34
EA-3A
The opto with an attitude problem.
Solid-state opto compression — faster cell, steeper ratio, mid-forward bite. Guitars, drum rooms and vocals that need to cut.
Own it
Trial covers all 34 units, then $17.99/mo. Buy Now goes straight to checkout.
macOS (Universal) + Windows · iLok · New plugins drop Sept 18
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Hear it · one instance · level-matched
Measured on this demo · method
Bench receipts · what shipped had to prove
- 13/13 battery checks green · auval PASS
- Measured +1.07 dB @ 2 kHz presence delta vs EA-2A — a different circuit, proven, not a reskin
- Aliasing ≤ −150 dBFS · bypass null
Why it exists
The smooth opto is perfect until the source needs edge — then smooth reads as buried, and you reach for EQ to fix what compression flattened.
EA-3A keeps the opto musicality but moves everything forward: ~1.5 ms attack, a ratio that steepens toward limit, presence voiced into the transformer stage, and odd-order grit when you slam it. Same two-knob workflow as EA-2A — a completely different animal.
In the session
- Put electric guitars in your face without an EQ pass.
- Tighten a drum room while the presence region stays lit.
- Slam it for grit that reads as attitude, not distortion.
- A/B against EA-2A — same design, opposite personality.
Under the hood
System requirements
Buyer's guide
Which compressor?
Seven ways to control dynamics in the rack. They overlap on purpose — the difference is the job.
