The is an emulation of the legendary Teletronix LA-2A optical compressor. Developed by Waves Audio in collaboration with mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge, this plugin is a staple in modern music production. It replicates the smooth, frequency-dependent optical compression that has shaped the sound of vocals, bass, and instruments since the 1960s.

To understand the CLA-2A, you must understand its hardware predecessor, the Teletronix LA-2A. Introduced in the early 1960s, the LA-2A revolutionized audio processing by using an electro-luminescent light source combined with a photoelectric cell (called the T4 cell) to control gain reduction.