SKU: 90047666112

Union Tube & Transistor Lab Compressor *Beancounter Edition*

Sale price$94.47 Regular price$104.97
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Description

Union Tube & Transistor Lab Compressor *Beancounter Edition*Maker: Union Tube & Transistor Model: Lab Compressor Condition: New Description: The LAB is an optical compressor. It uses custom optocouplers to achieve up to 30dB of musical sounding compression. We loved how in the recording studio even with tons of compression the old optical compressors such as the LA 2A, the LA 3, the LA 4 sounded smooth and natural. The essence of the LAB's sound comes from the fast attack and slow release times of the custom

Maker: Union Tube & Transistor

Model: Lab Compressor

Condition: New 

 

Description:  

The LAB is an optical compressor. It uses custom optocouplers to achieve up to 30dB of musical-sounding compression.

We loved how in the recording studio even with tons of compression the old optical compressors such as the LA-2A, the LA-3, the LA-4 sounded smooth and natural.

The essence of the LAB's sound comes from the fast attack and slow release times of the custom optocoupler. The optocoupler's behaviour is quite complex, and program-dependent. It can't be modelled with simple resistor-capacitor networks. We wanted the pure response of the optocoupler to define the LAB's dynamics, and not supplement that with RC filtering.

To that end, we tried out just about every off-the-shelf optocoupler on the market, but ended up designing and manufacturing our own custom units. There's an interplay between dynamics, noise floor, distortion, and available compression on the one hand, and the opto's electrical parameters on the other. Since nothing commercially available fit the bill, we built our own.

With just two controls – compression and gain make-up – the LAB is fast and simple to use. It sounds great on bass and electric guitar, and the noise floor is impressive – quiet enough for studio use. It really shines on acoustic guitar, vocals and drums.

 

LAB Optical Compressor Specifications

Power Requirements +9VDC @40mA

Input Impedance 1MΩ

Output Impedance 100Ω

Frequency Response 20Hz–20KHz ±0.1dB

Maximum Input Level +7.5dBu

Maximum Output Level +10.0dBu

Compression/Gain-makeup 30dB

Noise Figure (Rs=10K) 3dB

For studio use you will need to attenuate going in and boost coming out of the LAB.

 

The Bean Counter version of the LAB has a non-colour changing LED and no special packaging.





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Exchange/Return Notes
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SKU: 90047666112

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AMW
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Printer
Set name: Sublimation Printer
Great Printer, love it over my epson sublimation printer
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2026
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yodan2
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great value
Set name: Sublimation Printer
This is my first sublimation printer and I am very happy with this printer. The photos that I have printed have been very good quality and vibrant colors and have applied really well to the sublimation blanks I have used. I like that it will self clean the heads as long as the printer power is on. It was important to me to get an actual sublimation printer in order to have the warranty on it. The printer works with the Artspira app. This app is only available on a smart phone or tablet. It is very difficult to design on such a small screen. Brother needs to have a program that will work on a computer to make designing easier. I did gave difficulties getting my phone to connect to the printer after I designed my work on the very small screen. I used the chat feature on the Brother site and they were able to help me get it connected in order to print.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
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Bruce
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Printer
Set name: Sublimation Printer
Bought is a Christmas gift. Has not been turned off since. Lol
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
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Ms.S.Butta
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 1
NOt good... not great... horrible
Set name: Sublimation Printer
I’m thoroughly disappointed with the Brother Sublimation Printer and would not recommend it. Out of the box, the setup process was more complex than anticipated, with unclear instructions and frequent errors. The print quality was inconsistent, with colors often coming out dull or inaccurate, despite multiple attempts at calibration. I experienced frequent paper jams, which disrupted my workflow and wasted a lot of materials. The printer’s software is buggy and doesn’t integrate well with other design programs, making it frustrating to use. The connectivity options were unreliable, causing frequent disconnections and delays. Additionally, the printer is quite noisy during operation, which can be distracting and bothersome. The build quality feels flimsy and not as durable as I expected. The customer support experience was also poor, with slow response times and unhelpful solutions. I faced issues with ink usage, as the cartridges seemed to run out quickly, leading to higher operational costs. The sublimation prints didn’t have the sharp, vibrant quality I was hoping for, making my final products look less professional. The lack of clear troubleshooting guides added to the frustration. The printer’s design is bulky and takes up more space than I anticipated. Overall, this Brother Sublimation Printer has been a letdown in terms of performance, reliability, and ease of use. I regret investing in this product and would advise looking for alternatives.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
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Roy Adorjan
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 4
Pretty good for the price.
Set name: Sublimation Printer
So far so good. I have been producing a fair amount of items to date. My only wish was that the colors were more vibrant with this printer and it's ink.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2025

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