IS THE ART PRO VLA THE ULTIMATE CHEAP TUBE COMPRESSOR??

[@mlwsf]

I have 3 ART pieces, including an older version of the Pro VLA, and 20 years later they're all still working great.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I've had this comp for several years. I even bought better tubes...but never installed them. Didn't need to. You will also find this compressor in many, many expensive recording studios in the same rack as 1176's, 165's, etc. You'd be surprised how many word-class engineers love the Pro VLA 2.

[@chinnarciso]

Fantastic. I absolutely love hearing you say that it sounds good to your ears. Other people forget that its not the specs sometimes, its the sound. Love your videos. Keep it up

[@brookbilney761]

This is exactly the video i needed. Did you ever get around to doing the mods on that vla 2 ? Im curious to see what you did to it.

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

YESSSSS!!!!! I have always wondered what you thought about these! Can't wait to watch this one!

[@drewbarefoot4428]

i bought this way back in the day and recorded a friend's EP. Still to this day says it's his favorite record and I know it's because the VLA made his acoustic sound perfect.

[@catojrgensen8912]

Just out of pure interest. Do you remember how you compressed it? What ratio, attack/release, etc. Kind regards

[@LondonSteveLee]

I love using mine as a two stage vocal tracking compressor - ie daily-chain the two channels unlinked both compressing gently - it's very transparent. Had mine 10 years - still perfect.

[@theoneandonlybright6145]

So input 1 going out into input 2, right? :)

[@LondonSteveLee]

@@theoneandonlybright6145 Yep.

[@msb1704]

this sounds genius cant lie.

[@tooniceproductions8798]

🤔 I didn't even think to do this. thank you 💡

[@MartinLutherMcCoy]

Just ordered a revive audio modified vla2. This idea never crossed my mind. Thx

[@LarsTaylorMusic]

I love this thing. Brought 4 singles of mine in the radio with just a GAP PRE 73 (first version) and the ART PRO VLA II in the chain. If somebody can't make good tracks with this, then the problem lies somewhere else...

[@TzoHill]

Do you still use it? Looking to get it to add to my Gap COMP 3A and ART PRO MPA II setup. For Glue and Depth mainly.

[@LarsTaylorMusic]

Sure, every day. It's in my chain on each recording. Gain reduction up to -4db, VU around 0, ratio around 2.5:1 to 4:1 and you are set!@@TzoHill

[@LarsTaylorMusic]

p.s. each track on my youtube channel was tracked with the ART VLA II in the chain.@@TzoHill

[@TzoHill]

@@LarsTaylorMusic u legend, thank you.

[@LarsTaylorMusic]

☺@@TzoHill

[@ozzy3ml]

I've owned both the VLA and the MPA - this one is good, but the MPA is fabulous! The ability to go from subtle and smooth to 'harmonic definition' to full on distortion is so useful. Bit of a Swiss army knife. And...it's high voltage, not starved plate like this compressor :)

[@Fluxwithit]

Modded mine with Jensen (api) transformers, burr brown op amps and NOS Sylviania tubes. Future updates are that I may install faster vactrols and install a bias control on the tubes

[@pvampman]

Is it possible to this with the mpa?

[@stevefleth]

I have the Pro MPA II into the Pro VLA II as my DI's for bass and guitar. ART products are designed in my home town of Rochester, NY but the units are manufactured in China. I've swapped the tubes, 12AX7 in the MPA and 12AT7 in the VLA with EHX matched pairs. The input of the VLA is controlled by adjustable output of the MPA. Sweet sound and clean. Cheaper is bought online in the US.

[@flarfadelic5654]

absolutely LOVE my PRO MPA II + PRO VLA II combo for a home studio! it really hits it out of the park for the applications I'm using them for.

[@beepboop6288]

Had this thing for years and really like it, even when running in bypass it does a nice thing of soaking up some of the muddy low end in tracks in a way that feels quite natural

[@Leo9ine]

Pretty sure that's placebo. Bypass on the VLA is a direct passthrough from input to output. Open it up and look at the board, the bypass buttons are big switches that short the input directly to output. It's no different than a few inches of cable. You're hearing the placebo, 100%

[@grsproductions9869]

Not in bypass but with no gain reduction. A little input from your DAW fattens the signal just running through it.

[@ericvon1361]

A tad bit late on this video, but would really love to see if you ever did any modifications to this unit, and if so a video going over them! Or even possibly discussing ideas for it. This thing has the potential to be incredible, as if it’s not already at its price!

[@Sjammienators]

2 vrienden van me hebben hem ook. Zijn der erg blij mee. Alleen wat me wel opvalt is dat wanneer je heb bypassed de track in het stereobeeld wat wijder is. Komt dit door de manier van link rechts combineren en dat zien als stereo ?

[@JonnyKaine]

nice! I've had one of these for over 10 years and it still works fine, so I guess that says something as far as it being built well.

[@robfernandez5234]

I did the Jensen transformer mod and switched to higher quality matched tubes. Fine compressor, had to learn how to not crush the signal. He’s right, the VUs don’t tell you what you need. The little LED meters below are better.

[@htb123times]

You wouldn’t happen to know where I can find info for mods do you? I want to get into modding my gear but there’s not really any info on how to go about doing so out there. Any help is appreciated!

[@mikecorrado5343]

@@htb123times if you've never soldered before try out a DIY RE kit. if you have, just get to know the parts you're going to be changing via forums - its very mod dependent finding info

[@GaragebandandBeyond]

Can't wait to see what Mods you do!

[@markpixley4009]

I've had the original Pro VLA (not version 2) for about 15 years...there's a lot of mods you can do on these, change out the opamp to a Burr Brown etc...some people add transformers, replace all the resistors and caps with better tolerances...but for me I look at its core design...its a starved plate tube design (meaning it simply adds some non-linear distortion into the amplifier path) going into a cheap vactrol for compression... After considering how much work it would be to do the mods and the miniscule amount of change in color the mods would produce I've just left mine alone and use it for what it is, a really cheap vactrol compressor with a low noise floor...for that its excellent.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

I always thought the VLA was full voltage like the MPA Gold and MPA II.

[@ryanpwm]

@@JimijaymesProductions the VLAII is full voltage. Technically it is slightly tuned down within it's own circuit. When you look at it its clear that the designers toned down the voltage just a bit, likely to make harmonics easier to come by, but it is by no means a starved plate. But that's not really bad tbh. Everybody's favorite Culture Vulture is technically speaking, a design based on starving the tube with full user control. Starved plate can be just as good as full voltage on certain things. It just matters how it was designed.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

@@ryanpwm Ahh so the II is but the original isn't, yeah I have used plenty of starved plate designs that work for what they are designed for such as the Maxon 880 Tube Overdrive (its a guitar pedal) which is starved plate but yet changing tubes makes a huge difference because it changes the gain stage feeding the opamp which does most of the clipping, so no it doesn't operate like a tube amp but it sounds very much like a tube amp. I think I will eventually get a VLAII I am pretty happy with plugins atm but if it adds any of the vibe the MPA II has but with compression that would be cool, otherwise maybe the Pro Channel as it has insert points.

[@Samos12]

@@ryanpwm - "Starved plate" is a term I keep seeing people throw around without actually knowing any facts. I've seen good outboard tube equipment and brands tarnished by what what is essentially starved plate gossip. People will just start saying 'starved plate' it in chats, and it gets repeated, even if it is not a fact...

[@groovywalt6037]

I’m impressed, do you think it is worth to get it for Synths Recording? Thx

[@Skillz335]

i was impressed with mine as well. have you tried any of the warm audio compressors?. i was extremely impressed with them myself. some say the wa76 is too noisy, but i find its noise airy and pleasant.

[@aarona.dubzperson8245]

Check out the LIN76 from Lindell Audio.

[@marvelouzmusic8198]

Je geeft goede info heel fijn dit en mooi plekje Zelf twijfel ik tussen de mpa 2 en pro vla Gebruik de rode ntk2000 en scarlet i21 Merkte dat sommige types veel ruis problemen ervaren wat is jou tip daarvoor? Ik wil het gebruiken tussen de mic en interface voor extra karakter Tot nu toe denk ik aan deze of de klark waarvan je zei dat het useless is,

[@robfernandez5234]

We also did the Jensen mod and upgraded tubes, and as the comment below reported, it really grabs. I’d have a hard time replicating an L2A with this thing. Currently using for parallel compression and after a lot of counter intuitive noodling found settings that wouldn’t crush the signal. Now I can say “good stuff”!

[@octaviohenrique.n]

just bought one! Really awesome. So what is the veredict about changing the china tubes? Does it make any sense? (heard most of these cheap tube units doesn't change much in most of them)

[@TheIVaneysound]

I use it in the Insert master parallel compressor in my SSL Sigma. It adds glue and a little heat in the higher frequencies. I like its sound in this application.

[@lightafluident.9950]

I love mine. Im only using one channel as of now, and I only incorporate it into the signal when I want some added "grit/color". My main vocal chain is a WA12 MK2 black mic preamp from Warm Audio, followed by an LL2A compressor limiter from Little Labs. I'll usually chain the VLA after the LL2A when I feel like the vocal will benefit from both compressors going.

[@LaPlant_Mastering]

I have Pro VLA 1 for years now. Changed the tubes and I love how it sounds on drums. Great cheap compressor.

[@anthonyman8008]

To what type of tubes?

[@trololo_zhirnota]

I got the ART MPA GOLD, it's really good for it's price and you can change the bulbs to get a better sound.

[@dangelobenjamin]

I also use the MPA Gold! Excellent as an input device of course, but I mainly use it as a mixbus sweetener, to add that nice analog feeling to a digital track. It does something very beautiful to the low end.

[@raelmickaelbeneteau1125]

what is the new bulb that you use in yours please?

[@MattDxstined]

@@raelmickaelbeneteau1125 telefunken are very good

[@davidjackson8387]

My Man!! I have the preamp also together with the VLA the sound is great! Your opinion make owning them feel even better. Also that track you're using is Fire!!!!

[@LonelyRocker]

I've had this for a couple of years and paired it with a Pro MPA2 Preamp. Great outboard gear for the money in a home studio setup for sure. As you discovered, even in a pro setting it doesn't hurt to have one of these lying around...for the money :)

[@MrGunMusic]

You did the modifications to it? I'm very curious if you still use it in your chain now.

[@oliverbahr6157]

As an every now-and-then Netherlands visitor, I simply love vla. Best served cold, with vanilla taste and plain with no snake oil.

[@the1111machi]

H O P J E S V L A

[@badmonkeymusicproductions3569]

Mine is modded by Revive. I've sold many more (high end) pieces, but this one stayed. Great comp

[@johnstitt2615]

I use this sometimes in a guitar pedal and preamp chain with an IR pedal. It is the last piece of gear before it goes into the DAW. Sounds good.

[@martinsnelaudioenhancement]

I like how it cleans up the boomyness in the low end en makes the hi end smoother 👌 Could you make a video on how this sounds compared to a comparable plugin?

[@1972OGTony]

That's more likely your using mediocre converters cause that's what I thought when my interface was a Focusrite 18i20. Once I switched to an RME that changed and the lowend is punchier now. If you even listen to this video you don't hear any loss lowend.

[@ryanpwm]

@@1972OGTony can attest to that. I've used a motu ultralite and focusrite before getting a modified apogee symphony. I wonder if it's consistent that low end converters have trouble with low end punch. You can see it directly on a frequency analyzer sweep. Only low end converters I know that add punch are Akai's. And that's just bit distortion.

[@__prtcl]

@@1972OGTony *you’re

[@repsossa]

Hola amigo, que equipo analógico de entrada me recomendarías para enviar mi mezcla ITB y que regrese al Daw para ganar el mejor carácter analógico posible?

[@MarlonKingShow]

Thanks for the review. Very interested in wither this or a 1177 clone, still undecided what is best for £500 or less... Guess this gets you 2 channels instead of one and some tube goodness so a lot more than just a clone.

[@dragonfly_bry]

I love everything about mine except the stereo link. I only use dual mono now cuz it doesn't kill the stereo field. Great channel man, keep it up.

[@davidallenhammond2777]

Thanks, it's nice to see the unit get some praise. I have an original Pro VLA for many years and it does a fine job and was really cheap. Because of your review, I'm thinking of getting the VLAII for the stepped controls, recalls would be much easier. Thanks again.

[@Bigricky06]

I got the ART pro channel II tube preamp, compressor and EQ. Sounds very beautiful and warm and i paired it with an Aston spirit condensor microphone. Beautiful sonic relationship. One time i connected my mic directly to the focusrite 2i4 2nd Gen i had and immediately took it off and put the ART Pro Channel back. I immediately understood why people make sure to get good quality preamps.

[@nerdhound5891]

I have this as well as the MPA II Pre-amp. Even without being modified these devices are awesome!

[@DesertCompanion]

I love my MPA II. Best bang for your buck out there.

[@Yavor_B]

Thanks for this review - very helpful. I have been reading that you can exchange the tubes for Electro Harmonix ones, and they should improve the sound even more. I am in the market for a first hardware compressor, to add a bit of character/warmth to my techno productions. Not sure whether I will use it on the drum bus yet, or the master channel, but I think I would go with this one. Is there a better alternative, according to you? (even if a bit more expensive..)

[@TommyLoveRock]

Hi! Wondering about the mod you talked about. Did you make a video of that? Great video btw! 👍🏻

[@Applecompuser]

This looks very cool. Could it power computer speakers? I wonder what uses it could have other than to modify recordings.

[@cyorkgo]

Keep us posted on the Mods you do to it. Black Lion Audio used to mod these. I have one and was going to mod mine. Pound for pound its a great unit.

[@jonathanveriez3766]

hoi! bedankt voor al je videos! zou je deze aanraden als een eerste mixbus compessor? ik werk nu al even met een mengtafel wat het al makkelijker maakt om de sound te krijgen die ik wil zonder hopen plugins te gebruiken om een analoge setting te faken. het enige nadeel is dat ik mezelf vroeger gewoon heb gemaakt om te mixen met een compressor op de mixbus dus ik zoek nu iets betaalbaar analoogs om door te mixen. de andere voorlopige betaalbare optie is de fmr rnc, maar ik weet niet als je daar ervaring mee hebt. alvast bedankt voor je antwoord :)

[@RecordingStudio9]

Been using for a few years with no issues and like you, very impressed with the results myself.

[@JohnnyOSKinDeep]

Did you ever do the modification video? I replaced the tubes with telefunken tubes but id be very interested in what you have done.

[@johnisrael5183]

I just got one along with the Steinberg UR RT 4 Interface...and some better cables for my Mixing Console.....loving it.....sounds great...looks great...for the money........very very great sound and functioning

[@dirtyvibeofficial]

Which one. Use compressor when recording or use compressor at pre post processing after recording?

[@manuelclayseed]

Hi. Did you notice a change when you changed the tubes?

[@gilsondigue29]

Hi! So you said that this is not a real tube pre amp. Would say that Warm Audio MPX tube pre amp would deliver much higher quality than this unit? I am in doubt if I buy the WA MPX or the VLA ii. I have a Telefunken TF11 condenser FET mic and I have heard that FET mics work really well with tube pre amps.

[@WH3]

This isn't a pre amp. So you don't power a microphone with it. You can put it in a signal chain to give a mic character after a pre amp, but it's more of an entry level stereo bus compressor with tubes. Take a look at the ART Pro MPA II that is a pre amp with tubes for two mics, or the ART Voice channel for one.

[@LoveAudioProduction]

I love the track you used to demo it too! Super funky 😊

[@bthellam]

When making the video, did you have it set in back for -10 or +4? When running full mixes connected to my interface outputs (and the interface's meters are averaging around 0), when the VLA is set to -10 db the needles and LEDs are constantly in the red and when set to +4 db the needles and LEDs are constantly well below 0 db. The threshold is set to 5:00 for no compression. (I do wish it had input gain calibration!)

[@7171jay]

Input gain is not necessary for a compressor and you will find many that don't have it. The LA2a is a well known classic that doesn't and there are many other examples of this. One simply adjusts the output of the device feeding the compressor (micpreamp or audio interface output) and that gets you where you need to be for input level on your compressor. The -10 and +4 switch is a nice extra that helps you get closer to the level you desire before adjusting the output of the device that is running into the comp. Maybe you have figured this out in the last six months but I wanted to avoid your comment from possibly confusing others and incorrectly thinking that a comp without an input control is a problem which it is not.

[@Madrrrrrrrrrrr]

I have 2 of these but put them in storage. Never really used them because I thought I bought cheap stuff. Bought them to be molded but most reviews say mods are too much work and sound doesn’t get much better. And I realized real tubes run on a much higher voltage. So I hope you change my mind so I can uses them again. Can’t wait for the mid video!

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Love to see the mods, Ive got a Digital MPA which is great and even sounds cool running audio back through it to add a bit of warmth/vibe.

[@tukimono]

when will you show us your modification video??

[@tinman1528]

A review for the ART PRO MPA II microphone preamp would be great also. I have the PRO MPA II and swapped out the stock China tubes with JJ ECC83-S/12AX7 (short plate) tubes that were matched and balanced (at Eurotubes USA) with a gain factor of 105 and transconductance rating of 18 and it sounds excellent. I can get a very nice pleasing analog "tube" sound. Plus, It has a great signal to noise ratio (low noise). A major bonus is the plate voltage selector. I find that using the "high" plate voltage and "low" plate voltage options gives a nice selection of tube colors when driving the tube circuit into soft clipping (Note: I know exactly what voltage is used for both of those settings and I can tell you that the "high" plate voltage setting is not a starved tube design). The unit also has a variable impedance knob that offers a nice control for certain types of microphones. The ART PRO MPA II is worth checking out. The ART PRO MPA II is an amazing preamp with lots of features and a great sound. I hope to see a review here in the future about it. You may enjoy having the ART PRO MPA II in your studio. I use it for processing audio signals on a regular bases (for both recorded audio files and for live microphone recording as well). Keep up the great work. I always enjoy your reviews.

[@yamiteru4376]

Would you recommend this for podcasts?

[@Vikotnick]

Hey! Ive been watching and enjoying your channel for a long time. I am a little confused though. Having all of the UAD plugs and the Fabfilter etc, why would I want any analog things? Patching this way and that. Recaling, re-rrouting, etc. I dont get it anymore. I might have before but not now....

[@caustixsoda8125]

more people are selling off their hardware for that reason!

[@aarons6617]

Because software will never sound as good as hardware :) Never

[@G_handle]

1 thought: Tracking vs Mixing. When recording acoustic instruments or vocals, traditional signal paths before your A/D allows you to shape on the way in before you capture. Source, Room, Microphone choice, Microphone placement, Microphone Preamp, then Dynamics and EQs, all before the Capture. The art and science used to be how each recording engineer approached all of this. And ALL of this front end is still Analog.

[@G_handle]

Another thought: If you came up mixing in an Analog Studio on a actual Consoles and Outboard, you know that while the digital world has convincingly replicated the Sound of nearly all things Analog, and has improved recall, and has added features and controls unimaginable in Analog, AND every plugin, as opposed to its Analog counterpart, can be used an unlimited number of times, unless you invest in a high end Control Surface, the workflow with a mouse ain't quite mixing. For one, you are clicking one parameter at a time, rather than using both hands to control multiple buttons, knobs, and faders. In addition, when you are adjusting the controls, you really are manipulating an electrical signal, through various circuits, that are all interacting with each other, in real time under your finger tips, with meters telling your eyes what the signal is doing, and monitors telling your ears whether or not it sounds good. The Mix engineer is Performing a mix, and like all of the other musicians, she uses her instruments to make the music. Unlike the other musicians though, the engineer's instrument is a room full of interconnected circuits, and now code, that have unlimited variables, operate across the entire frequency spectrum, and don't have to be played all at once.

[@c3r1c38]

@@G_handle With UAD from the Mic Preamp and forward you get that before capture, but with plug-ins (assuming you're using one of their interfaces). That's the big appeal of a UAD interface, you get it for capture and tracking (with perfect recall). As to the mouse vs. control surface, yes. You are 100% correct, but with all the money you save going digital usually one can afford a good control surface (vs. the cost of setting up and maintaining an 'all-analog' studio), and usually they aren't that expensive (unless you live in Pro-Tools land and have to buy Avid instead of a 3rd party).

[@miltonmagik]

I already have a Tube core Varimu 500 series compressor, Do you think I should add this one to the chain?

[@therealjackfisher]

52 seconds in to the video and I already love it! All I needed to hear to get involved.

[@seanbell8216]

Hey Wytse, did you end up doing a mod on this one? I'd love to know exactly what you did. Comparison video maybe?

[@QECHUABOi]

Please, what brand of tubes do you recommend to change it?

[@sagarchawla8145]

Hi buddy, I'm late to the party. I would really like your thoughts on whether should I go with this one or the Warm Audio Bus Compressor for 2 Bus processing. I produce modern trap/hip-hop style music. I really really like the sound of the PRO VLA II over the WA bus comp, but my only concern is this unit lacks the Side chain feature so low frequencies might take a hit. Your thoughts please. 🙏🏼

[@sagarchawla8145]

Please enlighten 🙄

[@jeremythornton433]

Thanks for this video> I seriously thinking about getting one. I'm trying to decide on this or the Berhinger Stereo T1952 Tuber Composer.

[@musicislife704]

Is there away to sidechain lows so there not effected using this compressor?

[@danielortizdecaracas]

Dear Mr. I would like to ask you, what can I do today 2022 with an analog gate? an audio logic AL440, 4x4 in/out, what do you suggest? do i keep it? I'm selling it? I'm looking for new valid creative uses for pieces of hardware already disincorporated, in the style of alesis adat, or tascam da88, etc. thanks in advance

[@voronOsphere]

I have the original Pro-VLA. I still use it to add a touch of reduction on the stereo overhead drum mics while recording. Attack & Release are buttons: Fast and Auto. Nothing else. I usually have Attack on Auto and Release on Fast.

[@boutrosboutrosboutrosboutros]

great review I am looking at one of these for teh exact reason you stated: to tame the crunchy digital high frequency sounds and warm up the tone of a digital recording for a post mix down

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

Hell yeah bro this was my first piece of analog gear and I still love it. Actually got a second for other instruments too. Great as a mix bus compressor as well as guitars and drums just really nice and like you said the way it treats the highs is very musical and smooth. Looking forward to your next videos on it!!

[@CraftWon]

Is it good for vocals? And bass?

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

@@CraftWon yes! Great for both.

[@avenlanemusic]

Just got mine and noticed that the signal from channel 2 can be heard on channel 1, it’s not loud but you can hear it when you solo that channel In the daw. i don’t have stereo link on when this happens. Is this normal behavior?

[@AtTheSourceStudios]

@@avenlanemusic double check all your panning.

[@duschimmel750]

But is that better than a plugin? What would you say?

[@flackotv809]

which PREAMP is best for vocal quality , i want my vocals to sit on top of the beat and i want them to sound crispy clean as well , should i get ART PRO MPA or ART PRO VLA II ?

[@gregoryisom8333]

Do you think this unit compares or comes close to the MILLENNIA TCL-2 STEREO COMPRESSOR/LIMITER? As this unit looks a lot like the Millennia!

[@johnnybrit804]

My ART VLA II compressor keeps company for my Distressors and Fatsos. It is an excellent optical compressor that incredibly is part of the configuration of large studios. Soon, I would like to buy another unit. It can be a soft compressor or a very aggressive one. I don't recommend it much for the Master Bus, but I recommend that it track and mix individual tracks. A valve is actually there to add some heat to the signal flow, according the review. With regard to valve replacement, this procedure is useless. As the valve is not in the compressor segment it has no more than 1% harmonic distortion. We have already done this by including measurement software at the device output outlet. This is a great compressor to keep original, unless the MOD includes items other than the valve.

[@Dirt_Serpent]

The art compressors are absolutely awesome. I love these things.

[@spyoutube1467]

Hey TY, I got the Art pro and pro VLA but I can't get the VU meter up unless I turn the gain up on the knobs. And then the microphone clips easily. If I turn down the gain, then the VU meter doesn't move at all and is not using it's potential. I'm using the slate ml 1 microphone.

[@joek2904]

Could this replace a distressor? Not sure I’m ready to spend a bunch of money on a distressor yet.

[@Luna25174]

Do you think the 12ax7a /ecc83 tubes are going to work well on it???

[@jasperdany]

Did you so upgrade the equipment parts of this product ?

[@Darksagan]

Could you recommend a 500 series compressor that equates to this price range and quality?

[@snippletrap]

FMR RNLA

[@garyfox8]

I have this and a couple of the ART Pro Channel 2 channel strips. I run signal from the pre amp of the Pro Channels to the VLA, then back to the Pro Channels, which have their own compression and eq. This lets me layer my compression, the VLA tames the peaks, then the Pro Channel compresses a little more before the EQ. For a home project studio, ART provides great products at a great price.

[@djontheweather]

debating buying one right now. appreciate the honest review!

[@EgoShredder]

2:15 - Always make sure to hold the socket at the same time, to avoid damaging the PCB soldered pads and traces.

[@3dogrecordingstudio628]

Hey did you ever do any upgrades to the Pro VLAii?

[@bryanbrown3079]

Have you had a chance to mod or replace the tubes? interested in the results

[@521Life]

I’ve heard negative comments about ART products but my experiences with them have only been positive. I use the OctoTube preamp everyday along side high end Preamps. I’ve seen this comp, but wasn’t sure about it. I may take a closer look now.

[@OdinOfficialEmcee]

I can't wait to see what alterations he makes to the unit and if it can become even better!

[@TheGastonrene]

I was wondering what changes you are going to do to the unit

[@LarsTaylorMusic]

p.s. Set the ratio around 3:1, never more gain reduction than -4db at highest peaks and you whil have wonderful, thick, well leveled but never sounding compressed tracks while recording. And the Level meter alone is worth the price. You will never have a problem with gain staging later in your DAW. You just have well leveled, mixing ready tracks. I had my ART pro vla II on every guitar track for my single "Sweet Onion" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3PGZoqjYs6lqLs

[@onveutdesmillions3220]

your song 😶

[@blazersaint144]

The LA610 has the same opto cell as the LA2a do you think they sound similar ?

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

thanks for introducing me to elysia alpha compressor just downloaded the software version and it's a game changer hope to buy the hardware in the future love these hardware test and also what kind of mastering equalizer do you use i use a manley massive passive eq from ni softube which is called "passive Eq" if you have the hardware would be glad to test head to head since the only hardware i own are ssl x-racks and softube console 1 and fader.

[@Luna25174]

Escuse me do you know if can I use the channel one with my preamp to record and later use the channel two for inserts for mixing .??( as a plugin)) there are any problem with it???

[@everybodyhasoul5438]

Really enjoying the Sandstorm remix you played at 5:26.

[@muzk8887]

love ART stuff, compressor and channel strip. another contender would be the RNC comp and the RNLA which is same price range and a fav and might be worth a review.

[@ogasi1798]

here the art is twice the rnc and 150 more than the rnla

[@G_handle]

Imagine a 32-channel (64 Inline) Analog Console (Soundcraft Ghost), with 4-Stereo Sub-Groups into the 2-Bus. Now add 5 VLAs as Mixbus Processors. 64x8x2. Now mod the Desk and the VLA MBPs. Incredibly low noise floor, fairly transparent, butter smooth, yet fully controllable dynamics. This makes a super tight, relatively inexpensive, nearly colorless, nearly noiseless, but totally Analog platform and centerpiece for a modern Hybrid studio. From there, you can engage the 32 4-band, or 64 2-band Console EQs. Then you can insert ANY Colorful Analog Outboard you desire (or own), precisely where you want it, without "muddying up" the entire mix. In this Hybrid Setup: DAW Tracks, 64-Channel Interface, CLEAN Analog Summing, CLEAN Analog Compression, Season to taste, Print the 2-Bus. You can still process everything Before it comes out of the Box, say adding a Tape Emulation across all channels, say adding a Channel Strip Plugin across all channels BEFORE you come out into Actual Channel Strips where you disengage the EQs and just use the Routing and Summing. And if you have the Interface I/O, you can run the Analog Channel Inserts Back into the DAW, add whatever plugins you like, then come back out in series (managing latency of course). You can Parallel Process, and run Effects in your Rack or in your DAW, then back into the desk as Effect Returns or on unused channels. I strayed away from the topic, but the takeaway is that the ART VLAs, whether just one on the Main Bus, or many across all your Busses, is the Cheapest and Cleanest piece I know of for a full featured, versatile Hybrid Mixing system.

[@otobotrecords]

I used to run a similar setup with an Onyx 32-4 and then an A&H GL Series 8 Bus with full usage of the matrix. It's great to have, but means also a helluva lot more maintenance and need for structuring. Alone the cabling across 4 full sized patchbays, outboard FX and compression and 16 I/O from the DAW weighed about 70 kg. Nowadays I'd run a downsized hybrid setup with a smaller form factor console from A&H or Soundcraft and an additional even smaller headphone mixer.

[@G_handle]

@@otobotrecords Then you know! I hear you on the "easier approach" available nowadays, I have a few setups, its mostly recall that dictates. But there's nothing quite like spreading your song across the desk, balancing on faders and pans, then EQing tracks against each other with both hands, and no "latency", the Analog flowing through your fingers into your ears. The whole game has evolved. From 24-track 2-inch, into a desk with EQ and Outboard Dynamics, back to 2-track tape. Then DAT tape. Then SSL shoved recall and Dynamics into the board. Then Pro Tools replaced the Tape Machines. Then it all got so cheap and fast that you could kinda do it In The Box. But it wasn't the same. But now we could afford to build our own "Project Studios", no more tape (okay maybe Adat or DA-88s), Live Boards or "Small Format Consoles", then print back in. Somebody started calling it Hybrid. Now with the computers getting faster, and replacing Drum Machines, Sequencers, and Synths (VST VIs) and companies getting better and better at emulation plugins of Analog gear, one day, somebody somewhere, completed the entire process inside of a Mac. And immediately Gear Sluts became like holocaust deniers and said it wasn't "real" whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean. Fast Forward to 2020, and SSL, Neve (both of them), API, Audient, Trident, etc. all have Small Format Consoles, designed to be used in Small Hybrid Studios, and sound better than their old ones for the price of a small car rather than a house. At the same time, In The Box mixing is so respectable now that Most music never leaves the computer, and many of the biggest mixers have switched entirely to digital and plugins. And, for me, the Console 1 system, combined with UAD integration and near zero latency, FEELS the most like mixing Analog so far. In some ways even better, for instance switching between 20 channels at a time in say a 100 channel mix, rather than sliding a chair all the way left or right, tweaking, then sliding back to listen. Now its 5 bank pushes, pick a channel, never leave the sweet spot, and every channel strip comes to my fingers. So why fuck with an Analog Desk, or hundreds-of-pounds and thousands-of-dollars of Mogami, and patchbays, and soldering, and all the other gear, when you could just load a DAW, add some plugins, and grab a mouse. I don't know. Maybe I'm just stupid. But I'm not alone.

[@G_handle]

@@otobotrecords BTW, never used the Onyx, but the Mackie 8-Bus changed the game back in the day. All the power of a real inline studio Console. But then I heard the Soundcraft Ghost, and instantly fell in love. It was like having a girlfriend, and everything is going fine, but then you meet HER, and everything changes. She's down for anything and can do things you never even thought about. She's got that sexy British accent that makes your girlfriend sound so plain and now annoying all the sudden.

[@G_handle]

@@otobotrecords Annnndddd ....to me, the Allen & Heath GLs were.... logical...and flexible, I knew a couple of dudes that had em, I really liked the stereo channels rather than using two of my 32, but I didn't like that it wasn't inline, and you couldn't split the EQs. (Also, both roll off at 100 which is limiting). But the key difference to me, once you laid everything out across the board, set your routing, got your levels and pans into a solid static mix where you could hear "the song". That's when I engage the EQs, and the real difference between all consoles reveals itself. How do the manipulate the sound? What of their Own sound gets added to the track in the process? In my mind, the Allen & Heath EQs sounded much better than the Mackie's. But it sounded like a dude. A dude's mixer for dude music, like rock etc. The Soundcraft EQs felt like poor man's Neves. Voluptuous, soft, round, thick, smooth. Getting a kick, snare, and a bass to play together was like a menage a troix. Everything just feels right. In contrast, mixing in the box can feel like having sex in an exam room with all the lights on.

[@timothylawrence707]

I'm really getting into this channel. I like your enthusiasm and you're very knowledgeable. If you're feeling so inclined, it would be interesting to get your take on the new AMS Neve 1073OPX. There are so few reviews on this eight channel preamp out on KZbin.

[@LaymensLament]

Currently deciding between a pro vla ii or a gap comp 2a, for tracking vocals at home. Any input on this? Probably I just try both.

[@zinu_98]

Hello, can I use Colman audio's VUMeter as a replacement through BYPASS?

[@fabianvasquezjr8852]

My first outboard rack comp, still got it, still use it, even though I have way better gear now. Works great for cheap!

[@andrew1479]

I have a Behringer Tube Compressor T1952. It too was a pleasant surprise. A lovely sounding compressor made even lovelier by replacing the SOVTEK tubes with genuine NOS 1960s Mullard tubes.