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81% positive over last 12 months
98% positive over last 12 months
ART Pro-VLA II Two Channel Vactrol-based Compressor
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | ART |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power Source | Corded Electric |
Noise Level | 6 dB |
Item Weight | 11.02 Pounds |
About this item
- VCA-Less Vactrol Opto-Compression Design, Mastering Quality Audio Signal Path with Tube Gain Stage, Variable Threshold, Ratio & Output Controls
- Enhanced Link Mode - While in stereo link mode, channel 1 level control acts as a master output level and channel 2 becomes a balance control between them, - optimizing the Pro-VLA II for use as a mastering tool
- LED Backlit VU Input/Output Level Metering Indicates Both Average Level And Peak Hold
- Accurate Ten Segment LED Gain Reduction Metering. +4dBu/-10dBu Mode Switch Optimizes Pro-VLA II For Interface with Professional OR Consumer Grade Components
- Active Balanced XLR And ¼-Inch Inputs & Outputs. Toroidal Transformer Reduces Mechanical & Electrical Hum
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This Item ART Pro-VLA II Two Channel Vactrol-based Compressor | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $419.99$419.99 | $694.00$694.00 | $799.00$799.00 | $289.00$289.00 |
Delivery | Get it Mar 27 - 28 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 |
Customer Ratings | ||||
Value for money | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.1 | — |
Easy to use | 4.7 | 5.0 | — | — |
Quality of material | — | 4.2 | 4.3 | — |
Sold By | GearTree | Instrumentpro | Zentra, LLC | Amazon.com |
power source | Corded Electric | — | — | Corded Electric |
voltage | 120 volts | 24 volts | — | 12 volts |
maximum power | 0.12 horsepower | 0.2 horsepower | 0.2 horsepower | — |
noise level | 6 decibels | 74 decibels | — | — |
model name | ART Pro VLA II | WA76 | BUS-COMP | dbx 560A |
weight | 11.02 pounds | 8.9 pounds | 9.68 pounds | 0.7 pounds |
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Product information
Brand | ART |
---|---|
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power Source | Corded Electric |
Noise Level | 6 dB |
Item Weight | 11.02 Pounds |
Maximum Power | 0.13 Horsepower |
Capacity | 60 Gallons |
Color | Black |
Product Dimensions | 21.8"L x 12.4"W x 5.9"H |
Model Name | ART Pro VLA II |
Item Weight | 11.02 pounds |
ASIN | B0012MIVW4 |
Item model number | PROVLAII |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #40,942 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #7 in Effect Processor Compressors |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | July 10, 2007 |
Color Name | Black |
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Product Description
The ART Pro-VLA II is a tube driven Vactrol-based compressor/leveling amplifier designed for tracking, mixing, mastering, live sound, or broadcast situations. By using an opto-electronic design, (as opposed to a more typical VCA driven level detection circuit) the Pro-VLA II allows more compression to be added to an audio source with a more natural, musical sounding output and virtually transparent dynamic leveling. This VCA-less design coupled with a 12AT7 vacuum tube in the gain stage makes the Pro-VLA II an ideal dynamic control device! ART Pro-VLA II Compressor/Leveling Amplifier at a Glance: Great in the studio or live Tube compression circuitry Vactrol Great in the studio or live ART's Tube Compressor/Leveling Amplifier deliver analog leveling/compression designed to work seamlessly with any recording, sound-reinforcement, and electronic instrument application. It excels at making tracks sound rich and full for both live audio engineering and studio recording applications. Tube compression circuitry ART's tube
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the value, quality and sound quality of the air compressor. They mention that it's a nice investment for home studio, it works well and that the build quality is very well made. They also appreciate the slightly crunchy guitar sound and the ability to amalgamate good all audio. Customers also say that it performs better than expected and that it has a great amount of tube grit.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the value of the air compressor. They say it's a nice investment for a home studio, and it works great.
"...It's the same great value for the price.I have yet to try this on a microphone. Just guitar so far...." Read more
"...This is an awesome unit for the money but not for the person who isn't willing to tweak knobs to get the sound they want...." Read more
"...Definitely a bargain at the listed price." Read more
"I have it working nice !!!! good for the price" Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the air compressor. They mention that it's a very smooth compressor with good metering, and it provides crystal clear compression. The character of the compression is versatile, making it easy to get a nice overarching compression ratio for individual channel or main mix duties. It also helps to find an awesome smooth, slightly crunchy guitar.
"...compressor, coupled with the MPA II, has really helped me find an awesome smooth, slightly crunchy guitar sound...." Read more
"...release can go from super fast to slow, this makes character of the compression very versatile...." Read more
"...It's easy to get a nice overarching compression ratio for individual channel OR for main mix duties...." Read more
"...I am very surprised with how well this thing works. It compresses vox so transparently. Awesome thing on the vox mic, or on the mix bounce...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the sound quality of the air compressor. They mention that it has a smooth, slightly crunchy guitar sound, and amalgamates good all audio. The sound is leveled and stays chimey and warm.
"...the MPA II, has really helped me find an awesome smooth, slightly crunchy guitar sound...." Read more
"...Although these tubes sound great stock, a few upgraded 12ax7 tubes make this unit shine. Definitely a bargain at the listed price." Read more
"...It's tightened up my mixes and the sound quality has improved greatly, as compared to the other brand name comp that was in the chain..." Read more
"...takes up a lot of space in my rack, but it works well and sounds fine." Read more
Customers like the performance of the air compressor. For example, they mention it works well, sounds great, and performs better than expected. Some say it's easy to use and very useful.
"...Does exactly what a compressor is supposed to do. Does it well. And is not difficult to use...." Read more
"...a good plugin compressor, takes up a lot of space in my rack, but it works well and sounds fine." Read more
"...humongous "old school" VU meters, this tube compressor also really works well...." Read more
"I like it. I'm happy with him. Is a faithful friend. And it's very usefull...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the build quality of the air compressor. They mention that it is well made, has a solid metal construction, and has grit.
"...I can rely on driving this compressor and preamp to get a great amount of tube grit, which to my ears really just makes amp modeling sound so much..." Read more
"...What I found was a well constructed unit. I installed it in the tape in/out loop of my equipment so I could do A/B testing and was very impressed...." Read more
"...Awesome thing on the vox mic, or on the mix bounce. The box is solid metal construction...." Read more
"...This is a nicely built unit, at a great price that is a wonderful addition to bolt into those small rack spaces found in home project studios...." Read more
Customers find the air compressor easy to use. They mention it's intuitive in design and function, and the meters are accurate, making it easy to dial in your settings.
"...Does it well. And is not difficult to use...." Read more
"...The unit is intuitive in design and function. The meters accurate and make it very easy to dial in your settings...." Read more
"This preformed better than expected. Very easy to use. For consumer grade gear, I don't think this can be beat...." Read more
"Very good sound. Well built, easy to use. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone." Read more
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My favorite part of having this compressor is that it provides the user the opportunity to truly learn how to use an external compressor, and not be limited by the quality of your gear. That is to say, if the user cannot get a good sound or get the right amount of compression, it is not the gear's fault. The problem would lie with the skill of the user. Whereas the really cheap stuff will always sound quite cheap, this does not.
Using a tube preamp and compressor really takes the digital edge out of my guitar work, as quite often things would sound very dull harmonically. Or just muddy and unclear (I don't have a great interface, but still). But using these two pieces of gear have cleaned a lot of that right up. I can rely on driving this compressor and preamp to get a great amount of tube grit, which to my ears really just makes amp modeling sound so much better (I use Logic). This compressor, coupled with the MPA II, has really helped me find an awesome smooth, slightly crunchy guitar sound.
I realize it sounds like I'm pushing both ART's preamp and compressor combo, but if you love this layout on the compressor then the MPA II is also the way to go. It's the same great value for the price.
I have yet to try this on a microphone. Just guitar so far.
Order some tubes with it though. 12AT7's. The stock chinese ones in there aren't so great.
First, let me address this comment from a previous reviewer, "The Capacitors leaked all over the inside of the unit and I had only used it a few time, without much success."
Clearly this reviewer opened the case and noticed the yellow "goo" around the capacitors. The "goo" is cement used to keep the capacitors from moving around, not leakage.
I've used mine for two days and, yes, I opened the case to see what was inside. What I found was a well constructed unit. I installed it in the tape in/out loop of my equipment so I could do A/B testing and was very impressed. With levels matched, the audio quality was identical to unprocessed audio minus, of course, the leveling effect.
You can adjust this unit to compress "the pants off" your material and it will do it nicely. You can also use it as a gentler leveler, as I do, and it does that as well.
A gain control amplifier is a useful tool but applying it to your application takes some practice. If you want uniformly high output, set the thing for fast attack and release, but be prepared to hear breathing and pumping. If you want only to smooth the differences between input sources or CDs, set attack and hold more conservatively. Don't be afraid to experiment.
This is an awesome unit for the money but not for the person who isn't willing to tweak knobs to get the sound they want. It's definitely NOT plug-n-play.
The PRO VLA is a very smooth compressor with good metering. It's easy to get a nice overarching compression ratio for individual channel OR for main mix duties. The stereo link function is nice, but I don't know how useful the panning feature is when it's linked in stereo. I just leave it panned up the middle to keep both channels' output the same.
And kudos to ART for engineering it to be relatively free of pumping and breathing artifacts that plague lesser units.
I've got mine in the main mix insert of my analog front-end/digital back end studio. It's tightened up my mixes and the sound quality has improved greatly, as compared to the other brand name comp that was in the chain previously.
The fact that it's a very sexy looking unit doesn't hurt. The VU's are as sensitive as the ones on my big analog mixer and lend a nice vibe.
I'd put this into the 'why didn't I buy one sooner' pile.
Good stuff!!!
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Mexico on February 3, 2022