Pro tip for VLA II users... When mastering put a negative low-shelf or high-pass filter before the outboard insert on your DAW's master bus and then do the reverse (positive) after the compressor. This acts as a low-end sidechain and won't make the compressor pump on every kick/bass hit. Try it out! :)
Should also be mentioned I've seen these in use in really high end studios alongside really high end compressors like the 1176 and the LA2A...that's something to be commended. Those two, maybe along with a Fairchild, are the tools of the highest end studios. Doesn't get much better than those in compression world.
Running Duel Mono would need to be set the same in Stereo Mode the Left Chn is the control. In Duel Mono is Two Separate compressors. Also Retube it w/Tung Sol Tube it's 100 x's better.
I had one that I would run in dual mono into a board and it was great with two mics going in for mic'ing guitar cabinets (dual mic'd), bass (direct in with preamp) and drums(fantastic on that) and also for vocals. I was floored with the results. I then bought another for mix down which I would run in stereo, also great, very transparent, and this bad boy is competing with other compressors way above its price tag; punches above its weight class. Should also be mentioned, while it's not a tube compressor it does have tubes in it for the gain stage which is great for a warming factor...swap out the stock tube and I heard it gets even better. On the low end I've had different results, but I'm recording analog on a reel-to-reel, and tape treats low end better than digital, I think anyway. For the money, I think, it's hard to beat it. I use it in a "NY style" compression way through a board for mix down and it really does provide that compressed lift in a very pleasing, transparent and noticeable way. Love it, great gear.
I HAVE FOUR ART TSC TUBE COMPRESSORS ,THREE OF WHICH ARE USED IN A HOME-MADE MULTI-BAND SET UP. THEY DON'T MAKE THIS ANYMORE , BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD PIECE WITH A NICE FEATURE SET. IT IS STEREO AND SOUNDS VERY ,VERY GOOD .
Thanks for the great demo on Art VLA II. Especially how you gave great examples from the same source, you really can hear the difference. Always have wondered how they sound. In the early 90's I had a Art SGX2000 guitar Tube preamp multi effects processor w/ one 12a7 tube, that they don't make anymore that I know of ? I never met anyone who had one these. Felt like I was the only one. It sounded great. That unit and a Les Paul became my sound. Your so right. You can't beat the price + quality of an Art unit. Thanks again. Look forward to hearing more of your reviews.....
Your so very welcome! Hey I was able to buy another SGX on ebay. Should be here on wed 28. I offered a little less than they were asking$250. I paid $190. I still have the x15 controler. After watching your videos, started thinking, and Googled The SGX was surprised. Also found a lot of BBE units I've been thinking about. Do you like yours ?
I too have a hard time with the low end with the vla2. How are you liking it nowadays ? Still finding uses for it ? It adds a kinda 3D effect. When I parallel this with another bass heavy track it’s great.
+Jay Love 'Jay Love' thats a real 'OG' name , luv that yes i switched the tubes to GE tubes i purchased from the tubestore.com. even though the VLA is a starved plate design the new tubes made a big difference. Peace
+nublackmusic Thanks Brother Jonathon. I'm going to take that leap of faith and order this unit today. Thanks for the info to the tubestore as well. 1Love
hi . great video. i have a question . do u have alot of humming with ur compressor??????? i have had that since i had it. i tried alot of thing to get rid of the hum sound. often i use the old compressors etc for vocals. heeelllppp
NOOB HERE. Sorry in advance for any dumb questions. I am having trouble routing/connecting My VLA PRO 2 with my Firestudio Mobile. INFO: Ok so i just purchased a ART Pro VLA 2 specifically for vocal compression. I use a AKG C414 for a mic & Presonus Firestudio Mobile for a interface. My current DAW is Logic Pro X. I have multiple 1/4 TRS cables and XLR Cables (Not sure if they're balanced) I record only vocals so keep that in mind. Basically I am completely clueless on how this thing is routed to my interface. The Firestudio Mobile only has 2 outputs (L & R), Is this setup even possible? I imagined i could just skip out on my monitors (Assuming the compressor would take up all the output jacks and instead just use headphones to monitor the mix. But so far no luck. I'm confused on how my cables get connected from the Mic to the compressor to the interface? Is this compressor compatible with my interface or do I need a new interface? Or do i need an external pre amp? Or am i just plugging everything in wrong? I'm sorry if this is a lot. Im just completely lost. Any help would be so appreciated.
+Arizona Zervas you have to do a search on how to connect external gear to logic . you can not hook the mic up to the compressor. you're going to need more than two outs. Peace!
+Arizona Zervas You need to get a preamp. Run your mic into the IN on the preamp, take a cable from the out of your preamp to the in of you compressor, take a cable from the out of the compressor into the line in of your interface, then your interface into your computer!
PLEASE HELP! Okay this is all a bit confusing. I just bought a VLA 2 Compressor & Saffire Pro 24 Interferface. Complete noob when it comes to setting up the hardware and software. I google & youtubed & tried multiple things but i can't seem to get this stuff running right. Im using Logic Pro X & Saffires Mix Control. What i want is to use my VLA to compress vocals while tracking. So basically i want my vocals compressed before they are recorded into Logic. I don't want to hear the compression while tracking however. I mix while i record so its important i only get the logic master output and not the a compressed master sound in my headphones/Monitors I specifically need help with Saffire mixcontrol because it is so confusing to me. So basically 1. How do i route this compressor to my interface? 2. What wires will i need? 3. what setting do i change in mixcraft? 4. What setting do i change in Logic? Thanks In Advance!
+Arizona Zervas Sorry i don't know to much about the saffire or logic. Basically if the safire has more than 2 inputs and outputs you can have the vla going in and out of the siffire 3 and 4 i/o. you set this up in logic as an aux track. when you record you have the mic track say track 1 sending its single to the aux track. and record from the aux track. it's not as complicated as it sounds. the best advice i can give you is to fool around using plugins first in order to get to know your software. Peace!
I'm very new to these kind of equipment or recording in general and I wanted to know how does an outboard compressor work? Let's say for a reference I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 as my Audio Interface. Now will the outboard compressor work on all 8 analog preamps that the 18i20 has? Or will it only work on certain preamps? Like how the Art has only 2 channels so will it only work on 2 preamps from my 18i20?
Fred Fonacier III For your setting is really simple, you can connect your mics to the stereo compressor and from the outputs go to your Scarlett, for mixing, parallel compression and mastering with outboard gear you can use your audio interface outputs and sending signal through your compressor and recording it back, but you have to know that if it is a stereo comoressor you only have two chanels to work with not the 8 simultaneously, for that you can do a bus channel and work with as many tracks you need
@@pepe7drum i use MacBook pro, presonus audio box, Sterling monitors, very basic setup. I also use a tascam dp03 and Roland ms1. Upgrades will be made😉
I appreciate the review of this. However... I think due to the fact that your output is higher on the Art, you're giving yourself the illusion that the Art is creating a superior characteristic compared to the X32 compressor. Output can always fool the ear. Do you think that this is what's happening here? I mean it seems like an unfair comparison.
the x32 is a utility compressor that works well, true. don't forget that the x32 and all digital mixers in it's class are mainly live sound mixers, which is why i sold mine. The VLA will impart character and flavor and give you a lil certain something that makes your recordings less bland and sterile. Peace!
what are some of you ppl talking about "terrible audio". you can hear everything clear and understandable. what are you expecting a production recorded on neve's and mastered on manley. most of you who are bitching about the audio are lightweight fakes anyway. get a life!
+nublackmusic I think we're just wondering why somebody doing reviews on recording gear doesn't bother to record their voice without a ton of plosives... Move the mic away from your mouth.
Stupid question but just picked up a pro vla 2 like it however my stereo button everytime i engage it, it wont stick i have to continue to push it down. Is there something im missing here or do i just have a bad button.
Thanks bro yeah good call on that i fixed it. Question is it worth replacing the stock tubes that came with the vla 2. I have a 12ax7 electro-harmonix tubes sitting around, wonder if there would be a harmonic difference?
hrflikk im mastering hip hop trap music and i changed the tubes to genalex golden lion 12ax7 very warm low end and transparent "no pumping" got just the db gain i needed for the strip club using a focusrite 2i2 as a/d.
I think this middle tier stuff is a killer, either save up and buy something over $2000 or buy an RNC for $150 (Buy an RNC anyway, you'll still use it even AFTER you have the $2000+ unit, I think every studio should have a few on hand, RNLA too) you can always sell an RNC for what you paid for it, you can sell high-end gear for about what you paid, and both are of great benefit (especially the high-end stuff) but this middle tier stuff, costs more money, contrbutes negligably to the quality and you can barley sell it used at all, maybe for $75 buck......I don't know, I apreciate the video, but I recomend go high, go low stay out of the middle
Terrible.dee you are absolutely right the best way to get that sound that we all crave is by using high-end stuff the middle tier stuff is only maybe 25% better than using plugins but if you have the right techniques and gain stage properly you can get very close to the high-level sound that we all crave we just have to get used to compromises and work around and by the way the RNC compressor is good but it's on the same level as the vla except it doesn't have tubes
Men when u compare you have to do it at the same levels... and whe you go to Mono you have to set the same rations on both channels if you use a stereo signals... And please don`t let peak your meter.
Pro tip for VLA II users... When mastering put a negative low-shelf or high-pass filter before the outboard insert on your DAW's master bus and then do the reverse (positive) after the compressor. This acts as a low-end sidechain and won't make the compressor pump on every kick/bass hit. Try it out! :)
Thank you brother Johnathan for taking the time to run through a demo of this product it was very helpful with the decision to make this purchase.
Thank you very much!! Peace!
Should also be mentioned I've seen these in use in really high end studios alongside really high end compressors like the 1176 and the LA2A...that's something to be commended. Those two, maybe along with a Fairchild, are the tools of the highest end studios. Doesn't get much better than those in compression world.
Running Duel Mono would need to be set the same in Stereo Mode the Left Chn is the control. In Duel Mono is Two Separate compressors. Also Retube it w/Tung Sol Tube it's 100 x's better.
I had one that I would run in dual mono into a board and it was great with two mics going in for mic'ing guitar cabinets (dual mic'd), bass (direct in with preamp) and drums(fantastic on that) and also for vocals. I was floored with the results. I then bought another for mix down which I would run in stereo, also great, very transparent, and this bad boy is competing with other compressors way above its price tag; punches above its weight class.
Should also be mentioned, while it's not a tube compressor it does have tubes in it for the gain stage which is great for a warming factor...swap out the stock tube and I heard it gets even better. On the low end I've had different results, but I'm recording analog on a reel-to-reel, and tape treats low end better than digital, I think anyway. For the money, I think, it's hard to beat it. I use it in a "NY style" compression way through a board for mix down and it really does provide that compressed lift in a very pleasing, transparent and noticeable way. Love it, great gear.
Gotta have one someday, really good quality for the price indeed. Thanks for sharing!
I HAVE FOUR ART TSC TUBE COMPRESSORS ,THREE OF WHICH ARE USED IN A HOME-MADE MULTI-BAND SET UP. THEY DON'T MAKE THIS ANYMORE , BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD PIECE WITH A NICE FEATURE SET. IT IS STEREO AND SOUNDS VERY ,VERY GOOD .
+haYWARD biSHOP yes we had one of those, they are great and go heat to head with DBX.
peace.
Thanks for the great demo on Art VLA II. Especially how you gave great examples from the same source, you really can hear the difference. Always have wondered how they sound. In the early 90's I had a Art SGX2000 guitar Tube preamp multi effects processor w/ one 12a7 tube, that they don't make anymore that I know of ? I never met anyone who had one these. Felt like I was the only one. It sounded great. That unit and a Les Paul became my sound. Your so right. You can't beat the price + quality of an Art unit. Thanks again. Look forward to hearing more of your reviews.....
+Johni Pennie Hey i had a Art SGX nitebass preamp. very nice! thanks for your comment!
Your so very welcome! Hey I was able to buy another SGX on ebay. Should be here on wed 28. I offered a little less than they were asking$250. I paid $190. I still have the x15 controler. After watching your videos, started thinking, and Googled The SGX was surprised. Also found a lot of BBE units I've been thinking about. Do you like yours ?
Thanks for this illustrating demo! So useful!
Very accurate review. I have the unit and I agree on what you said.
I too have a hard time with the low end with the vla2. How are you liking it nowadays ? Still finding uses for it ? It adds a kinda 3D effect. When I parallel this with another bass heavy track it’s great.
Its excellent just don't push it too hard if you don't want to hear that squishy squishy
The dual mono is almost a "presence" control sound.very nice in dual mono
Great vid Brother Jonathon. I'm curious did you switch out the tubes the unit came with ?
+Jay Love 'Jay Love' thats a real 'OG' name , luv that
yes i switched the tubes to GE tubes i purchased from the tubestore.com. even though the VLA is a starved plate design the new tubes made a big difference.
Peace
+nublackmusic Thanks Brother Jonathon. I'm going to take that leap of faith and order this unit today. Thanks for the info to the tubestore as well. 1Love
would you recommend this for electronic producers? big kick drums etc??
hi . great video. i have a question . do u have alot of humming with ur compressor??????? i have had that since i had it. i tried alot of thing to get rid of the hum sound. often i use the old compressors etc for vocals. heeelllppp
NOOB HERE. Sorry in advance for any dumb questions.
I am having trouble routing/connecting My VLA PRO 2 with my Firestudio Mobile.
INFO:
Ok so i just purchased a ART Pro VLA 2 specifically for vocal compression.
I use a AKG C414 for a mic & Presonus Firestudio Mobile for a interface.
My current DAW is Logic Pro X.
I have multiple 1/4 TRS cables and XLR Cables (Not sure if they're balanced)
I record only vocals so keep that in mind.
Basically I am completely clueless on how this thing is routed to my interface.
The Firestudio Mobile only has 2 outputs (L & R), Is this setup even possible?
I imagined i could just skip out on my monitors (Assuming the compressor would take up all the output jacks and instead just use headphones to monitor the mix.
But so far no luck.
I'm confused on how my cables get connected from the Mic to the compressor to the interface?
Is this compressor compatible with my interface or do I need a new interface? Or do i need an external pre amp? Or am i just plugging everything in wrong?
I'm sorry if this is a lot. Im just completely lost. Any help would be so appreciated.
+Arizona Zervas you have to do a search on how to connect external gear to logic . you can not hook the mic up to the compressor. you're going to need more than two outs.
Peace!
Thanks!
+Arizona Zervas You need to get a preamp. Run your mic into the IN on the preamp, take a cable from the out of your preamp to the in of you compressor, take a cable from the out of the compressor into the line in of your interface, then your interface into your computer!
PLEASE HELP!
Okay this is all a bit confusing.
I just bought a VLA 2 Compressor & Saffire Pro 24 Interferface.
Complete noob when it comes to setting up the hardware and software.
I google & youtubed & tried multiple things but i can't seem to get this stuff running right.
Im using Logic Pro X & Saffires Mix Control.
What i want is to use my VLA to compress vocals while tracking.
So basically i want my vocals compressed before they are recorded into Logic.
I don't want to hear the compression while tracking however.
I mix while i record so its important i only get the logic master output and not the a compressed master sound in my headphones/Monitors
I specifically need help with Saffire mixcontrol because it is so confusing to me.
So basically
1. How do i route this compressor to my interface?
2. What wires will i need?
3. what setting do i change in mixcraft?
4. What setting do i change in Logic?
Thanks In Advance!
+Arizona Zervas Sorry i don't know to much about the saffire or logic.
Basically if the safire has more than 2 inputs and outputs you can have the vla going in and out of the siffire 3 and 4 i/o. you set this up in logic as an aux track. when you record you have the mic track say track 1 sending its single to the aux track. and record from the aux track. it's not as complicated as it sounds. the best advice i can give you is to fool around using plugins first in order to get to know your software.
Peace!
Why is it that only the left speaker works when i feed/connect it directly to or from the back of the ART VLA II ? No sound from right speaker at all.
I just bought a focusrite penta instead. lol Might get this in the near future.
I'm very new to these kind of equipment or recording in general and I wanted to know how does an outboard compressor work? Let's say for a reference I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 as my Audio Interface. Now will the outboard compressor work on all 8 analog preamps that the 18i20 has? Or will it only work on certain preamps? Like how the Art has only 2 channels so will it only work on 2 preamps from my 18i20?
Fred Fonacier III For your setting is really simple, you can connect your mics to the stereo compressor and from the outputs go to your Scarlett, for mixing, parallel compression and mastering with outboard gear you can use your audio interface outputs and sending signal through your compressor and recording it back, but you have to know that if it is a stereo comoressor you only have two chanels to work with not the 8 simultaneously, for that you can do a bus channel and work with as many tracks you need
@@pepe7drum so this is a p
Mic pre as Well?
Deejay Facts no this is a compressor only although Art Pro makes mic preamps too which is the MPA 2, whats your set up?
@@pepe7drum i use MacBook pro, presonus audio box, Sterling monitors, very basic setup. I also use a tascam dp03 and Roland ms1. Upgrades will be made😉
@@pepe7drum thanks for replying
I made it 6 seconds.
How can i hook up my presonous channelstrip to my dbxa compressor to my art pro compressor to my 2i2 audio interface
I appreciate the review of this. However... I think due to the fact that your output is higher on the Art, you're giving yourself the illusion that the Art is creating a superior characteristic compared to the X32 compressor. Output can always fool the ear. Do you think that this is what's happening here? I mean it seems like an unfair comparison.
the x32 is a utility compressor that works well, true. don't forget that the x32 and all digital mixers in it's class are mainly live sound mixers, which is why i sold mine.
The VLA will impart character and flavor and give you a lil certain something that makes your recordings less bland and sterile.
Peace!
what are some of you ppl talking about "terrible audio". you can hear everything clear and understandable. what are you expecting a production recorded on neve's and mastered on manley.
most of you who are bitching about the audio are lightweight fakes anyway.
get a life!
+nublackmusic I think we're just wondering why somebody doing reviews on recording gear doesn't bother to record their voice without a ton of plosives... Move the mic away from your mouth.
Can we get a calibration video for the recording chain
All of our recordings are analog and we have more great videos coming soon so please subscribe thank you very much
Stupid question but just picked up a pro vla 2 like it however my stereo button everytime i engage it, it wont stick i have to continue to push it down. Is there something im missing here or do i just have a bad button.
hey they are really easy to open up and work on.
I suggest you get some deoxit spray cleaner and try it out.
Peace!
Thanks bro yeah good call on that i fixed it. Question is it worth replacing the stock tubes that came with the vla 2. I have a 12ax7 electro-harmonix tubes sitting around, wonder if there would be a harmonic difference?
Why cant anybody in the hole wide world, make a audio demo whit this an Electro, pop and Rock Demo , in a mastering session. is it so bad?
hrflikk well the principles are the same regardless of the genre. it's called being a professional. Thanks
+nublackmusic After listening to this video, you don't have much right to use the word "professional." Your Welcome
hrflikk im mastering hip hop trap music and i changed the tubes to genalex golden lion 12ax7 very warm low end and transparent "no pumping" got just the db gain i needed for the strip club using a focusrite 2i2 as a/d.
I think this middle tier stuff is a killer, either save up and buy something over $2000 or buy an RNC for $150 (Buy an RNC anyway, you'll still use it even AFTER you have the $2000+ unit, I think every studio should have a few on hand, RNLA too) you can always sell an RNC for what you paid for it, you can sell high-end gear for about what you paid, and both are of great benefit (especially the high-end stuff) but this middle tier stuff, costs more money, contrbutes negligably to the quality and you can barley sell it used at all, maybe for $75 buck......I don't know, I apreciate the video, but I recomend go high, go low stay out of the middle
Terrible.dee you are absolutely right the best way to get that sound that we all crave is by using high-end stuff the middle tier stuff is only maybe 25% better than using plugins but if you have the right techniques and gain stage properly you can get very close to the high-level sound that we all crave we just have to get used to compromises and work around and by the way the RNC compressor is good but it's on the same level as the vla except it doesn't have tubes
Men when u compare you have to do it at the same levels... and whe you go to Mono you have to set the same rations on both channels if you use a stereo signals... And please don`t let peak your meter.
it's just to give you a general idea of how the unit performs. stop beefing and go make tracks lol!!
1:11 you only said that time is valuable, and no tangible info on the device. Sorry I don’t know why I am crampy all of the sadden :)
this compressor is dope
Yep. Good one
how do I connect the pro val 2 to to a digidesign 002
+Gino Dalino Hi. it depends on what yo want to use it for. look at some youtube videos on connecting analog gear to your DAW.
it sounded shakey to me
for voice recording
single-to-noise ratio
dang that singer was bad “a millyin dot-lerrrz”
tank
It ain't hard to tell.
Makes me realise what a bloody awful song 'private dancer' was.
LOL