The other trick you can do with the Pro VLA is set channel 1 up fast to catch peaks (1176 like), then unlink and daisychain to channel 2 set up with medium attack, slow release (LA2A like) this gives you the classic 1176>LA2A sound in one box - works great with bass too.
This sounds great, but a little heavy handed on the mix bus. The ART VLA II does a great job in that department, but 4:1 is way too heavy for mix bus duties. Same with the threshold. 2:1 and about 2-3 db of GR is about right, then crank the output to taste. It's all about cranking the output on the bus because you've leveled the peaks, now enjoy some headroom. The mix sounded great without it on the bus, gentler compression and more output would really do this justice. I've found the VLA II hangs in there with my Summit DCL-200 with those settings and can even do a fine job mastering too. Just gotta go easy on the ratio and GR.
I bought one 8 years ago , but never used it... The other day , I got it out of the box , and stuck it on my mix bus ... After experimenting a bit , I was really surprised about what it did to the sound .. I set it up unlnked , and linked , and played around with settings .. The weird thing is that when it was in dual mode (unlinked) and I set all the knobs the same for both sides , the sound stage just gets more 3D and clearer ! I read that the compressor is actually an opto compressor ,and the tube stage is just for make-up gain , so I guess the effect of making it clearer and more 3D is this, and the slight non-linearities of the differences in the analog paths when each goes through different circuits .. To get more of the tube sound ,you can attenuate the signal going in , so you can add more gsin in the output stage ... Mine is stock , so I could imagine it improving even more with better tubes !
Great video. I love ART stuff. I have a TPS II and just getting to know it. Switched out the tube to a Sylanvia long-plate. Lovely. Your work here is excellent, in every way, and I think gives the ITB producers some more grounded ways of thinking about tone, pre-production planning, and how to A/B things to develop an instinct for the underlying electronics.
Wow, thank you so much, Paul! Making this video and the similar video for the PRO MPA II was a real fun way to take a step back and think about the intention behind adding the processing a little more...it was really fun to use a real tactile compressor!
Robby! Congratulations on getting the ART Pro VLA II. It's a competent piece of kit that punches way above it's weight class. Something to experiment with on stereo tracks or busses is using the unit in unlinked (dual mono) mode. It can really add side-to-side energy and movement on stereo keyboards, guitars, drum overheads, etc. It's subtle, but quite effective at times! Cheers from South Wales, NY, USA! -chaz
I wish the gain reduction lights would go off when in bypass mode. I often think the unit is still compressing , because the lights are still dancing. That’s my only complaint about the ART unit
I actually like this tune. It's fun. Kind of want to hear it with EQ, reverbs and delays, etc now..... You hit a lot of things a lot harder than one normally would work this compressor. Usually there going to be a couple compressors on most things.... Or their buses. Etc. I'm going to be getting one of these. A bit for tracking... Some parallel compression on drums etc.... Definitely for the mix bus. But with subtler settings!
You'll love it I'm sure! I was definitely heavy handed in this video but honestly for the main reason so folks could hear what it was doing...and for a bit of fun 😎 Thanks for watching!
This was a great video. Maybe you ca show us how you integrted the hardware with your DAW. That will surely give me ideas as to my setup. Thx for the details on the settings you used. Excellent stuff.
I find the compression too grabby for the mixbuss. I set the threshold so no gain reduction (not bypass) but then send really hot into it to get the tube fattening. Even clipping the master out on the daw. But turn down the master out on the unit so there is no distortion. It's crazy transparent tube limiting. I did this years ago, but I am going to try it on individual stereo tracks again. I've been using a Retro 176 for mono tracks of course!
Thanks for making this video. I was wondering how you set up your vla 2 for stereo mixing. I am having trouble setting mine up for stereo mixing. It’s prolly something I’m doing wrong.
I got one of these units and could not get it to stop buzzing. I tried everything, so I sent it back believing it was defective and ordered another one. Guess what...same problem! This cannot be an isolated case. Either way I popped for a Warm Audio unit instead...and guess what...NO NOISE! Thanks for wasting my time ART!
Funny story, before I got my ART MPA PreAmp I went for a different company and went through two of their units before I ended up with ART, ha! I had no problem with my VLA but I'm glad you found peace and quiet with the Warm Audio. Sometimes, things like that happen :-)
The other trick you can do with the Pro VLA is set channel 1 up fast to catch peaks (1176 like), then unlink and daisychain to channel 2 set up with medium attack, slow release (LA2A like) this gives you the classic 1176>LA2A sound in one box - works great with bass too.
thank you
would you duplicate a mono track in the daw to do this kinda like parallel compression?
I do this on vocals
This sounds great, but a little heavy handed on the mix bus. The ART VLA II does a great job in that department, but 4:1 is way too heavy for mix bus duties. Same with the threshold. 2:1 and about 2-3 db of GR is about right, then crank the output to taste. It's all about cranking the output on the bus because you've leveled the peaks, now enjoy some headroom. The mix sounded great without it on the bus, gentler compression and more output would really do this justice. I've found the VLA II hangs in there with my Summit DCL-200 with those settings and can even do a fine job mastering too. Just gotta go easy on the ratio and GR.
The VLA is great! Nice insights 👍🏻
Yes I have a Pro VLA II and love it, I use pretty much just as you have done here on this excellent demonstration video..... great job Robby!
Appreciate you, Andy! Thanks for the kind words ❤️ Glad you love the VLA as much as me!
You're Amazing! ❤
Wow thanks so much!
You're very welcome.
I bought one 8 years ago , but never used it... The other day , I got it out of the box , and stuck it on my mix bus ... After experimenting a bit , I was really surprised about what it did to the sound .. I set it up unlnked , and linked , and played around with settings .. The weird thing is that when it was in dual mode (unlinked) and I set all the knobs the same for both sides , the sound stage just gets more 3D and clearer ! I read that the compressor is actually an opto compressor ,and the tube stage is just for make-up gain , so I guess the effect of making it clearer and more 3D is this, and the slight non-linearities of the differences in the analog paths when each goes through different circuits .. To get more of the tube sound ,you can attenuate the signal going in , so you can add more gsin in the output stage ... Mine is stock , so I could imagine it improving even more with better tubes !
Mine will get here tomorrow and I hope I like it so watching your video made me more confident that it will do what I need it for
Enjoy the VLA, I found it very fun and creative! :-)
Just bought one of these over the weekend and this makes me more excited for receiving it this week. Great video!
Heck yeah! I'm excited for you - report back :-)
Great video. I love ART stuff. I have a TPS II and just getting to know it. Switched out the tube to a Sylanvia long-plate. Lovely. Your work here is excellent, in every way, and I think gives the ITB producers some more grounded ways of thinking about tone, pre-production planning, and how to A/B things to develop an instinct for the underlying electronics.
Wow, thank you so much, Paul! Making this video and the similar video for the PRO MPA II was a real fun way to take a step back and think about the intention behind adding the processing a little more...it was really fun to use a real tactile compressor!
Excellent Video. I just purchased the ART PRO VLA II and I love using it for tracking and as a plugin insert for mixing.
It's such a wonderful unit! Sadly my one had to go back to ART as it was only on loan. Gotta get another one soon!
Robby!
Congratulations on getting the ART Pro VLA II. It's a competent piece of kit that punches way above it's weight class. Something to experiment with on stereo tracks or busses is using the unit in unlinked (dual mono) mode. It can really add side-to-side energy and movement on stereo keyboards, guitars, drum overheads, etc. It's subtle, but quite effective at times!
Cheers from South Wales, NY, USA!
-chaz
Yes! What a great idea, Chaz! Thanks for the suggestion :) appreciate you stopping by and watching the video 😎
I wish the gain reduction lights would go off when in bypass mode. I often think the unit is still compressing , because the lights are still dancing. That’s my only complaint about the ART unit
Dope compressor.
☝🏻this person knows 😎
Best demo of the provla ever!! |m|
Wow thanks so much!!
The VLA can be used on a master bus or drum bus with good results. Easy does it. It can darken the track with an excessive ratio.
All I know is some top folks use this. The balance control is very unique and helpful.
This guy is GOOD!
Ahh, thanks ☺️
I actually like this tune. It's fun. Kind of want to hear it with EQ, reverbs and delays, etc now.....
You hit a lot of things a lot harder than one normally would work this compressor. Usually there going to be a couple compressors on most things.... Or their buses. Etc.
I'm going to be getting one of these. A bit for tracking... Some parallel compression on drums etc.... Definitely for the mix bus. But with subtler settings!
You'll love it I'm sure! I was definitely heavy handed in this video but honestly for the main reason so folks could hear what it was doing...and for a bit of fun 😎 Thanks for watching!
@@CantAffordToRecord I appreciate that! It's also often on hitting hardware harder that the separation from plugin comps becomes less subtle.
This was a great video. Maybe you ca show us how you integrted the hardware with your DAW. That will surely give me ideas as to my setup. Thx for the details on the settings you used. Excellent stuff.
Great idea! I'll put that on my 'videos to do' list! Glad you got something out of the video :-)
This video will how you how it's done. th-cam.com/video/L-C3PxUYLNg/w-d-xo.html
I’m in the market to grab a compressor this video helps a lot thanks
I'm so pleased!! I really love this unit 🙌🏻 Thanks for stopping by, Eric!
Subscribed!! Love the video!
Ahhh thank you so much 🙃🙌🏻
Tasteful mate!
Wow thank you so much!! 🙌🏻
I find the compression too grabby for the mixbuss. I set the threshold so no gain reduction (not bypass) but then send really hot into it to get the tube fattening. Even clipping the master out on the daw. But turn down the master out on the unit so there is no distortion. It's crazy transparent tube limiting. I did this years ago, but I am going to try it on individual stereo tracks again. I've been using a Retro 176 for mono tracks of course!
Nice idea! :-)
great video! I like using my Eq pkt with the pro vla 2 to get a nice bass tone.
So glad you enjoyed the video ☺️ oh, I bet your setup gives you a great sound!!
That makes sense. The VLA can be a bit dark or “warm” so a little eq will help clarify certain frequencies.
I’ve got a few myself,I love them great job really good job we’ll done
Thanks so much, Kevin! These units are wonderful!
Waves L1 Maximizer
Thanks for making this video. I was wondering how you set up your vla 2 for stereo mixing. I am having trouble setting mine up for stereo mixing. It’s prolly something I’m doing wrong.
All totally possible, you'll get there!
Maybe buying a better interface instead of one with much more IO would've been a wiser choice
I disagree! I love my Focusrite 18i20, it was a great choice :-)
@@CantAffordToRecord I feel like everytime I hear sounds from those interfaces I'm deceived
@@cowboytonydee Sorry that's your experience! I honestly don't have a bad word to say about it 🤷🏻♂
Is this good on vocals just for home karaoke?
Can I also use it in live concerts?
I don't see why not!
What preamp did you use to track this song? :)
It was a mix between my interface pres and the ART Pro MPA II Preamp
I got one of these units and could not get it to stop buzzing. I tried everything, so I sent it back believing it was defective and ordered another one. Guess what...same problem! This cannot be an isolated case. Either way I popped for a Warm Audio unit instead...and guess what...NO NOISE! Thanks for wasting my time ART!
Funny story, before I got my ART MPA PreAmp I went for a different company and went through two of their units before I ended up with ART, ha! I had no problem with my VLA but I'm glad you found peace and quiet with the Warm Audio. Sometimes, things like that happen :-)