ART Levelar

Quite easy to use. It has a threshold and output knobs and three push button on/off switches. The threshold knob decides when the compressor's magic kicks in. Basically, start at the 12 o' clock position and start playing. Keep turning the knob counter-clockwise until your playing turns the orange light on.

Output knob, select to taste. I have the problem where I can control the level of my distorted sounds because all I'm using is the Uber metal distortion pedal. To get my clean sound, I click it off, I . but I found that when I go clean, the volume drops. With this pedal, I can adjust my cleans to how much ever I want. This pedal actually makes my cleans sound so much better.

Now, the three switches. The first one, active/bypass...you can either turn the pedal on/off. But I dont think its a true bypass. so, even if you turn off the compressor pedal, there is still some tone change. The second is if you want to use the pedal as a compressor or as a limiter. The third is fast/auto, which decides how fast you want the compression to happen.

Extremely noise-free. I was totally suprised that its so quiet. the only noise gate I'm using is the one that comes on the uber metal pedal. My chain is Jackson Guitars with stock SD pups -> ART levelar -> Uber metal -> Rocktron delay -> BBE sonic stomp -> Carvin TS100 -> 4x12.

The seller told me that he has not used it much, but when I put my pedal board with the ART in front of my 4x12, the tube started rattling inside and I got a very bad feedback. Probably the tube went microphonic. I have since replaced it and havent had a chance to use it under loud volumes yet. But, mind you, the problem is there. At home, under low volumes the microphonic tube did not matter. This is something you will not see in a totally Solid state compressor. Probably this is the reason the pedal is discontinued? If the problem persists, I have to find a longer guitar cable and keep the pedal far away from my cab. Other than that, it seems quite sturdy and the tube itself has a foam support. Probably it will survive even if it falls down a couple of times, but definitely not more than that.

No idea.

I was bummed that it needs to be on its own power supply. It uses a 9V AC source. My other pedals are powered by a Godlyke power-all 9V DC source. The size is not too big and so it can sit easily on a pedal board without taking up too much space. Its not too heavy and very well built.

To summarize...
Pros: Noise-free even at highest output level, cleans up my stock guitar sound, great for mild compression/limiter work.

Cons: tube can rattle in front of cab, needs its own 9V AC power supply. Does not have a pedal type step on/off button.

as easy as a LA-2A, 2 knobs.

my primary use of this is in my live bass rig. i plug my bass directly into it, and use it to knock off a few db of pick before i send it into a bass eq and a sans amp bass driver.

seems to smooth out the picks and tighten up the low end. i am very happy with it, and wouldn't go without it.

in the studio, it is better for a cool effect. i usually just crank both knobs and try playing around with it.

check out www.swarmtheory.com under sound clips, band, the hollow, album "natio" and track 15(individuality).
this is a AKG C3000 into a levelar cranked, cool sound. it is first effect in the signal path of all the hollow bass tracks on all songs.

knock wood, i have had it back and forth across canada 3 times now, sitting velcroed to my petal board, and it seems to be running like a tank.
i have dropped it a few times with little problem.


am i lucky?

i don't know. no problems yet.

in a heavy prog rock band (www.thehollow.ca) i use it on bass, and love it. it has a natural compression that still lets my ampeg svt speak to me. if i turn back the volume knob, the bass cleans up nice, and when i slam the crap out of my bass, the compressor still lets my amp crunch up nicely (i play a stingray)

i love this effect, and plan on using it until it dies.

best bang for the buck for what i use it for.

i don't recomend buying it to use it in a "traditional" compressor sence.

It doesn't have many knobs, making it simple. But if it can't do the job simple doesn't help!

I use it for base: 4005 Rick ==> Sansamp Bass DI ==> Compressor ==>FireWire 410 ==> computer. I intially was using my FMR RNC for the compression and it sounded great, but after all the glowing reviews for the levelar I decided to get one for 80 bucks and free up my RNC. The levelar doesn't sound bad for bass but it's TOO SLOW!! Don't expect it slap down those spikes that cause digital distortion--ain't gonna happen.

The Levelar definitely has a distinct sound, which can be good or bad. Some people say it adds a wet sound but I would describe it as adding some sizzle. There are probably some situations that it works very well on, but don't think of it as an everyday compressor.

I wouldn't even classify the levelar as a compressor but more as an effects box that adds some sizzle and some fullness.

It works.

Like I said, this is more of an effects box than a compressor. If you are looking for a compressor you can use for just about any situation, then get the FMR RNC. It totally kicks the crap out the Levelar as a compressor. Twice the money for 10 times the compressor seems like a no brainer.

That being said I'm not disappointed that I got the Levelar because:
a) It's cheap
b) It is an effect that I can use for some things
c) It's cheap.

If you already have good compressors and want to see if you can get some particular sounds then go for it. If you want a compressor, get the RNC, get the RNC, get the RNC.

Because there are only 2 knobs, and two buttons (aside from the bypass), it's very easy. The ratio is taken care of by a button (a lot or a little) and the attack (fast or auto-tracking [slow]). The output know I had to spend 15 seconds with to get the effects loop balanced, and the threshold is the only thing I need to worry about adjusting.

Used only on guitar, I play a Gibson Blueshawk. The ART sits in the master effects loop of a Carvin Quad X-amp preamp, which then runs into a Carvin Tube100 power amp in stereo into a solid birch 2x12 cab with Eminence Legend V12s. It's usually the only effect in my rig, other than the preamp's reverb.

No noise on medium-threshold compression. As the unit sits post-gain, it's basically there to smooth out the overdrive texture. It does this very well. Nice and warm and, as another reviewer said, "wet" sounding. Nice boost in sustain. Makes cleans sparkle more and sound a bit fuller. Fuzzy overdrive is smoothed out into something really sweet and singing.

I can use it to get the sounds of Pumpkins, Ash, etc, if I try...positioning it before or after the gain, using it to alter the gain structure before it hits the power amp, etc. Mostly I keep it were it is, to add sparkle and eveness without sacrificing dynamics, and to smooth the overdrive and add even more sustain.

In front of the amp, I lose some of my dynamics, although I can really use it to enrage the tubes further and get old fashioned Supa Tone Bender/Big Muff tones with my preamp's gain maxed and and output set high on the compressor. I can also use it to compress the signal so that it doesn't break up as readily, but not as well as I can with other compressors (the T.C. Electronic Sustain+EQ, for instance).

Overall, does what I want flawlessly. Sounds warm and natural, colors the signal a bit, but in a nice way.

A great investment for what I paid. Does what I wanted a compressor for. Always use it with channel 1 to add clean wetness, warmth, and sparkle; usually with channel 4, in order to smooth the overdrive.

It's small, sounds great, and it adds a lot.

Really, really easy to use: two knobs and three buttons, one of which is for turning on the effect. If you know what a compressor/limiter is supposed to do, it's quite easy to use.

You have a choice of two input/output: 1/4 and XLR. The device is AC powered by a walwart (I hate those. I have never known anyone who likes those and I think it's time companies rethink their approach about how they power small gear like that. No batteries either, please).

The sound quality is really good. How do I know? My guitar sounds like my guitar. I haven't detected any noise or hiss from this unit but I haven't played yet at concert volumes.

I use two combos (Peavey Backstage 110, 65W solidstate and Marshall Artist 4203, 30W tubes).

The levelar does what it's supposed to do without altering the tone of my instruments.

It seems sturdy enough. I tried to open it (I am always curious about my gear) but I stopped short because the knobs are soldered directly to a board which is soldered vertically to another board. That would make changing the tube in it a bit ackward.

Never dealt with the company and I hope I never will.

I based my purchase on the opinions I found on this page and I haven't been disapointed. If it were lost or stolen, for this price and for the features it has, I would certainly want to get another one. In fact, I'm currently building a pedalboard for my electric guitar and the Levelar will go in it. After that, I plan to do an acoustic pedalboard and I might buy a Levelar again.

Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way? I'd say it pushes me to be more inventive while playing clean solos and to be more careful with my picking.

how much easer can it get....2 pots 3 switches

i am a bass player...the only experiance i had before with a compressor was in various digital multi-FX units, and hated them....thought they were usless...i had always heard compression was wonderful on bass....but had'nt been too impressed from what i had used....i looked at the ART tupe compressor for over a year thinking it would be perfect, but i was not so optimistic because of my past experiance...but decided to go for ...the place i got it from has a great return pollicy so i had nothing to loose, and as it turned out a great tone to gain.
i play a carvin lb75 5string into a sansamp bass driver di, into the ART tube compressor.then into a kawai multi fx for a little delay and reverb. i go through a mixer for some eq...then into my PC...i have NEVER been happy with my bass sound until now...
i play alot of slap stuff and the ART levels it all out very, very nicely. it makes the sound tight and punchy because i am able to turn up the volume and crank up the low end without it going crazy. i run the threshold full and the output about 3/4 switches are set to actice/compressor/auto...i highly recomend it to other bass players....

as far as dependibility, i have only had it a few weeks...but it appears to be very well built...cased in metal...would prefer a rack mount but.....

highest rating....and i would definatly replace it if something were to happen to it...

It's fairly easy to find the correct setting, specially for tracking. Maybe it's a bit "too" easy to operate.

I'm using it almost on everything: Vocals, acoustic guitars, electric bass, etc. It adds a nice touch of "warmth" to your sound but IMO you loose some "air". There's not a better way of spending $80 bucks.

Very simple to use. Although it took just a few turns of the threshold knob to find the perfect sound, and just a choice between active/passive (on/off) compression/limiting (light compressing or hard compressing), and auto/fast (regular attack/fast) in my case (fat sound/punchy sound). The manual tells you everything you need to know.

I use it in my fx loop for my marshall vs65 and jcm900 with my epiphone les paul studio(which i don't think is short of a gibson but unique with its smoother tone) with seymour duncan JB at the bridge, and from the front output of my fender PA (150 watts) at full master volume. When gigging, it really unifies our mess of sound. When recording it makes the sound of anything sparkle, sounds wet, as opposed to a dry sound. Not noisy at all. Effects always sound great as long as a strong signla is sent to it. I was kind of skeptical of it having only two knobs, the threshold (sound input at which compression starts) and the output (the output), but its' set up great. Threshold give control of whether you squash the sound or just let it through naturally with a little bit of tube coloring. So you can use it just to make the signal more friendly for recording without much alteration or make your recording shine. Its great for voice, with it, i can get the sound of Brandon from incubus on their cd's. So clear and sensitive, that it comes out the way your voice sound in your head from the inside or even better. Great for making anything sparkle. Works great as a preamp, my valvestate sounds more like my jcm in the clean channel because i can use it at full volume (which becomes a gain control instead of volume) and control the output with the Levelar. The 12ax7 gives it the jcm sound maybe even clearer. It really tames the part of my wah pedal that may hurt ears.

Built pretty tough, but am afraid to gig with it unless kept in a very safe place because of its weight, it would be easy to knock over or slide off a table or speaker. Wouldn't use a backup, except maybe carry a spare tube.Made in USA. 3 year warranty. Great for my studio.

never dealt with them

Awesome piece of equipment, very simple to use, can't live without it. Nobody would understand my words when performing live without it, so i'll probably get the ART tube mp for the mic. I like tubes and ART very much because of its artist list, with weezer, beck, fear factory, and so on. I chose it over the nano compressor because of the reviews on the page but also because of its tube, i try to use as much tube as i can to get a fat yet organic sound. This is a great match for my style of music, which is most genres, anything that can benefit from a clear fat tone. Its very versatile, voice is where you will notice the most difference.

dummy proof. plugged it in and it sounded great immediately. didn't look at the manual. love the "Auto" attack for instant ease.

recording use on vocals, usually an AKG C3000, then through a Spirit mixer. the mike isn't tube, and is very clear. the Levelar warms up and evens out the vox great. invisible otherwise, as far as i've been able to tell.

never had a reason to distrust the unit, but don't gig with it. probably wouldn't, but only because i'd prefer a rack unit. tubes do go, eventually, so there's an inherent level of unreliability.

nice piece of home studio gear. still need a good compressor limiter for other applications. wish it wasn't desktop, but oh well. i'd be very sad to lose it. it stays out of the way otherwise. almost never touch it. like the vocal tone. very musical in those respects.

this unit is very easy to use and really is priceless for direct recording into a pc.

this tool makes my gtr sound shine. i use it w/a pod for direct recording and the difference it makes is night and day. i wasn't happy w/the pod and almost got rid of it but bought this tube compressor for $79 and it has changed my mind. i run the pod into the levelar at full volume and the compressor evens out the boomy lowend of the pod and adds some tube/tape like saturation to the signal that gives me an incredible direct gtr sound. that i can record close to digital zero. i've been recv'ng emails from all over the place regarding my gtr sound and how i achieved it. i think the levelar is the secret ingredient and i wouldn't record w/out it. go to the www.positivenrg.net music page and hear this tool for your self, it really is that good. $79 for such an incredible sound upgrade is the deal of the year.

i've had no problems w/ the levelar and will buy another one when i can as a backup. this unit really makes digital recording sound much more chewy and warm.

i've owned other art products before and have never had a problem to report.

i love many styles of music and this tool works w/ all of them. it isn't flashy but is much more important to your overall sound than any multi fx. if you record into a digital setup and want big, fat, powerful gtr/bass sounds this unit can make an incredible difference in you sound. check one out, it helped me to get closer to the sound i hear in my head!!