ART Pro VLA

Pretty intuitive overall and simple but flexible as it can be used for compression and limiting.

I have used for compressing , drums, guitar, bass and vocals. Works well and is quiet. I like it even better as a limiter for mastering. Set the Db level at +5 and crank the compression to max 15/1 it evens out the mix beautifully.

Had it about 15 months so far very reliable.

Have not needed so far.

I believe like the sister unit the tube pre made by ART it is a great piece for the price easily best in class. I am sure a LA at 3g's sound better but you can rent a studio for that.

SUPERB DEVICE

I have used Manleys Urei Fairchild Neve compressors, the VLA shines out there with the very best

Bang on the money and more , anyone who complains about this device needs a straight jacket, psychiatrist,and a life coach!

you have to dig around to find the number but very supportive

up against any compessor this device is stunning.... shame that its black looks a bit like an old cassete deck ! but the VU meters are very nice ...why do they make these things black?????

Very easy to use - as said before !

For it's price range it's very outstanding.
The unit is alaway on a bus for different sounds to throw into it!

I use it mostly on Vocals placed after a 2-1176. It works a bit like a poor man's La2a.
But even on Drums, Guitar or stereo bus it is absolutely a no brainer!

Have mine 3 year now and never had any problems

no opinion

I am producing electronic dance music and it has def a place there.
I own other compressors like the API 2500, UA 2-1176, DRAWMER 1968 ME, Sebatron VEQC 2000 and many more , but this unit will not leave my rack!

go get it !!

Very easy to use, nice layout. The controls are nice and smoothe and the stereo link saves you some time and keeps the stereo image tight. when i got mine i plugged it in and had instant results! however the plug on the unit was not british so i had to buy a converter to turn the 2 prong plug into a british 3 prong plug (no big deal). I also think the manual should be slightly more detailed i'd like to see a basic schematic in there. its also easy to access the valves if you want to replace them.

The unit is nice and quiet, the compression is smoothe untill you start compressing the life out of signals (which is a bad idea anyway). the unit adds a nice amount of overtones, if you drive it hard you will really hear the valves/tubes working, but i usually try not to drive it too much, either way it seems to beef my mixes up alot. Its good for compressing most sounds, ive played guitar through it, used it in mixes and used it for mastering, it seems to make acoustic guitars shine and sound more life like. The unit is also really good at limiting. Its not a fairchild, manley or a TL audio unit but it will beat most other compressors in it price range.
Specs wise it uses valve/tube, opto and solid state technology to do its job, its a good hybrid with xlr and trs jack conections.

it has not let me down yet, i have opened it up and everything is clean and situated well within the unit, the valves are well protected too, i opened a behringer valve EQ a while ago and i was totaly pissed off with the build, but the Pro VLA is built well, i would use it without a back up, and the unit is built well enough to with stand live and studio work.

i havent had to deal with ART yet so no comment...yet!

Its worth the money, i have mine hooked up to a tascam FW-1884 interface and im using Nuendo,the unit integrates nicely. If it was lost/stolen i would buy a replacement. I like the sound and ease of use, i tink the attack and release controls could be slightly better, and i wish the unit had built in mic pre amps too, it would be nice if it had a digital output aswell... but hey thats asking too much considering that it only costs around ??250. It does help me make better music, if you are sick of using plug ins buy this!

Shit don't get much easier to operate. Just a few controls, and wah frickin'-la, you have a real smooth signal, free of any negative artifacts. The stock knobs kind of suck, you can't tell settings from a distance. I replaced the knobs with Harry Davies instrumentation pointer knobs. (old school instrument knobs)
Operationally, one can get very good leveling action without a boatload of noise, or pumping.

The Unit is very quiet, works extremely well on Bass Guitar as well as vocals. Works very well for gentle stereo matstering leveling.
The price/value dividend is marvelous. The performance at any price is great. I also have a couple Summits, and this is "nearly" as good.
(Nuthin' is as good as a Summit)It does the "auto" thing very well.
Sound is very full and toneful.

very good at supplying replacement parts, or service. Though I have one of the very first Multi-Verbs for umpteen years, and still runs like a watch, so unless yer burnin' up tubes left and right, I'd suspect this unit to last a VERY long time.

Works on about any material you throw at it. It's not a speed freak though, so I wouldn't count on it for controlling ultra-fast transients, but with most material it works great. I've had mine about 5 years now, and it works as well today as it did new.
Kind of like a cheap ADL. Works best if not trying to drive the living shit out of it. Average use begets stunning performance.
Though one can certainly drive it harder, it's just slightly less cleanliness, but still extremely acceptable. Best compression value
I have. Works great with their tube pre-amps (MPA's)

Very easy to use.
Typical controls for a compressor.
The output gain is directly tube way.

I can not give a 10 because is cheap. but it sounds as 10.
No drastic. It is a smooth compressor. Perfect in guitars, voices, drums, and bass. for all what you need a warm sound.
I put other tubes (NOS). It sound better.
i have expensive compressors, and the ART PRO VLA is one of my my favourites.

Well, i have two ART PRO VLAs.
The threshold pot fail in one channel of one. I am waiting for the new pot.
Made in china, low quality of components?

Too easy to use. The right knobs, the right text and twin VU/LED reads. Perfectly simple.

My experience with tube rack equipment is limited mainly to this unit and a handful of upper-end tube mic pre's (Focusrite Red, Avalon VT737 specifically) but I do find many similarities between the tonal qualities in this unit and the aformentioned pre's. I've used this on -

**Acoustic guitar direct-in live
Light compression for fingerstyle work, mid compression for rhythm/picking. Generally used between my Taylors and my CA125D Crate amp. This setup easily rivals a Rivera Sedona at a third of the price.

**Live vocals
lightly applied compression at a high ratio - caps off the vox so it doesn't overdrive, adds excellent warmth. I generally use a Beta 58 live.

**Recording guitar/vocals
I ALWAYS record as pure a signal as possible and then apply compression afterwards. This unit helps even out the vocals with a little compression and kills the brittle digital feel entirely. I will also use this during mastering with very light compression but with the input cranked up a few dB.

I think the tubes might be on their way out, but it's a few years old. One of the backlights for the VU meters also went out (-1), but I haven't yet bothered replacing it. Still sounds practically the same as when I first used it, except the tone has gone very slightly muddy (see tube status). I've used this in a studio (racked), on stage (racked and unracked) and our engineer has borrowed it for live mixes and it has seen it's fair share of high-volume input and output. Works great.

No dealings with ART.

A must-have in any budget studio, in my opinion. Again, this gear goes a long way when only doing a little bit. Having two channels side-by-side is a must-have as well. I've even used this for my home stereo (before I went 5.1, I had some beautiful Klipsch speakers on a mid-range solid state amp and this gave the tone a friendly audiophile-grade stereo warmth). I was given this unit by a good friend who dismantled his own studio, and I've been thanking him ever since. Another friend borrowed it for use in his studio, and immediately picked up a few ART units of his own. Our violin player has pirated the unused channel during live play. It's just a friendly, great-sounding unit that has an unbeatable price tag.

Simple setup and operation for FOH use. You set the signal threshhold where you want the Pro Vla to start to effect the signal. Set the amount of compression 2:1, 4:1 to ~ and then any boost in output level...A no brainer and big easy to read knobs and silkscreen numbers. Leave the attack and release on auto, unless you have some specific problem with levels spiking too quick, etc.
Easy hookup with both xlr and trs in/outs. Has very nice feature..bypass switch for each channel to easily tell what effect you are making on the mix with and without the compressor inline.

My first mid priced compressor so not able to compare to others in the price range but definitely gives the ability to bring up the entire program material a whole lot compare to non-compression. Works as advertized to level out the low and high dynamics thus allowing you to raise the amplifier levels. For FOH use, especially outdoor venues, this is exactly what I needed. Strong vocals even out with lower vocal levels. Using this in front of DCX2496 DSP crossover and into Crown amps.

Bult as good as anything in the price range. All metal cabinet and shock mount tubes. Not a whole lot to go wrong other than the 2 tubes. Simple discrete componets - no high density surface mount ic's.

Since I bought this unit used and was missing a part??, I had to order from Art customer service. Staff very helpful and I recieved the part I needed in 1 week from phoning in order. They provide complete schematics for the unit. How many companies today are that helpful! Compared to a guitar company that starts with the letter f, who has no customer service, Art is excellent.

For me buying used, it was an excellent value. But even new price, you will not be disappointed. This unit as well as the MPA Gold, I have seen endorsed in Sweetwater by a well know band. I woundn't waste your money on anything in the lower price range. This was a good starting point for me. It's not a Manley but it's nor $4k either..:)

Simple to set up. I use this comp quite often simply because I can be up and running in no time, making quick adjustments on the fly.

You can add a lot of compression/leveling and not screw up the sound. Noise is never a problem.

Seems sturdy enough. Wouldn't gig with it due to the tubes inside.

Never had to contact ART.

I record rock and Texas Country in my studio with it. Use it on vocals, acoustic instruments, drum overheads, cymbals, even electric guitars. Also have mastered with it. It's easy to get carried away and use it to much. I keep some other comps on hand to add some variety. I'd replace it if I lost it.

If you can't figure this box out, you have no purpose in life. There are several flavors of vanilla in the world and this unit has most of them. A few switches and a few knobs. Nothing fancy and I wouldn't want it any other way.

This unit is one of my mastering compressors. I hate to say that it's normally one of the first units I grab for. It's wonderfully quiet and has a great color to it that blends well with most types of music. I've mastered everyting from baroque and chamber orchestrations to death metal through the PRO-VLA and just can't complain. With the proper connections, it easily falls into reference quality sound.

Seems like a well-made piece. I wouldn't want to tour with it without reinforcing it somehow, but again, for the money, it's just fine. Never had one break down on me.

I've recorded about any type of instrument you can think of through one of these at one time or another - Horns, guitars, bass, piano, harpsichord (yes, a real one...), sitar, banjo, vocals... You get the idea. While I definitely wouldn't want to throw it on every individual track because of it's particular sonic signature, I have no problem recording several instruments or running a stereo buss through it. Again, I use it mostly in my mastering suite where I have several pieces of stock, vintage and custom gear to choose from. It's a product that far exceeds its minimalistic price tag. It has a unique signature tone that I haven't found in any other gear. As far as other "less expensive" tube gear (Bellari, Behringer, etc.), they don't compare. The PRO VLA is the only compressor I've used anywhere near this price point that deserves the letters P-R-O in the name. And I don't say that lightly... "Pro" in a product name is one of the first things I normally run a way from. Do you really have to SAY "Pro" for something to BE "Pro"? It's kind of like rock tunes that sing about "rocking"... Know what i mean? Do you really have to be TOLD that you're rocking?

Anyway, go buy one. You won't be sorry.