The ART Pro VLA II Two Channel Vactrol-Based Compressor is a tube driven Vactrol®-based Compressor / Leveling amplifier designed to excel in any professional audio environment.
The ART Pro VLA II is an indispensable tool for tracking, mixing, mastering, dynamic control of live sound sources or for use in broadcast audio. The ART Pro VLA II is capable of delivering a far more musical natural sounding and sonically transparent compression than competitive units in its class, the ProVLA II uses an Opto-electronic circuit rather than the more typical design VCA driven level detection circuit.
This VCA-less design coupled with a 12AT7 vacuum tube in the gain stage makes the Pro-VLA II the ideal dynamic control device for critical audio applications. Exceptional signal integrity with extremely low noise and low distortion is achieved in the ProVLA II by utilizing a transformerless design throughout.
The ART Pro VLA II features Vactrol® Technology. Vactrol® design allows the ProVLA II to react to audio signal in much the same way the eye naturally adjusts to fluctuations in light levels – smoothly, quietly and almost imperceptibly. XLR and 1/4-inch TRS balanced inputs and outputs are provided to ensure the ProVLA II can connect with any audio source or hardware. A +4dBu/-10dBu mode switch optimizes ProVLA II I/O for either consumer or professional equipment.
The ART Pro VLA II Two Channel Vactrol-Based Compressor Main Features Include:
The Art Pro VLAII is a little great tool for anyone wanting diversity of results at an affordable price! The price is simply unbeatable and the quality is great.
This unit is sturdy and robust enough to make you feel pround of owning it and the brand knows how to present it well. The knobs feel pretty good on your fingers and the unit arrangement feels right to the eye. It has similar functions as any other well ranked compressor, plus the advantage of having two channels that can work as two monos or as stereo. I use it as dual mono compressor at some projects and usually get it to work as some lite mastering tool to a certain extent.
I'm not so sure that the tube gain stage may be regarded as a pro or benefit, but I guess it depends on your needs and know how.
The vintage VUs add some bling to you rack gear but most important gives you quite true and valid information about what's happening inside the oven. The noise ratings are stated as "extremely low" and I thing they got it right as it is pretty acceptable, even to the pro ears. The rear sockets feel a little soft for something with this level but I think they'll do the job for a very long time.
The sound quality is great for this price range but the focus seems to be on vocals and acustic instruments, as stated on the brands brochure. I thinks that even bass and electric guitars can benefit from this unit expertise but would surely deliver drums to something like an 1176 model or clone or even another big boy - this is just personal opinion, of course. It delivers great quality if you use moderaton on the controls. Push it harder and it stops being natural - you'll hear it's presence on the music. If that's your goal, this is just for you.
All in all is a great little unit that I can't say that fits only homestudios and personal projects. Used with some content and wisdom, I consider it pro level.
This is a great compressor, for the price range you wont easily find a better one. It is a solid piece of gear which works on most projects and has a great build. Whether you are on budget or not, you will not regret getting one for yourself. Great on vocals and acoustic instruments.