I've been following therecent threads about compression and its impact in the final two-bus mixdown. It seems that plugins can't yet seem to give mixes a 3D soundstage that high-end analog gear seems to impart. The analog warmth that some mixes seem to have (and we all drool about) comes from transformers in the path more than tube harmonic distrorsion. Even when tube sound is sought after, the voltage running through the circuit changes the tube behavior. That considered, it is reasonable to learn that high end compressors cost way north the $3000 figure. However, low-end compressors seem to have something going on, especially if used moderately. Whenever the topic comes up, one compressor seems to pop up: FMR RNC. Reading up a bit, I'm getting to learn that this is indeed a digital compressor. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it is an algorithm running in a DSP chip inside an aluminum case. If that's the case, then it is just a plugin in a box, which defeats the whole concept of an analog wash to a mix. BTW, this would seem to explain why such an inexpensive box can deliver so much good.

Then I'm placing my eyes on ART Pro VLA II. This one is optical, has great VU metering, a tube stage, and it costs 3 times less than, say a WA-2A from Warm Audio. Reviews seem to favor it. Does anyone have any experience with this unit? Of course, I don't expect it to sound like a Mastering Hill compressor or a Manley, but do you think it will add better analog mojo to a mix than just my plugin emulations?

BTW, I can get an Aphex 108 Over Easy stereo compressor for about $100 bucks right now. Is it worth it for the two bus even if it turns to be a one-trick pony? Please comment if you know something about it. I don't need compressors for the way in. I'm covered in the pre-amp department, as my Universal Audio 4710d is about to arrive, and it features a compressor for every preamp channel. I also have the Unison preamps and UAD plugin emulations that print processors to disk.

 

have 2 of them an for the money are very nice ;) i want to add that i have tried them on my mix and got good results i mostly use them for recording as i do my other comps ... most important is a great converter on the way back in \m/

 

Last edited: Sep 16, 2016

I am happy with mine too. No complaints here.

 

Hey bro if you wana big name to go with the ART stuff look up Ulrich Wild hes done evreything from Snoop Dog, to White Zombie and Pantera... he uses these VLA's and hes not an endorser of them he buys his own ;)

 

I can't find anything close for the price . . . except maybe FMR RNC Really Nice Compressor, but it has funky connectors.

 

People on gearslutz have said lots of nice things about the VLA's

I don't have any experience with them, but I can offer that I'm quite pleased with the ART Voice Channel I record my vocals through.

 

Like I said, I doubt the ART and the RNC are in the same league. I suspect the RNC is a digital compressor, a DSP chip with audio with TRS input/output.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will definitely put the Pro VLA II in my shortlist towards the end of year. Now meanwhile, that APHEX is itching me to take it home. It's one hundred bucks. Would that be a bad purchase?

Remember I want it to warm up my mix buss.

 

Now whats got my brain tingling is what kind of tubes are in the ART unit? And would it benefit from a tube/mod/upgrade? My tube preamp had a crappy chinese tube in it and was a lot hotter after I swapped it out for a nice russian built tube. But I do realize the preamps and comps are 2 completely different things. The preamp is supposed to add a lot of color, where the comp really not so much.

 

Last edited: Sep 17, 2016

@superliquidsunshine Nice kits. Thanks for the heads up. I have a soldering station and antistatic mat with a wristband (that I wear on my ankle when I work there). I will be saving for these kits.

 

yea if you wana talk bout using DIY kits thats the way to go hands down... i have a few clones myself ;)

 

check this out its very informative ...

for the gear skip to 22:00

 

Last edited: Sep 17, 2016

only thing I can say.. I got my VLA II used for about $150...
good place to start IMO... and you can do upgrade mods on them..

http://www.beautyofdecay.net/mod/provla2.html​

no doubt as you go up the pay scale, the quality.. would ( should ) increase... I'd love to start at a Silver bullet level
$2 GRAND !! But then most of my gear budget is blown for the year in one swoop !

has anyone ever actually done one of the DIY jobs? are they easy enough for a n00b to get it right?

 

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 17, 2016

A used VLA for $100 would be a good addition to your rack. I wouldn't pay $275 for a new one though. If you put it on your mixbus, you'll probably find that the ratio should be 1:1, and then play with the threshold, for the glue sound that you're looking for. People like it on kicks, snare, bass, vox (where you can push it a little more). [.5 - 1.0 db] gain reduction for the mixbus.

 

My pops is a retired engineer from IBM with 7 patents for designing the power supply in the very first 8088 IBM PC. My brother was the strong athletic one. I grew up with a soldering iron in my back pocket and a Casio keyboard in my front. I love to take apart my gear and clean scratchy pots and faders etc. It's like therapy for me. I've repaired my own bass combo amp and TVs. Even built my own car audio crossovers before with parts from the local electronics store, among other simple (to me) things.

http://capi-gear.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_117_55_169&products_id=478
This build looks pretty easy to me. The board is nice and spaced and most of the components are BIG.

As far as being a nOOb? I'm sure you could get it, as long as you got steady hands and good eyes. It would just take longer. MOST important tip when soldering connections. Tin your contacts before soldering them together. Some flux doesn't hurt either.

 

Last edited: Sep 17, 2016

just wanted to add if you have never done any soldering practice on somthin you dont care bout first till you get it down like an old stereo Reciever or somthin of the like ;) i started on guitar wiring an stereos back in the 80's and just went from there.

 

Thats really interesting. Transformer on the input? Until I read this
"The cost to buy a unit and mod is ($300 or so retail, $100-300 MOD, Time.., so $400-$600 total). Not to throw you off but you could just buy a better compressor for that... "

And the board is tight/small traces and hard to work on.

 

Last edited: Sep 17, 2016

Soldering practice? Yes guitar electronics LoL. Perfect place to learn.

 

only comps i have that are mod is 2 dbx 160's and i got them years ago and they already had the mod.... but i love em on kick drums ;)