Art Pro Vla

[Big Kenny]

Just got one in a swap. What are the best applications. I'm kinda getting some clipping when I run a hot signal through it, shouldn't it limit that? Thanks for the help, and hey......Merry Christmas!

[kojdogg]

i read in tapeop a while back that it came up in tapeopcon that many commercial studios have these tucked away in their racks and that they are good for crunchy drum sounds.
i have a cheap art levellar, which doesn't get used all that much these days, but that i always loved for bass and vocals.

[mentalattica]

I like my VLA on certain vocals, not on all. I've heard that it's pretty good on bass. It has a bit of a slow response even on fast attack. I've even run a mix or 2 through it and got pretty good results.

[Massive Master]

Vocals, bass, drums - Anything you'd want to shove through a LA2A.

The clipping part is odd... How hot are we talking here?

[Big Kenny]

Haven't really tracked anything yet just set up a ribbon into a phoenix DRS to the pro and out and it semmed to clip before the drs. No real gain stage set up or anything, just screwing around.
Guess I'm just seeing what others have found.
The only reason I grabbed it was because of the good reviews it gets here.
We'll see, I'll run some tracking through it next week

[tkingen]

Just an added fyi - Kenny got the VLA from me and I'm a little concerned about it. It's one of the earlier American made ones and I purchased it as NOS from one of my local music stores. I never ran anything hot into it - just slight limiting for recording guitar direct with a Vox Tonelab - so I never experienced any clipping with it.
Now I'm wondering two things -
1. Is there a diference between the American and Japanese versions?
2. Assuming that anything with a tube will clip if pushed, is clipping to be expected under "pushed" circumstances?

[SonicAlbert]

American and Chinese versions, actually, not Japanese.

As far as the clipping, you can definitely clip pretty much any piece of audio gear if you run overly hot levels through it. You're possibly clipping the inputs, even before it gets to the limiter. Or maybe just sending it too much signal for the limiter to handle. You say you haven't setup the gain staging properly yet, so I don't understand how you can know whether there is a clipping problem until you've calibrated your audio path properly. Back off the volume until it stops clipping and then use the gain makeup.

The other thing is, you probably should swap out the tubes for new tubes. If it was bought NOS, then it has been sitting unused on that store shelf for eight years or more. My USA made PRO VLA was built in 1999, and I'm not sure when production shifted to China. So your unit could easily have been in that box since the mid 90's. The tubes could have a leak or other problem, so replacing them would be the first thing I'd do.

The US and Chinese versions sound different, not necessarily better or worse depending on your application. I've owned both.

The older USA version pumps easier and has a slightly less refined sound. The new Chinese made version is cleaner with a smoother compressor action, more like a mastering type compressor. In other words, the USA version has more of a "sound". It's subtle, but that's the best way I can describe the differences I've heard. I don't like one more than the other, they are just slightly different.

I experimented with replacing tubes in both units. Tubes that I liked in the USA version I didn't like in the Chinese version, and vice versa. This is why I think any discussion about replacing tubes in the VLA has to also include information on which version is being modded. To just throw out tube suggestions without indicating which model is not really helpful because they do sound and respond differently.

Because the Chinese version is cleaner and smoother, I found I liked to put more colored tubes in it, to give it a little more personality. Those same tubes did not sound good in the USA version, which needs cleaner tubes to get the most out of it in my opinion. The variations are endless of course, and it is possible that one set of tubes would improve both. I certainly didn't test every tube out there.

But unlike some people, I did notice that swapping tubes makes a big difference with the PRO VLA. Theoretically it shouldn't perhaps, but it does.

The older USA version has Allen nuts on the front of the unit as opposed to the flush fitting Phillips screws on the Chinese version, and the top lid of the case on the older unit has a couple notches taken out on the front left and right sides. Otherwise they look the same.

[Big Kenny]

That's exactly what I did, it sounds great! Goes from invisible to a "squashy" thing that may have some great applications. Couldn't get it pumpin', but again, just startin' out with it. Thanx all for your comments.

[tmix]

Hey BK
What tubes did you use to replace the old ones?
I am considering changing mine. I have 2 units that look different. On switches go opposite directions etc,one has allen scews on the front , the other has recessed phillips, so I guess I have one of each type of VLA.

I also have a couple of the MPAs I would consider changing tubes.

I have no Idea where to get them.

Tom

[SonicAlbert]

It will also say on the back where the unit was made. But yes, you have one of each.

Do a search on eBay for "12AX7" and you'll have a good place to start looking.

These are inexpensive, and are what I have in my PRO VLA right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Ei-SILVER-BU...QQcmdZViewItem

Might be a good place for you to start anyway.

[Big Kenny]

Ithrew in some jj tesla's just cuz I had a bunch hangin' around from some work I did on some Fender amps. They sound a lot better but I may even try a Jan or Sovtek later on once I get tis bear whipped into submission http://thetubestore.com/tesla12ax7.html

[Seeker of Rock]

I used mine on the 2 buss going into a CDRW-700 from my 488MKII several years back to get more final output without clipping and it worked great. No squish from my experience, but I didn't drive it hard. Great unit, I think.