ART Pro VLA vs. RNC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Seeker of Rock
  • Start date Start date
kragbax said:
I ordered the VLA from MF just last night. Couldn't pass up on the $239 deal! The girl said they had them in, doesn't mean they do.. and I don't really care if it takes a little while cause I can't record anything now anyways :) Just building up my assortment of gear for when I finally complete my little basement space.

-Krag
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Well my VLA came in today... except what they sent wasn't the VLA, but the Pro Channel Tube Mic Preamp! Wasn't what I was expecting, wasn't what I was buying, but now I need to decide to hold on to this unit (which in the MF catalog is offered at $299 ($60 more then the VLA) but $429 elsewhere) or send it back for the VLA.

Frankly I was looking for a channel strip, but was considering the Presonus Eureka, Toft ETC-1 and Safe Sound P1. My problem is none of my gear is currently hooked up so I can't try this thing out.

Is it worth hanging onto this $299-$429 piece of gear as it only cost me $239? More gear = more gooder, but if this thing is crap I might just as well do the return.

-Krag
 
I don't know much about the Pro Tube, but maybe someone else here does. Of course if money grew on trees, I would say keep it and order "another" VLA from MF for $239, if it is a decent product. Post a thread and see what people have to say about it. I use a Joe Meek MQ3 for my pre, but now I'm a bit curious about the Pro Tube as well.
 
kragbax said:
Well my VLA came in today... except what they sent wasn't the VLA, but the Pro Channel Tube Mic Preamp! Wasn't what I was expecting, wasn't what I was buying, but now I need to decide to hold on to this unit (which in the MF catalog is offered at $299 ($60 more then the VLA) but $429 elsewhere) or send it back for the VLA.

Frankly I was looking for a channel strip, but was considering the Presonus Eureka, Toft ETC-1 and Safe Sound P1. My problem is none of my gear is currently hooked up so I can't try this thing out.

Is it worth hanging onto this $299-$429 piece of gear as it only cost me $239? More gear = more gooder, but if this thing is crap I might just as well do the return.

-Krag
Click to expand...

SAME HERE.

I got the package today. Look at the white label on the side that is from ART. It is f'ed up - it combines the words, "Pro Channel," with the words under it, "Vectrol/tube Leveling Amp." So ART combined 2 products on one label. The MF label says that it's the VLA. So it's not MF's fault.

I looked for a second at the Pro Channel, but I have 2 cheap tube pres and I don't like to compress or EQ on the way in and print that. So I didn't want it, didn't try it. I really can't see that the quality of that thing with pre, eq, and comp. is any better than getting a $99 pre, a $99 eq, and a $99 comp.

So I called and it was still early, didn't wait much, got them to email me a shipping label, they pay, and I just dropped it off. That actually took a chunk of my morning since I had to find the nearest dealer, drive around, make a copy, etc.

What totally sucks is that I was counting on that vLA for today's project since I have today and tomorrow off and I was going to get a lot done. This S U C K S.
 
Make that three of us now. Funny thing is, I just got off the phone with "Crystal" from MF and jokingly said, "you are probably getting a lot of these calls as I have been talking to people who had the same thing happen." Surprisingly, the answer was "no". Guess they don't like it getting around when they have mass f'ups. The packer's name on my invoice says "BJ". Anybody else have that packer? I wonder if it is just this person or it is several people in a particular department all making the same mistake. Anyway, Crystal was nice enough, though a bit naive, and e-mailed a return code. Hopefully round 2 goes better than the prior. :(

I just called them back to alert them of the problem in the verbiage from the factory. Yeah, it looks like the blame is a little on each end. The box clearly says PRO CHANNEL in caps, but the verbiage describing the product belongs to the VLA. MF put the VLA item number on this box, so the packer is not to blame. Anyway, I told them they would be receiving several of these situations if they did not act. I gave them my phone number for contact just in case. Hopefully they correct it!
 
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Someone at ART messed up. At MF, they probably just use the barcode, I doubt that they have time to read the descriptions, especially the one that's not on the bar code label.

I wonder how they will know what's in the boxes now. Will they have to open up each box from ART? Or will they send them back to ART to figure out. I wonder how much stuff was shipped into the warehouse. The could have 100 of these things and next, we might get the same thing again.

I just hope that MF knows enough to tell the packers that the boxes are mislabeled, but then what? Open ALL the ART boxes? Ship all ART gear back to ART?

**BTW, did you guys see that the box it was shipped in was the box that the unit was packed in?

And when I opened the box, it had big, bold letters, DO NOT SHIP IN THIS BOX or something like that? They should have boxed up that box like they do with all other stuff. You don't ship in the retail carton, you box that up. It's not strong enough.
 
Yea, I saw that writing.
I didn't really look closely at the box but I DID see that someplace on it (The label?) it said VLA PRO. Not sure if that was an ART packaging flub or MF. Also, the packaging was kinda weird. Not what I'm used to - that plastic wrapped foam - with any other item I've purchased. There's always styrofoam and/or cardboard.
I haven't decided still if I should send it back. I was looking for a channel strip as well as a compressor. I haven't heard much good or bad on the Pro Channel so it wasn't on my list to check out. But for the $239 it might just be a great deal :) (course, $239 for a crappy sounding hunk of junk paperweight is a waste)

-Krag
 
whoa, now that's odd, the packing was not normal styrofoam you have in boxes from a manufacturer. Also, the box only had printed ART, no model info. The label was wrong, and couldn't have been THAT screwed up from the manufacturer, a box has the model info printed on it, all the time. And that foam was packing foam, from a warehouse, not from the manufacturer, it wasn't fit right. That foam is made by placing plastic bag on the item, then pouring liquid foam around it and then draping the plastic over the top. I've shipped a lot in my time at work.... Also, did you notice, the clear bag didn't really fit the item well, it was a bit too short and didn't cover the entire end. Also, that wet foam wasn't even fitting the item....

This baby was NOT new from the line at the manufacturer, no way. Something is fishy for sure.

All I can say is that I hope the box for the VLA is solid, packed well, printed with the model number, and has the right item. I'm getting concerned.
 
Maybe that guy bought a bunch of VLA's but got shipped the Pro Channels :)

The packing was bizarre, certainly doesn't seem like it would come from the manufacturer that way. I've got a TPS preamp I picked up a year or so ago and that thing came as you'd expect. You wonder if these things came from a factory refurbishing place or something.

Anyone actually get the VLA who ordered one?

-Krag
 
good question. MF emailed me a link to my fedex shipping label, so they picked up the tab on that, that was good. then I tracked it to see that it's on it's way. I forgot to ask Fedex for a receipt! So i was concerned but ok by 8 p.m. or so.

I also checked w/ ART and they said that the labels were wrong there and that they DO also use that kind of end cap packing and box. So it's ok that it's coming from the mfg like that. Odd, but ok since they know about it and are the one's doing that.

more waiting..........
 
I sent ART an e-mail stating the same as well, and the confusion that this is causing with their retailers, ultimately resulting in shipping errors and somewhat unhappy customers. THis is in addition to the phone call and e-mail I sent MF last Thursday after receiving it. Mistakes happen, I guess. As long as I get the VLA this time and don't have to go through all of this again, I will be happy. I still feel good about the deal on the VLA, though I'm now just a little cautiously optimistic.
 
jonmmartin said:
I have noticed that more then one of the posters here have said that the RNC should not be used as a 2 buss compressor. Why? Would it work if you used 2 RNCs, one for each channel or is there some other reason?
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This won't work. The RNC is single channel only, while the VLA can be used in either situation. When switched in stereo mode, the VLA mirrors the settings from channel 1 over to channle 2 so that it doesn't mess with the stereo image.
 
Seeker of Rock said:
I sent ART an e-mail stating the same as well, and the confusion that this is causing with their retailers, ultimately resulting in shipping errors and somewhat unhappy customers. THis is in addition to the phone call and e-mail I sent MF last Thursday after receiving it. Mistakes happen, I guess. As long as I get the VLA this time and don't have to go through all of this again, I will be happy. I still feel good about the deal on the VLA, though I'm now just a little cautiously optimistic.
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My return shipment must have gotten there by now, but i haven't gotten any word from MF.

Did anyone else use the email Fedex label? I tried to track it but it ended at KS Fedex location on the 18th, Sat.

I guess they have to 'process' it and double check those labels, you know, they used the actual box for the shipping box and put the MF receipt in the box, where you could see the unit and read the big lettering on the owners manual.... oh well.
 
A bit of concerning news on my end. I tracked it to Nashville where it had a status of 'exception', and off to the side then stated 'shipping label could not be read' and then above that 'replaced shipping label'. That was yesterday. Today's status reads, in bold print, 'return to shipper'. Now I am a pretty objective guy for the most part, but if they are having trouble with the e-mailed label and try to send this back to me, I will take issue with them and Musician's Friend both. They have the shipping information including a bar code digitally in their account. I e-mailed it to them again with inquiry about my package, just in case. I really hope the 'return to shipper' was a typo.
 
...unreal....if you can easily re-print a label, they should be able to....

Over here, I never shipped fedex and I wasn't sure what this meant but on Sat. the 18th, tracking said at fedex facility in Kansas. And it stayed that way until just now I checked, and it said on fedex vehicle for delivery, also Kansas. So the 18th 19th 20th 21st finally, today, Tuesday, it might get delivered. What was Monday? a fedex holiday?

meanwhile, I write, I record, I wonder how some good compression would sound on the last 5 song projects I've started.... I know I need it on my drums and bass would be cool. Pretty much had it with the old nano, and forget the se-50.

Now I know why the old 'bricks-and-mortar' retail business still survives, and always will.
 
Sorry to everyone for morphing this from the "ART Pro VLA vs. RNC" thread to the "What the hell happened to my order" thread, but more news that others who may have ordered the VLA from the aforementioned vendor may or may not find useful. Sept. 21st FedEx tracking says "label unreadabe, replaced label" and then "returned to shipper". E-mail sent to FedEx, e-mail sent to MF requesting their help (since they have an existing account with FedEx, I do not) in expediting this service. Whatever the case, Sept. 22nd status did read "on FedEx vehicle for delivery" and now reads "delivered". The delivery destination is Lenexa, Kansas but the return address for MF was Kansas City, Missouri. Strange there, but my fingers are crossed that some right will come from all of this.

junplugged, any new news on your end?
 
I received my shipping label from MF, but I never sent the unit back. I hate Fed Ex, they always seem to screw me over. Someplace else I recently ordered from sent Fed Ex. It's been on their truck out for delivery for three days now. Surely they'll come tomorrow (day 4) and I won't be around to sign for it (and odds are they'll need a signature).

I figured.. what the heck... I didn't really want the Pro Channel, but at $240 it's a good buy. Might be useful. I called MF and ordered another VLA for the $240. Hopefully when they finally get all this straightened out and actually ship the VLA again I'll get one.

Now I still need to find me a real 'pro' channel

-Krag
ps. Keep us (well.. me at least) updated on these happenings. :)
 
Ok, I have an update (and after I get this thing, I promise I'll post some results, better or worse, with this thing after I get to actually use it) MF sent me an "Order Acknowledgement," but not yet a shipping confirmation. So that means.... that they think that they have them in, and they think that they are ready to ship what they believe to be a VLA. I think that it's safe for me to assume at least that much. ;)
 
I received a shipping notice today on the (second) VLA I purchased a few days ago.

Course... I look closely thru the MF new catalog (available on-line, not yet mailed out) and they again have the VLA Pro, on page 206 (same page I believe) except now the price has gone down to $229.99. I'm gonna have to call them and see about getting the difference refunded :) Hey, $10 is $10, and I bought two of em ... sort of

-Krag
 
Parlor Music said:
This won't work. The RNC is single channel only, while the VLA can be used in either situation. When switched in stereo mode, the VLA mirrors the settings from channel 1 over to channle 2 so that it doesn't mess with the stereo image.
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The RNC is NOT a single channel. I have several of them. They are a true stereo unit, just not a dual mono unit. You can not use it as 2 seperate mono compressors.

They are very clean and transparent, if that is what you are looking for.

Tom
 
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