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Post by bowie on Jan 26, 2019 18:46:40 GMT -6
Great thread. I can't tell you how many professional studios, loaded with high end gear, keep a VLAII in their racks. A couple of studio owners told me they were embarrassed by it and tried to hide the logo. When I first used one the only thing I was embarrassed by was that I spent so much on my classic comps and here's this thing they practically give away that does such a competent job on so many things. Never ended up buying one for myself but when I was doing work out of a studio that had one, I recall choosing it over a Distressor on several tracks. It's just a very "agreeable" comp, if that makes any sense.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 26, 2019 19:50:12 GMT -6
I have a friend who’s been through a lot of gear changes, never keeps much stuff around for long, but still has one of these.
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Post by mulmany on Jan 26, 2019 21:39:44 GMT -6
Did anyone try the 500 series version?
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Post by ragan on Jan 26, 2019 22:13:33 GMT -6
Did anyone try the 500 series version? There is one??
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Post by Quint on Jan 26, 2019 22:38:11 GMT -6
Did anyone try the 500 series version? There is one?? Yeah, but it doesn't have tubes. I've not heard it, but I feel like the tubes definitely play a role in why so many people like the VLA, so I'm not sure if the 500 version would sound as good.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 26, 2019 23:21:12 GMT -6
With 'toob' devices like this I'm usually happier without them in there. At any rate the JFET approach to distortion in the 500 version should do an adequate job, and if anything the 500 may be more versatile sonically. Most of the sound will be in the design of the compressor section itself, which has nothing to do with the 'tooobs'. I like tube gear, and I really don't consider this to be tube gear.....it's just got a tube in it, running on a 45VDC supply, doing not much of nothin' that a tube is supposed to do well.....and that reflects nothing on the question of 'is it a good compressor'? I shed a tear for every quality expensive rare tube anyone ever wasted in one of these, they just aren't required. The upgrades are all in the SS parts.
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Post by svart on Jan 27, 2019 8:37:23 GMT -6
With 'toob' devices like this I'm usually happier without them in there. At any rate the JFET approach to distortion in the 500 version should do an adequate job, and if anything the 500 may be more versatile sonically. Most of the sound will be in the design of the compressor section itself, which has nothing to do with the 'tooobs'. I like tube gear, and I really don't consider this to be tube gear.....it's just got a tube in it, running on a 45VDC supply, doing not much of nothin' that a tube is supposed to do well.....and that reflects nothing on the question of 'is it a good compressor'? I shed a tear for every quality expensive rare tube anyone ever wasted in one of these, they just aren't required. The upgrades are all in the SS parts. Truth.
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Post by peterhess on Jan 27, 2019 9:33:04 GMT -6
I’ve got a v.I with EXH tubes that surprises me every damn time. The output is quite high (I suspect that’s a tube thing?) so the output generally lives at 0. Definitely acts like a high shelf on my drum bus, which I almost always like, and anticipate. I should bite the bullet and track with it.
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Post by drbill on Jan 27, 2019 10:33:39 GMT -6
Did anyone try the 500 series version? That IS the question, eh??? Highly anticipated, with virtually no reviews whatsoever in years. Leaves one thinking..... Something weird is going on. I know sweet water has them on special order status. Someone here should bite the bullet and special order one and report back!! They're certainly cheap enough.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 27, 2019 10:49:49 GMT -6
Price is the issue with the 500. You can find these used from 100-150 all the time and it's got cool looking meters and toobs. Why pay more, waste a space in your 500 rack, and only get a single channel.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 27, 2019 11:02:18 GMT -6
I’ve got a v.I with EXH tubes that surprises me every damn time. The output is quite high (I suspect that’s a tube thing?) so the output generally lives at 0. Not a function of the tube by much. Both stages are pretty starved for voltage which lowers gain, and the other stage is a cathode follower which is a small amount of gain loss.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 27, 2019 11:02:19 GMT -6
In case anybody is interested here is the Review Audio description of its mod, they want $629, plus shipping.
Revive Audio Modified PRO VLA II, Dual channel vacuum tube/opto compressor that is brand new! These units sound incredible with our modifications and sound great on Bass, vocals, room mics and much more. There is a nice review on GearSlutz of this model with the Revive Modifications! Audio Samples are also available on our Website under the Modification Tab!
So about the improvements: The service increases the headroom of the unit, widens the frequency response, lowers the noise and increases the detail of the three dimensional image. The Modification increases the speed of the attack and release times making these cool compressors useable on a broader range of applications. What we end up with is a Boutique sounding Tube Opto compressor that excels!
More Specifics:
We perform and number of mods on these units and gut the inside of these units so it is a lot of work, but the results are well worth it.
On these units we have modified the input, output and buffer stages with High performance Burr Brown opamps for optimum fidelity.
Coupling and de-coupling is also performed throughout the circuit using premium Pansonic parts for better frequency response, lower noise, longer life and more musicality.
The Vactrol is changed and the Tube plate voltage is increased to an acceptable level for the circuit.
Low noise NOS Vintage Tubes are installed as a finishing touch.
These units have been professionally modified by our technicians and given the seal of approval to go to work at you home or in your studio.
These are beautiful sounding units with a lot of dynamic range and big bottom end.
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Post by EmRR on Jan 27, 2019 11:02:57 GMT -6
Did anyone try the 500 series version? That IS the question, eh??? Highly anticipated, with virtually no reviews whatsoever in years. Leaves one thinking..... Something weird is going on. I know sweet water has them on special order status. Someone here should bite the bullet and special order one and report back!! They're certainly cheap enough. Yeah, but looks like 2 of those is more than a single stereo rack version.
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Post by ragan on Jan 27, 2019 11:03:05 GMT -6
Lowest I’m seeing in my search is $175-200 but I used to see them cheaper. The one I used to have was about $150 off local CL.
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Post by ragan on Jan 27, 2019 11:04:43 GMT -6
And I agree with Jesse.
When you can get two channels of nice big chunky 19” VLA the 500 series module is less attractive.
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Post by johneppstein on Jan 27, 2019 11:24:09 GMT -6
I just picked up one of the 1073s. Haven't used it yet. The Stam? Which transformer option did you go with? I really like the 1073MPA (Sowter) that I got recently. No, not the Stam. I'm not one for interminable waits.
The one I got is a TNC from the old group buy.
At $50 plus shipping it was kind of a no-brainer.
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Post by drbill on Jan 27, 2019 11:36:03 GMT -6
The Stam? Which transformer option did you go with? I really like the 1073MPA (Sowter) that I got recently. No, not the Stam. I'm not one for interminable waits.
The one I got is a TNC from the old group buy.
At $50 plus shipping it was kind of a no-brainer.
Killer deal!! <thumbsup> I've seen them for $350-400 which IMO is still a good deal.
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Post by Guitar on Jan 27, 2019 11:38:20 GMT -6
Has anyone used the Alctron MP73EQ? They are about $300 I think svart and maybe Dan Deurloo had the 500 versions I was vaguely looking at them to do something like what people are using the TNC strip for, drum mics maybe.
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Post by ragan on Jan 27, 2019 11:53:49 GMT -6
Has anyone used the Alctron MP73EQ? They are about $300 I think svart and maybe Dan Deurloo had the 500 versions I was vaguely looking at them to do something like what people are using the TNC strip for, drum mics maybe. I thought about grabbing a pair of those too. I had the GAP version years ago and liked it.
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Post by subspace on Jan 27, 2019 12:30:30 GMT -6
Interested in that Alctron CP540 2254 as well, I think I spied one in Dr Bill's new gear photo of his TC meter.
edit: looks like the same case on an ez2254
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Post by drbill on Jan 27, 2019 12:40:39 GMT -6
Interested in that Alctron CP540 2254 as well, I think I spied one in Dr Bill's new gear photo of his TC meter. edit: looks like the same case on an ez2254 It's an AML ez2254. And I'm not 100% sure on it. I really have not warmed up to it. But I'm keeping it for the time being. Sometimes it takes awhile for me to "get it" and warm up to things. Never owned a 2254 before, and it just doesn't seem to live up to the hype that surrounds them (the 2254's).
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Post by RicFoxx on Jan 27, 2019 18:24:03 GMT -6
I love mine...I just told Dan Deurloo yesterday I thought it sounded good so I always kept it.
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Post by svart on Jan 27, 2019 18:36:18 GMT -6
Has anyone used the Alctron MP73EQ? They are about $300 I think svart and maybe Dan Deurloo had the 500 versions I was vaguely looking at them to do something like what people are using the TNC strip for, drum mics maybe. I have the Alcton 73 preamps, but not the EQs. They sound like Neve 1073's as much as any of the other clones do. They get used a lot for bass and Tom's and whatnot.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 29, 2019 21:08:53 GMT -6
The Stam? Which transformer option did you go with? I really like the 1073MPA (Sowter) that I got recently. No, not the Stam. I'm not one for interminable waits.
The one I got is a TNC from the old group buy.
At $50 plus shipping it was kind of a no-brainer.
I have the ACMP-84. The EQ is really nice and flexible, but the unit is on the brighter side next to my Dan Alexander and even the UAD Unison preamps. Revive audio can mod them and throw real carnhills in it. I’ve debated it for a while.
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Post by soundintheround on Jan 29, 2019 22:54:49 GMT -6
I'm not a huge fan of the VLA as I prefer and have moved on to more aggressive vintage style compression.
BUT, I did find it pretty cool as a distortion effect. Not sure if anyone else discovered this or not? Ha. If you feed it a very hot signal it will distort drums or whatever else in a great way (I found sounded best with Tung Sols tubes in it)
If you are stuck on a DAW, your interface probably can't even produce a signal loud enough to distort......SO one trick I found is to run the output of channel 1 into the input of channel 2 and use both channels in series. Then you can play with the gain structures to get some pretty interesting results. Give this a try, it sounds pretty awesome.
This is like a Dave Fridmann style drum sound, not for the faint of heart. Not going to sound like an Al Schmidt recording, but if your into some interesting distortion tones out of the box, its a fun time.
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