Revive Audio Modified Art Pro Vla Ii Dual Channel Tube Opto Compressor Review
Nonetheless another ARt Pro VLA II thread. (Revive Audio Mod & aqueduct level issues)
Hello GS; long time lurker first time affiche here. The long and short is that my Art Pro VLA II is giving me a monster headache both before and after I had it modded past Revive Audio. I can't apply img tags hither, so I took some screen grabs of my meter readings and attached them if y'all care to follow the steps I took to document the issues I'grand having below. Any assist would exist greatly appreciated.
I send a mono sine wave through interface through patch bay into art pro which then sends it back. I have gear up the gain on my interface to match stereo levels on the render in bypass mode. I have verified with other gear in featherbed mode (civilization vulture, Hall of fame, aught, etc.) that the return levels ought to be the aforementioned on the return trip. When I use art pro vla ii in bypass mode, the render levels are about the same:
(ex A)
The input VU meters have also been adapted via master trim to match each other. At present, when I switch the bypass off (even with max threshold on both channels so no comp is engaged) I get a correct channel that is most three db higher using the same settings:
(ex B)
Reading around the forums, this seems to be a mutual issue with these. I explained the result to the folks at Revive audio before sending information technology in, and they said this was a known issue and that, while they won't be able to completely eliminate the consequence, they should be able to reduce the deviation downward to 1db or less (which clearly didn't happen). The advice on these forms is falls into ii categories:
1. reduce the output level so they match
Dual mono mode, with aqueduct 1 and 2 going to different mixer channels, in this instance I adjusted the out put on channel 2 to get it as close to matching channel 1 every bit possible. This is with threshold ready to maximum setting so no compression is engaged on either channel. I had to turn channel ii downwards two clicks.
(ex C)
Using the same threshold settings and 20:ane comp on channel 1 and 2, I am getting fashion unlike level readings, even later on offsetting the output level on channel 2 to match aqueduct 1.
(ex D)
At present, I am adjusting the threshold on channel 2 to see if using using a higher threshold, a lower output level and the same ration/assail settings results in similar gain reduction. The reply is information technology doesn't come close. This is with aqueduct 2 ready with a threshold that is two clicks higher. The LED proceeds reduction meter shows like levels in proceeds reduction, nevertheless the monitor readings in my DAW tell a unlike story:
(ex E)
When I offset the threshold on channel 2 to be three clicks higher than the threshold settings on chanel 1, I go from -6db of gain reduction on channel #two (at least per inprecise LED gain reduction meter on the unit) to no proceeds reduction.
(ex F)
As far as I can tell, the advice to simply adjust settings to accomodate the issue is bad advice. Effect with this approach is that due to the detended pots on the box (which is somehow viewed as a positive in this case!?!?!?) it is side by side to impossible to become them to match. This besides doesn't solve for the outcome with dialing in the threshold. Identical threshold settings (or even with like offsets) practise not outcome in substantially similar pinch between channels.
2. Use the device in stereo link mode and use the residuum command to get it closer to even between channels
The strangest thing is that when I put the unit in stereo link way and have the rest control set expressionless center, my output levels and comp levels between the channels get nearly perfectly aligned (regardless of threshold or comp settings)
(ex G)
That being said, there are going to be times where I will desire to apply it in dual mono mode with similar/identical settings on each side. I also tend to agree with the communication thrown effectually all over these forms that the stereo link kinda sucks.
I had this issue since I bought the unit of measurement. I recently had it modded by Revive audio (got the highest level upgrade package) and earlier placing the order I walked them through the issue and they told me that this was kind of a known effect with the model and that they'd be able to get the channels closer to even. I recall they may have improved the stereo link alignment somewhat, only plainly in dual mono fashion the channels exercise not at all bear similarly. And then in decision, am I stuck with a slice of gear I can but employ as 2 channels of mono comp or every bit a stereo link comp but not every bit a dual mono comp? What, if any options do I have? Is this just the mode these are, or is this an bodily defect?
Separately, if I put aside the issue with the levels on the 2 channels, I call up the revive audio mods made an obvious improvement to the sound of the compressor. I also have a civilization vulture, and people are all over these forms complaining nearly how difficult it is to get that piece of gear even when running stereo mode on the same settings and while I can recognize that it is a trivial bit of piece of work to become them well aligned, it is NO WHERE near every bit terrible as trying to get the Art Pro VLA 2'due south channels aligned.
Aforementioned issue here just non as extreme. I just use it on my mixers master out inserts (before faders) then i tin still fine tune 50/r levels using master l/r mixer fader outs to DAW. I think I'm done buying outboard gear with stepped controls every bit ability to fine tune levels is crucial in analog domain.
Did you resolve this issue? if not perchance transport it back to revive or you could try adjusting the trimmers - each channel has a trimmer resistors to adjust output levels inside the box. Y'all cant miss them. Adjusting the trimmer did improve the output level friction match on my unit ameliorate.
Bump
What happened with this piece?
Did they ever figure out who really shot Kennedy??? 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLast ➡️
Did they ever figure out who really shot Kennedy???
What we read in this thread indicates that if the gunsight was modded past Revive, Oswald would have missed wide left or correct.
Truthful but it was using a basic vintage bolt action rifle that got the job done.
OP should get the aforementioned route and ditch the VLA for an LA2a and just record everything mono.
Just looking at their website and going over the options...
What's the advantage of adding in the output transformers? Is it that it adds additional desirable distortion?
I had Carnhill transformers added to a VLA mod. It gives a different "vox", for lack of a better word. The mod completely changed the sound of the unit of measurement, but it's hard to say how much of that is the transformers.
I take a more directly comparing of the transformer deviation because I had Revive modify 2 Chameleon compressors, one with added Cine-Mag transformers. The transformer version isn't dramatically different. In well-nigh applications I probably pick each most every bit much as the other, and sometimes use both (or neither).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billytyne ➡️
Did you resolve this issue? if non maybe send it back to revive or y'all could try adjusting the trimmers - each channel has a trimmer resistors to adjust output levels within the box. You cant miss them. Adjusting the trimmer did improve the output level match on my unit better.
I've been this off for a long time because I ended upward getting a stereo linked pair of distressors and take been using the Revive modded VLA Ii as a mono comp. I decided to motility some stuff around my rack and see if I could apply the trimmers to get the levels to friction match. This did not go as I may have expected.
I pulled off the height and was able to locate the trimmers for each channel. The trimmers weren't able to move the book levels very much, simply I was able to go the 2 channel levels to match with the output pots at 12:00 (ex A).
Then, when I hit the stereo mode, the levels are no longer matched (ex B). channel ii is virtually 2ish dB louder than channel ane.
The balance between the channels becomes much much worse equally I increase the pinch. With the threshold knob fix so the meters show half dozen dB of gain reduction at the lowest ratio. The meters on the VLA read equal gain reduction between the two channels, but indicates that . The reading on my DAW indicates that with this corporeality of proceeds reduction applied, the 2nd channel is 4dB louder than the start aqueduct (ex C).
I did observe that for a split 2nd, the peaks between the channels, in the prior setup where I applied 6 dB of gain reduction per VLA meters.... was that for a split second the peaks between the channels were the same. I recorded this and found that it appears that in that location is some kind of compression beingness practical only to channel ii. Exhibit D shows what happens to the amplitude in channel 2 when I kickoff run a test tone through it (ex D). It would appear that channel 1 does not exhibit similar behavior at the onset of the exam tone.
It would appear that no compression is being practical at all (ex E). I should besides mention that I have the attack set every bit slow as possible and the release set as fast equally possible.
Farther testing shows that it is non the case that channel 1 is just not applying pinch, but rather, channel 1 does not announced to experience whatsoever compression until the unit of measurement is reading ~10 dB of proceeds reduction. This is the bespeak at which compression first becomes measurable for channel 1. Further decreases to the threshold setting consequence in further compression, as one would generally expect. It behaves equally if its a stereo compressor where the threshold setting between the two channels is way off resulting in bizarre beliefs. Exhibit F shows what happens when I have set the threshold so medium compression is applied to aqueduct 1 and extreme compression is practical to channel 2. This should show that this unit is completely unfit for stereo use.
This led me to speculate that peradventure the real consequence here has to do with the balance pot, but my experiments with trying to utilize the interior trim to become the stereo image to behave in a usable fashion is still escaping me.
If anyone has any ideas on what I tin do here, it would be greatly appreciated. It would appear that many people have run into similar bug here.
I am bluntly very disappointed with Revive. I called earlier placing an club and walked them through all of these hurting points I was having and asked if they would exist able to calibrate my unit when they did the upgrade. I was told that they would take care of this for me which clearly never happened. This wasn't lost on me when I cut through the warranty void if broken seal on the unit....
Bump.
Anyone got whatsoever ideas on how to brand this feasible for stereo use?
Quote:
Originally Posted past Pipe_Dream ➡️
Bump.
Anyone got any ideas on how to make this viable for stereo utilise?
Run a tone through information technology and balance on the fashion back into your mixer or daw the best you can.
It 's a cheap but useful comp/limiter that I wouldnt suggest dumping a bunch of money into but that'south water under the span I guess.
I've got a couple of old Rochester NY ones that I call back are cracking for the $125 each I payed for them years ago. I apply them every bit mono compressors 95% of the time though and I don't await mastering level stereo quality out of them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pipe_Dream ➡️
I've been this off for a long time considering I ended up getting a stereo linked pair of distressors and have been using the Revive modded VLA II equally a mono comp. I decided to move some stuff effectually my rack and see if I could apply the trimmers to get the levels to lucifer. This did not go as I may take expected.
I pulled off the height and was able to locate the trimmers for each aqueduct. The trimmers weren't able to motility the volume levels very much, just I was able to get the ii channel levels to match with the output pots at 12:00 (ex A).
Then, when I hit the stereo manner, the levels are no longer matched (ex B). channel 2 is about 2ish dB louder than channel 1.
The residual between the channels becomes much much worse as I increase the pinch. With the threshold knob set and then the meters prove 6 dB of gain reduction at the lowest ratio. The meters on the VLA read equal gain reduction between the 2 channels, but indicates that . The reading on my DAW indicates that with this amount of gain reduction applied, the second aqueduct is 4dB louder than the first channel (ex C).
I did discover that for a split second, the peaks between the channels, in the prior setup where I applied 6 dB of gain reduction per VLA meters.... was that for a carve up second the peaks between the channels were the aforementioned. I recorded this and found that it appears that at that place is some kind of compression beingness applied only to channel 2. Exhibit D shows what happens to the amplitude in channel two when I outset run a examination tone through it (ex D). Information technology would announced that channel ane does not exhibit like behavior at the onset of the test tone.
It would appear that no pinch is beingness applied at all (ex E). I should too mention that I have the attack set as boring as possible and the release ready as fast equally possible.
Further testing shows that information technology is not the case that channel one is merely not applying compression, but rather, channel 1 does not appear to experience any compression until the unit is reading ~10 dB of gain reduction. This is the point at which compression showtime becomes measurable for channel 1. Farther decreases to the threshold setting result in farther compression, every bit i would by and large expect. It behaves as if its a stereo compressor where the threshold setting between the 2 channels is fashion off resulting in bizarre behavior. Exhibit F shows what happens when I have set up the threshold so medium compression is applied to channel 1 and extreme compression is applied to channel 2. This should show that this unit of measurement is completely unfit for stereo utilize.
This led me to speculate that perhaps the existent upshot here has to do with the balance pot, but my experiments with trying to use the interior trim to get the stereo image to conduct in a usable style is still escaping me.
If anyone has whatever ideas on what I can do here, it would exist profoundly appreciated. Information technology would appear that many people have run into similar issues here.
I am frankly very disappointed with Revive. I called earlier placing an order and walked them through all of these pain points I was having and asked if they would be able to calibrate my unit when they did the upgrade. I was told that they would take care of this for me which clearly never happened. This wasn't lost on me when I cut through the warranty void if broken seal on the unit of measurement....
I simply picked one of these up and mine is doing this exactly. In dual mode Channel i doesn't brainstorm to compress until threshold is lowered to effectually -half-dozen, and in Stereo fashion, when the threshold is lowered channel ii begins to compress leaving channel one unaffected. And then balancing with the 50/R mix corrects the levels, notwithstanding information technology nigh makes it parallel compression. A mix of uncompressed channel one and compressed aqueduct two.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLast ➡️
Run a tone through it and residuum on the way dorsum into your mixer or daw the best you can.
Information technology 'due south a cheap but useful comp/limiter that I wouldnt advise dumping a agglomeration of money into only that's h2o under the bridge I guess.
I've got a couple of old Rochester NY ones that I recall are smashing for the $125 each I payed for them years ago. I apply them as mono compressors 95% of the fourth dimension though and I don't expect mastering level stereo quality out of them.
I don't expect anything well-nigh mastering quality for this... just exercise we think it's unreasonable to expect information technology to be at least viable for stereo apply, given that its advertised that way? I have a symetrix 525 and information technology is spot on in stereo link mode. This guy isn't running into these issues and is effulgent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?5=swu-Q4aF-Ak
I did the thing with the test tone (see photos). I recall maybe the problem is that the threshold is in different places on the channels... and it seems to respond a little different when it's driven harder/softer to recoup for the threshold differences and/or the genu is also shaped a little differently when in stereo style? In all my tinkering I at i point had it so that I was slightly to the left with sub/low mid sounds, expressionless even for well-nigh mid range and slightly to the right on loftier sounds.
Quote:
Originally Posted past lincol1 ➡️
I just picked ane of these up and mine is doing this exactly. In dual mode Aqueduct one doesn't brainstorm to compress until threshold is lowered to effectually -6, and in Stereo mode, when the threshold is lowered aqueduct two begins to compress leaving aqueduct 1 unaffected. Then balancing with the L/R mix corrects the levels, notwithstanding it almost makes it parallel compression. A mix of uncompressed aqueduct ane and compressed aqueduct two.
Anyone take a fix for this issue? Looks like I'm not alone hither...
Bueler...
I am having some other sent to me in a couple weeks. If it behaves the same I will have to let it go. I volition post findings when I can...
gain mismatch and weird interplay between channels when linked has led to my vla 2 being solely used as two mono comps for me.
Still very handy, just not suitable as a stereo unit.
Same hither, I was hoping for stereo matching, but that won't happen. I was told the potentiometers tin be choosy and are recommended to be replaced. No clue what/where those would be... The text on them dont pull any consummate match upwardly on the goog.
Just confirming this is revive modified, right?
Yours is also revive modified?
I seem to recollect from decades ago, I was "Brian" on the older posts here and on tomb, that this unit of measurement has some internal dc issues that trannies solve only on the inputs and outputs simply not internally. Simply, hey, they used to build glitchy pedals. Might need a repair tech.
I had two VLA, ane "Revive modified". Both had the aforementioned problem with L/R threshold tracking. As others take said, Revive was very unhelpful and snarky when I contacted them after the modernistic to discuss the problem. I decided not to continue doing business with them.
To Revive'southward credit, their modded unit is a (mono) special creature. I wish I could use information technology on stereo tracks and masters. I sold the unmodified Art. It was just pale and pathetic next to the modded unit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ox Han ➡️
Just confirming this is revive modified, correct?
Correct, Revive modified. The unit had this effect before I sent it to them. I described the issue and they said they'd exist able to brand information technology so that it was suitable for stereo apply when they did their upgrades. If I had known at the time that the stereo image would not significantly improve, I don't think I would take placed the gild.
To their credit, it does sound great as a mono; and so information technology wasn't a total con task.
Jason said he could "set up" mine every bit well. He is a scam creative person and should learn how to stick to legos if he can't keep his word. Worst businessman in the world. He should be ashamed of the way he operates. HE PUBLICLY CALLED ME OUT ON HIS WEBSITE Afterward I CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS HACK JOB!
Checking in. Any progress on this issue?
Not exactly perfect, just one piece of work around I have found that results in an fifty-fifty stereo image with these unit's limitations is to run it with Thousand/S encoders and decoders on either side of the concatenation and running the compressor in stereo mode to keep the compression consequent across both channels.
Revive needs to exist revived
I've had a actually hard time getting revive to answer. I've sent five emails with no response. I guess the hardest part is getting them to fix their piece of work.
Lives for gear
Exactly why I got rid of the VLA I had for a while. Very frustrating trying to use it in stereo. I don't understand why Fine art doesn't redesign that thing to eliminate that problem.
Source: https://gearspace.com/board/low-end-theory/1257072-yet-another-art-pro-vla-ii-thread-revive-audio-mod-amp-channel-level-issues.html
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