Bang for buck tracking compressor

[doncaparker]

I know that similar ground has been tread in other posts, but I was hoping I could obtain advice regarding my particular situation.

I'm just a hack basement hobbyist getting back into recording after having focused on other parts of life for a number of years. Since rekindling this interest, I've built up a pretty nice collection of tools: Good room treatment, monitors, mics, preamps, converters, etc. I mainly track vocals and acoustic guitar with mics (of course); I am working on a setup to move from DI guitar (with modeling) to micing an amp; and I DI the bass guitar.

The one thing that I have not purchased is a tracking compressor. Here recently, however, I have felt that some things, particularly the bass guitar, would really benefit from compression on the way into the converters.

I tried to buy a pair of Aphex 651 compressors, but the deal fell through due to the units being defective.

I am thinking about getting an ART Pro VLA II. They are dirt cheap, and I already have a nice pair of NOS Mullard 12AT7 tubes sitting around the house that I could swap into the unit.

My one hesitation is that I previously owned an ART MPA Gold preamp. While it was a nice unit for its price, I had to sell it and get something nicer, because I wanted to use it with some low output mics, and the noise in the MPA Gold when I cranked the gain beyond halfway was a bit too much for me. I am concerned about buying the Pro VLA II; I don't want to have to deal with noise from this unit that I dealt with from the MPA Gold.

Can anyone assure me that the Pro VLA II doesn't have the same noise problem that I experienced with the ART MPA Gold?

Also, if you know of any other compressors in this price range that would excel at electric bass, but also be useful for occasional tracking of acoustic guitars and vocals, I would appreciate a heads up. I have considered the RNC (and other FMR products), but my preamps (JLM Baby Animals) don't have inserts like some do, so I would have to deal with the whole unbalanced/balanced wiring nonsense.

If it makes any difference, the bass I'm tracking is a Mexican-made Fender Jazz with EMG active pickups.

Thanks for your help.

[David C.]

Hi, my american made Schecter P-J bass with EMG actives just loves my dbx 160xt comp. It's also quite nice on vocals and acoustic guitars and just about anything else. I haven't tried the ART you mention, but I have the old one space dual levelor and it's great for, well, leveling the signal going in. The ART darkens things though. Haven't messed with tube swaps or anything and have heard the 2 space units are whole different animals.

[rty5150]

my dbx 160x loves everything i run through it, too. a little slow by some standards, but it is pretty quick and has a real easy learning curve and does its job very well.

[vijsolo]

I have bouht my VLA a couple of mounth ago from ZZounds

ART Pro VLAII 2-Channel Compressor

works real fine with bass and acoustic. Lenede it to one guy to record Sax. Also was quite fine.

I did not have problems with noise.

The problem with VLA it is has Opto compression not a VCA so it's not very good for drums. For drums DBX is a must have I vould say. I actually think DBX should have called their models "Drum Compressors"

[Insomniaclown]

I have been looking at the Summit TLA 50, which is said to be the poor mans LA 2A. You could DIY yourself a rad compressor for cheap too.

[trepbale]

I recently picked up a FMR RNLA. Gives my vocal some color that I was looking for. You might want to add an HPF as the grit can come on fast when dialed in. For 215 (FrontEndAudio), it was a no brainer...The inputs are non-bal, but the outs are bal.

My chain is as follows:
RODE NTK > Avedis MA5 > Focusrite VMP (strictly for HPF) > RNLA > RME ADI-2 > DIGI 002