Description
The Pro VLA II is a two-channel leveling amplifier built around Vactrol opto-cells and a 12AT7 tube gain stage, skipping the VCA detection circuit found in most compressors at this price. The result is compression that reacts more like the ear expects — gentle on transients, forgiving on sustained material, and free of the pumping artifacts that plague cheaper designs. A fully transformerless signal path keeps noise and distortion low, so the unit stays quiet even when you’re pushing gain reduction hard.
Each channel gives you independent control over threshold, ratio (2:1 to 20:1), attack (0.25ms–50ms), and release (150ms–3s), plus a +4dBu/-10dBV switch that lets you match the unit to pro or consumer-level gear without a hit to headroom. Flip into Link mode and the two channels reconfigure themselves: channel 1 becomes a master output level, channel 2 becomes a balance control, turning the Pro VLA II into a proper stereo mastering tool rather than just two mono channels running in tandem.
Metering is handled by LED-backlit VU meters showing input/output level with both average and peak-hold readings, backed by a ten-segment LED ladder for gain reduction so you can see exactly what the compressor is doing in real time. A toroidal transformer in the power supply keeps hum out of the signal, and active balanced XLR plus 1/4-inch connections on both input and output make it easy to drop into almost any tracking, mixing, mastering, live sound, or broadcast rig.
- VCA-less Vactrol opto-compression with 12AT7 tube gain stage
- Variable threshold, ratio, attack, and release per channel
- Stereo Link mode for mastering-style master level/balance control
- LED VU metering (average + peak hold) and 10-segment gain reduction display
- +4dBu/-10dBV switching, active balanced XLR and 1/4″ I/O
- Toroidal transformer for low hum; transformerless audio path for low noise
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