It's ok .... as good or better as anything else in its price range. It's not a secret weapon or a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. If you spend more you will get more. I like the Manley EL OP a lot better.

Kurt Foster wrote: It's ok .... as good or better as anything else in its price range. It's not a secret weapon or a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. If you spend more you will get more. I like the Manley EL OP a lot better.

For some strange reason----------------I just knew you were gonna say that Kurt :lol:

Manley EL-OP's are very very nice.Incredible for some things...always usable for everything else. They are NOT budget gear.

Most compressors,including the very crappy ones,such as the vaunted Alesis 3630, will do what is asked of them within the limitations of their own circuit design.Like the 3630 which I would never use on a critical track but would use it in a live sound situation.The Art is much like that in the fact that it will work for some things and for others it will suck.Feel free to test drive one and decide.

Manley EL-OP's are very very nice.Incredible for some things...always usable for everything else. They are NOT budget gear.

Nope they aren't. But Eddies880 did ask,

Eddies880 wrote: "should I just spend 1g more and buy a higher end compressor?"

eddies880 wrote: [quote=Kurt Foster]It's ok .... as good or better as anything else in its price range. It's not a secret weapon or a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. If you spend more you will get more. I like the Manley EL OP a lot better.

For some strange reason----------------I just knew you were gonna say that Kurt :lol:

Please note I did not say it is a P.O.S. :!: :roll:

As for the previously mentioned Alesis 3630 it's ok too ... not as ok as the Art Pro VLA ... but it's ok. I've used one before with acceptable results ... both in live and studio settings. The truth is I could get good results with most of the gear that is available these days, regardless of how inexpensive it is, as long as it doesn't catch on fire in the rack or fail when it's pushed hard.

I think a lot of this kind gear is perfect for the market niche' it is aimed at. If that's where you are at it's an ideal choice.

But just like any journeyman carpenter, certified electrician or a master mechanic ... the better you get at your work, the more you appreciate good tools.

I think of things like the VLA as comparable to a set of sockets you can buy at Grand Auto or Kragens/ Knechts Auto supply for $19.95. They work fine and get the job done, especially if all you need to do is change your oil every 4000 miles. But if you are holding on to a socket wrench all day long you are going to want a set of "Snap Ons" or "Mac Tools".

Kurt Foster wrote:

Manley EL-OP's are very very nice.Incredible for some things...always usable for everything else. They are NOT budget gear.

Nope they aren't. But Eddies880 did ask,

[quote=Eddies880] "should I just spend 1g more and buy a higher end compressor?"

eddies880 wrote: [quote=Kurt Foster]It's ok .... as good or better as anything else in its price range. It's not a secret weapon or a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered. If you spend more you will get more. I like the Manley EL OP a lot better.

For some strange reason----------------I just knew you were gonna say that Kurt :lol:

Please note I did not say it is a P.O.S. :!: :roll:

As for the previously mentioned Alesis 3630 it's ok too ... not as ok as the Art Pro VLA ... but it's ok. I've used one before with acceptable results ... both in live and studio settings. The truth is I could get good results with most of the gear that is available these days, regardless of how inexpensive it is, as long as it doesn't catch on fire in the rack or fail when it's pushed hard.

I think a lot of this kind gear is perfect for the market niche' it is aimed at. If that's where you are at it's an ideal choice.

But just like any journeyman carpenter, certified electrician or a master mechanic ... the better you get at your work, the more you appreciate good tools.

I think of things like the VLA as comparable to a set of sockets you can buy at Grand Auto or Kragens/ Knechts Auto supply for $19.95. They work fine and get the job done, especially if all you need to do is change your oil every 4000 miles. But if you are holding on to a socket wrench all day long you are going to want a set of "Snap Ons" or "Mac Tools".From my expierence using the 3630,it hates hard signals,what I usualy end up doing is recording my tracks at high gain(without clipping my recorder),sounds great,but I cant blend it into the mix,its either lost,or too much at the top in the mix(using volume faders) without compression,so what I usually do is send that particular signal to he 3630 with slight compression,but my end result is that the musical dynamics are decreased,I know its the compressor,thats why they sell for 99 bucks.
I guess what Im trying to ask,in comparison between the 3630 and the Art Pro----does the Art pro have more clarity----is it more transparant.
I really---really wish I could drop the cash for some real tools (Manely,Tube-Tech,Drawmer etc.....)but at present time,I cant.
I will eventualy get a higher grade comp,just as I did when I got my Seb,but In the mean time,I need a better comp,I wish I could find one for under 1g----I guess Ill have to be patient :wink:

I guess what Im trying to ask,in comparison between the 3630 and the Art Pro----does the Art pro have more clarity----is it more transparant.

Yes, the ART is better than the Alesis.

Kurt Foster wrote:

I guess what Im trying to ask,in comparison between the 3630 and the Art Pro----does the Art pro have more clarity----is it more transparant.

Yes, the ART is better than the Alesis.

Thanks Kurt,its gonna have to do for now-----------------------in the mean time-----I have to Rid-The-Rack-Crap! :wink:

The ART Pro VLA is an absolute bargain at $299 and does better than anything else in that price range.

You will have to mod the 3630 if you don't want a compressor that sounds like a$$. That's why it's $99.

IMO it's the Pro VLA's vactrol system that makes the big difference. It uses optical electronics instead of opamps and that makes all the difference in the world.

It's transparent, yes, very transparent; if that's how you set it. It can be colorful too though. Depends on what the application is and how you're using it.

It's fantastic for vocals and wonderful on acoustic guitars. Handles percussion well and effects percussion too.. Killer on overheads.

If you had $1,300 to spend on a Manley unit you never would have asked the question in the first place. For $300, in my opinion (and that of thousands of others') you won't go wrong.

I forgot to mention it's a dream on mic'd guitar cabs. An absolute dream. Very creamy, yes sir.

Try the easy mod on the 3630......you simply cut 2 jumpers that link the compressor circuits to the gate circuits, takes 10 minutes. It actually makes them useable. The April issue of Tape Op magazine has an article with pics. I'd still buy the ART though, nice to have options.

jonyoung wrote: Try the easy mod on the 3630......you simply cut 2 jumpers that link the compressor circuits to the gate circuits, takes 10 minutes. It actually makes them useable. The April issue of Tape Op magazine has an article with pics. I'd still buy the ART though, nice to have options.

I remember reading a thread about mods for the 3630....been some time ago,but if Im not mistaken,you were at the helm,....I also remember reading something about (chips) that can be replaced.
Ill more than likely keep the 3630 as is,and go with the Art VLA....Ive read too many good things about it.-Thanks for the replys