ART Tube MP Preamp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Decipha
  • Start date Start date
D

Decipha

EFIDynoTuning
I searched the forums but couldn't find much information on tube preamps. I record vocals and would like to get a tube preamp that will warm up my sound but not give me that low hi end noise. I like my hi's to be crisp and i was wondering what would be the best preamp for about $120 shipped? I looked around and found this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/484020/

I don't know exactly how it sounds since i've never heard it. I have heard some great things about it though and was wondering what the 'experts' at home recording forums think? Any comments would be helpful, also if you know of a better tube preamp that will give me an amazing sound for about $120 shipped i would appreciate it.


NOTE: I only record vocals: Rap. Singing, & R&B.
 
Decipha said:
I don't know exactly how it sounds since i've never heard it. I have heard some great things about it though and was wondering what the 'experts' at home recording forums think? Any comments would be helpful, also if you know of a better tube preamp that will give me an amazing sound for about $120 shipped i would appreciate it.


NOTE: I only record vocals: Rap. Singing, & R&B.
Click to expand...

Getting "amazing sound" at that price will be difficult. My favorite pre for vocals in that pricerange is the Studio Projects VTB-1. You can get it new for $130 (free shipping from Humbucker, Sweetwater and others). It has a variable tube gain and is very solid. For $150, you could get the Rane MS-1B. It does not have a "tube," but reputedly has a very good, clean sound.
 
scrubs said:
For $150, you could get the Rane MS-1B. It does not have a "tube," but reputedly has a very good, clean sound.
Click to expand...


Does it sound better than the Studio Projects VTB-1 even though it's not a tube preamp? Also, do you know if it's true that a tube mic will muddy your hi end?
 
If you want crisp high end, forget the Tube MP.

Then, of course, most "warmening up" is a matter of lowering and uncrisping the high end...
 
I'm sure you'll be happy with any of the pre-amps in the price range, I doubt the difference in characters of the various preamps available will have much bearing on your early recordings. I would search more for the right mic. That being said I have a Samson C Valve that I like a lot, the main reason I got it was for the SPDIF out, but it's a nice little unit for $100. Similar to the ART, which I've heard, but like a year ago.

There was a recording some pro did with the ART Tube pre that sounds better than a lot of pros using expensive gear, it was that guy Sonusman who used to post here. I heard that and decided to stop searching forums for the right cheap mic pre, it's all about how you use it.
 
Decipha said:
Does it sound better than the Studio Projects VTB-1 even though it's not a tube preamp? Also, do you know if it's true that a tube mic will muddy your hi end?
Click to expand...

I have never heard the Rane personally, but it gets very good reviews and has been recommended by several people on this board as a great entry-level pre. Be advised that a "tube" preamp in this pricerange contains what is called a "starved plate" tube, meaning that the tube is not receiving the same voltage that a true tube preamp does. The starved plate tube is really there just to add some subtle, hopefully pleasant, distortion to the signal. Such distortion is not always great or even desireable, hence the recommendation of the Rane, which is a solid-state design. That being said, I agree with the others that any of these pres will allow you to make music. I own the VTB-1, though, and really like it.
 
It's probably an excellent choice, both as a first preamp and as a mixer to use for monitoring through when recording.

Does it sound great? Probably not. Do you need anything better? No. Will it make you poor? No.
 
I've posted this before, but I think it's handy. I recorded an entire CD with just an ART MP in the pre stage that, like it or not, at least serves as a demo of what an ART MP does...when I use it, anyways.

The mic was $99.99 Musicians Friend special: Oktava 319--a "dark" mic by nature. Between the ART and the Octava, your hopes for shimmering high end vanish.

I agree with the comment that the mic is a bigger deal than the pre for you at this point. The Oktava contributed to the highend-less vibe much more than did the ART.

A link to the songs recorded with the ART:

www.dullum.net

The songs in question are in the "accoustic" column.
 
4-Man Takedown said:
I'm sure you'll be happy with any of the pre-amps in the price range, I doubt the difference in characters of the various preamps available will have much bearing on your early recordings. I would search more for the right mic. That being said I have a Samson C Valve that I like a lot, the main reason I got it was for the SPDIF out, but it's a nice little unit for $100. Similar to the ART, which I've heard, but like a year ago.

There was a recording some pro did with the ART Tube pre that sounds better than a lot of pros using expensive gear, it was that guy Sonusman who used to post here. I heard that and decided to stop searching forums for the right cheap mic pre, it's all about how you use it.
Click to expand...

Problem is, sonusman (Ed Rei), who is an amazing engineer, is just about the only person who was ever able to get those results from the ART MP. Most others have failed miserably, which is more a testament to Ed's incredible skills than the useability of the ART MP.

I've done the comparisons, and there is a definite quality difference between low-end pres. For example, put recordings done with an ART MP, Presonus Blue Tube, Behringer (or other low-end mixer) mixer up against a DMP3 (or a Rane MS1-B I'm told), and you will soon become a believer. The difference is not subtle. One exception, I've heard (although have not tried) that the ART MP is a pretty decent bass DI. Samples I've heard show the DMP3 does not excell as a bass DI.
 
Sonic Idiot said:
I've posted this before, but I think it's handy. I recorded an entire CD with just an ART MP in the pre stage that, like it or not, at least serves as a demo of what an ART MP does...when I use it, anyways.

The mic was $99.99 Musicians Friend special: Oktava 319--a "dark" mic by nature. Between the ART and the Octava, your hopes for shimmering high end vanish.

I agree with the comment that the mic is a bigger deal than the pre for you at this point. The Oktava contributed to the highend-less vibe much more than did the ART.
Click to expand...

I have an MK319 and an ART Tube MP. If the mic constributes more high-end rolloff than the Tube MP, you have dud mic (which is well known to happen with Oktavas non-existant quality control).
 
Maybe you have a dud ART! But seriously, I wouldn't say my Oktava is a dud, although I know they are inconsistent off the shelf. I've got much more expensive mics and I love the Oktava on my voice in many instances. It doesn't sound dull or lacking highend. But, compared to my other condensers, it does not crystalize the high end. I like it because I like to mic close, but the Oktava magically hides a lot of lip smacking, mouthy-type noises inherent to close micing.
 
OK, do this test with your art: record a stereo signal (whatever, a full song is fine) and pull one channel through the Tube MP and the other direct, an send the wav to me. Then I'll tell you if i have a "dud" Tube MP or not.

If I have a dud, then thats a good reason not to buy one, because then their QC sucks. if I don't then thats a good reason not to buy one, because then the tube MPs suck. :)
 
I'll take you up on it! No time right this second, but soon.
 
Decipha said:
I searched the forums but couldn't find much information on tube preamps. I record vocals and would like to get a tube preamp that will warm up my sound but not give me that low hi end noise. I like my hi's to be crisp and i was wondering what would be the best preamp for about $120 shipped? I looked around and found this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/484020/

I don't know exactly how it sounds since i've never heard it. I have heard some great things about it though and was wondering what the 'experts' at home recording forums think? Any comments would be helpful, also if you know of a better tube preamp that will give me an amazing sound for about $120 shipped i would appreciate it.


NOTE: I only record vocals: Rap. Singing, & R&B.
Click to expand...
The ART Tube MP Studio V3 on the "FLAT" setting is an ok Bass DI... but, when it comes to really cheap budget preamps the MAudio DMP3 is about the best of the bunch IMO. The cheap starved tube preamps add noise/distortion... I don't know what mic you're using, but if you need warmer vocals may be that's part of the problem too.

Get the MAudio DMP3 preamp and... what mic now are you using?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top