ART Tube Pac.... Is it any good?

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Buck62

Buck62

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I need both a preamp and compressor. I was wondering just how good the ART Tube Pac really is.
Does it make a significant amount of noise?
After doing some basic research, I've found a 50/50 mix of reviews... those who swear by it, and those who say it's noisy.
I'd like to hear the pros and cons from people who have owned or used it.
Also, is the JoeMeek preamp twice as good as the Tube Pac? It costs twice as much.
What is the best preamp or preamp/compressor for under $400.00??
 
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Buck, but Tube Pac was shot and killed in Las Vegas a couple of years ago...


:D
 
Brad:

That was funny in it's own sick way; you think of that on the spot?

Buck62:

I haven't heard any opinionated reports on it, but I just saw a Joe Meek VC1Q at 8thStreet $550US; but I haven't heard anything on that either.
 
I got one a couple of months ago and have been impressed. I got it because I needed a compressor and phantom power (and I'm told the preamp is much better than the one on my Tascam 564) It gave me a cleaner, warmer sound on my vocals, for sure. I might not be the best source of information because I haven't really tried anything else, but there was a noticable difference in the quality of sound using it.

mutt
 
I avoid any unit that does more than one thing...
The ART is a good preamp... Get it and then get a good compressor... I have an RNC which I heard good things about and it looks cool... I didnt get a chance to really put it through its paces before the war... But I will soon...
I did track vox with it on the song that you havent heard yet that was supposed to be on the comp... They sounded very pro to my ears... for what that is worth...
 
P.S. The RNC claims to be a "stereo compressor" but it will not compress two channels seperately... I was misled.
 
I see your point about seperate units, S8-N... I'm sure it does make vocals sound great. But, I'm leery about having too many units in the chain before the signal gets to my digital recorder. Having 2 units in the chain might create a little more noise... wouldn't it?
I'm just speculating here.
To put it another way... each unit has a small amount of THD... whether it's as high as 0.5%, or as low as 0.009%, as in some of the really expensive units.
Wouldn't it add more noise by having 2 units rather than one?
What I'm trying to achieve (as all of us here would like to achieve) is the lowest possible ratio of noise and still have that nice "tube warmth"... and to keep the cost somewhat reasonable. I'm going to buy some Monster cables for my next project, that should help some.

BTW, the set-up would be used with an AKG C3000.

[This message has been edited by Buck62 (edited 05-20-2000).]
 
Luckily I dont really have to worry much about noise since my music already sounds like someone chainsawing a live pig in half during a tractor pull while road construction goes on outside and the Blue Angels fly over......
 
Buck62:

I wouldn't worry about that unless one of the units was really shitting and not worth using anyway.

Just use good cable and connectors and make sure your connections are clean and solid, and you shouldn't have a problem.
 
Tube Pac killed in Vegas...Good one, Brad!
And has anyone ever read up on Joe Meek the person? Strange Bird, that one..

[This message has been edited by Dougie Johnson (edited 05-21-2000).]
 
I've had an ART Tube PAC for just about a year, and am really getting good results with it.

I've used it with a C-3000, a U-87, and various guitars and basses. Works great on all of them!
 
I have a Tube Pac that I originally hated, but now only sort of dislike. I do get good results using it as a bass DI. It will give bass tracks a nice growl with the tube dirt and the compressor.

For the same reasons, I think it sucks as a pre-amp for room mic'ing or other applications where you'd like an uncolored pre. I haven't used mine for vox yet, but I'm going to try it with an NT-2 over the weekend and see if it will add a little beef to a thin tenor that I'm going to record.
 
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