ART Tube pre-amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter ecktronic
  • Start date Start date
ecktronic

ecktronic

Mixing and Mastering.
Does anyone rate the ART tube pre-amp or even ART pre-amps atall?
I borrowed this pre from my pal.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TubeMPSTV3

It was almost brand new, and we were getting some nice detailed and warm recordings using the warm vocal setting and driving the inputa bit.
But it randomly crackles. Which is really annoying.
We tested a different pre amp and we got no crackel so Im expecting its the pre amp, but why sould a re amp crackle, especially when its almost brand new.

It has a clip limiter so you cant overload the input, and we didnt boost the pre amp too much. About 20dB or so with a 10dB pad on the mic. And the output wasnt clipping either.

Does anyone know of this problem with the ART pre's?

Cheers,
Eck
 
Crackling is usually a cable or connector issue. Did you use the same cabling with the non-crackling pre?
 
apl said:
Crackling is usually a cable or connector issue. Did you use the same cabling with the non-crackling pre?
Click to expand...
Yeah we tried using the same cable with the different pre and didnt get crackling.
Thats why im thinking it must be the pre amp. Either that or the soundcard, but we used the same soundcard with the other pre also, and we had no crackling.

Eck
 
ecktronic said:
Does anyone rate the ART tube pre-amp or even ART pre-amps atall?
I borrowed this pre from my pal.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TubeMPSTV3

It was almost brand new, and we were getting some nice detailed and warm recordings using the warm vocal setting and driving the inputa bit.
But it randomly crackles. Which is really annoying.
We tested a different pre amp and we got no crackel so Im expecting its the pre amp, but why sould a re amp crackle, especially when its almost brand new.

It has a clip limiter so you cant overload the input, and we didnt boost the pre amp too much. About 20dB or so with a 10dB pad on the mic. And the output wasnt clipping either.

Does anyone know of this problem with the ART pre's?

Cheers,
Eck
Click to expand...


I would say most likely the tube itself, it could be a bit microphonic. It also could be a bad connection between the tube and the tube socket-try opening it up and carefully making sure the tube is fully seated to the socket. Hopefully thats all it is. :)
 
Thanks for the reply man.
Its not mine so I dont want to go opening it up, plus its still under its 1 year warranty as its onlya few weeks old.
Prob best sending it back.

Eck
 
ecktronic said:
Thanks for the reply man.
Its not mine so I dont want to go opening it up, plus its still under its 1 year warranty as its onlya few weeks old.
Prob best sending it back.
Click to expand...
I have heard of no such known regular problem with the ART gear. I have used an ART Pro VLA for about eight years now, and the only problem I have had with it was a loose light bulb for illuminating one of the meters. Understandable as thie VLA was a workhorse in my portable location rack, and an easy fix.

The crackling you mention could be any of the items already mentioned. I'd also add two more usual suspects: a lose connection or mounting of the audio jack itself, dirty contacts on one of the pots.

Either one of those is easily fixable. They may or may not be covered under the warranty, depending upon what the manufacturer find to be the cause. For example, if the pots are dirty because there was liquid spilled on the thing, they my not cover that; or if the input jack is loose because of noticable physical abuse (the thing was dropped and left noticable physical damage), they may not cover that.

Or, the thing costs only $70. It's almost more economical to just buy one :).

G.
 
30 at musiciansfriend.com right now! How are the bass tones when used as a di jack?
 
DAS19 said:
30 at musiciansfriend.com right now! How are the bass tones when used as a di jack?
Click to expand...

lol... I see you found the same thing I did... ordered mine earlier tonight.
 
DAS19 said:
30 at musiciansfriend.com right now! How are the bass tones when used as a di jack?
Click to expand...
Only used it on vocals.
£30 or $30? I just got another ART tube pre amp, this time without the different tube settings.
The problem with the crackle was the pre amp. Tried pushing the tube in securley but that didnt help atall. :(

Eck
 
My art tube pre crackles. I only use it for talk back so I can deal with it. The funny thing is that the thing actually sounds really damn good for being 50 bucks or so. It also has VERY little headroom and gets VERY noisy when you turn up the output knob. But you can deal with that if your budget is 50 bucks.
 
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