regebro
Insane Genious!
Art Tube MP: Single channel microphone tube preamp. Price in Sweden: 1500 SEK.
Line Audio DP1: Dual channel microphone preamp. Price in Sweden: 3200 SEK.
Today, after a weekend of rewiring the power in my "studio", I finally got around to testing the new mic preamp, the DP1. I already had a Tube MP, which I was satisfied with, after all, you guys gave me good reviews on my vocal sound from using it together with my Octava MK-319.
The DP1 has two independant channels, but can also link them so that input 2 goes through both preamps. The only use Line Audio has for this is that you then can record a mono source to a stereo WAV in your computer, and that it's easy to A/B-test mics. A well. I guess they had a button over on the front panel. Maybe I'll A/B test mics sometime, then it will be handy.
Each channel also has a -20dB pad, and a high pass filter to cut out bass. The 48V phantom power is switched on for both channels with one button, and a LED lights up when phantom power is on. Each channel has seven LEDs showing the level with a "trailing led" showing the peak, and one knob adjusting the level.
Turning to the back the markings are rather unclear, and whats worse, wrong. Yup, they got their stickers mixed up and labeled channel 1 as channel 2 and vice versa. Silly mistake. The inputs are those nifty Neutrik conectors that can take both unbalanced phono and balanced XLR. The outputs are only balanced, which isn't a problem, if you know it. If you discover it on a sunday and suddenly have one balanced to unbalanced cable to few, it's a bit annoying. The unit is powered by an external 9VAC wall wart. It has a power button and a power led.
The Tube MP is already a classic. It has one knob adjusting the amplification level, and another adjusting the output level. It has one led to indicate that power is on and that the level is clipping, which is indicated by a a color change. The Tube MP is powered by a 15VAC wall wart, and it has no power button. The tube is supposed to need warming up, so that is probably just as well, you don't want to switch it on just before you need it. Both the inputs and outputs come in balanced XLR and unbalanced phono. It also has 48V phantom power and a phase switch. Instead of a -20dB pad button, it has a +20db boost button. Yeah, same thing, really, I know.
In use
OK, so we chug the condenser mic into the Tube MP and put on the phantom power and adjust the levels. And here we find the biggest drawback, it's just not good enough to have the one led that the Tube MP has. Besides, differencies in manufacturing seems to make some Tube MPs clip before the led lights up. There is a more expensive version out, the Tube MP Studio, that has a VU meter to show the level. That should take care of the problem. But having found the hottest level I can have without clipping, and the adjusting the output level so that my tape recorder likes it, I sing a bit into the mic, and play a tune on my acoustic guitar. I rewind the tape, and connects the mic to the DP1. The level adjustment here is much easier of course, with the nice leds. Also I quickly discover that with the levels set nicely on the preamp, the levels are set correctly for my tape recorder. Thats good for me, since those VU meters are hard to see from where I sit when I record guitar. I sing and play again, and rewind to compare.
It's clear that the DP1 has a more transparent treble. The Tube MP does cut a bit of the higher frequencies.
Next step in the testing is connecting my MC-303 through the preamps. I play some high-speed techno beat with a lot of high-frequencies like hihats and stuff, and yes, it's there again. There really is a significant amount of high-frequency loss with the Tube MP as compared with the DP1. I guess thats what digital guys usually call "tube warmth". Since I use analog tape I have no need for that, and the DP1 has found itself a new home in my studio. I also felt that the bass was a bit muddy in the Tube MP, but that was really subtle and I could be imagening.
I might actually still use the Tube MP on my vocals, I'll have to try it some more, but I think I liked the sound of my voice better there.
The only real omission I can find with the DP1 is that there is no phase switch. It could prove very useful, especielly when you have two channels, and you suspect a phase problem. Ah well.
http://www.lineaudio.se/linepre.htm
http://www.artroch.com/products_detail.asp?PRODUCTID=32
Line Audio DP1: Dual channel microphone preamp. Price in Sweden: 3200 SEK.
Today, after a weekend of rewiring the power in my "studio", I finally got around to testing the new mic preamp, the DP1. I already had a Tube MP, which I was satisfied with, after all, you guys gave me good reviews on my vocal sound from using it together with my Octava MK-319.
The DP1 has two independant channels, but can also link them so that input 2 goes through both preamps. The only use Line Audio has for this is that you then can record a mono source to a stereo WAV in your computer, and that it's easy to A/B-test mics. A well. I guess they had a button over on the front panel.
Maybe I'll A/B test mics sometime, then it will be handy.Each channel also has a -20dB pad, and a high pass filter to cut out bass. The 48V phantom power is switched on for both channels with one button, and a LED lights up when phantom power is on. Each channel has seven LEDs showing the level with a "trailing led" showing the peak, and one knob adjusting the level.
Turning to the back the markings are rather unclear, and whats worse, wrong. Yup, they got their stickers mixed up and labeled channel 1 as channel 2 and vice versa. Silly mistake. The inputs are those nifty Neutrik conectors that can take both unbalanced phono and balanced XLR. The outputs are only balanced, which isn't a problem, if you know it. If you discover it on a sunday and suddenly have one balanced to unbalanced cable to few, it's a bit annoying.
The unit is powered by an external 9VAC wall wart. It has a power button and a power led.The Tube MP is already a classic. It has one knob adjusting the amplification level, and another adjusting the output level. It has one led to indicate that power is on and that the level is clipping, which is indicated by a a color change. The Tube MP is powered by a 15VAC wall wart, and it has no power button. The tube is supposed to need warming up, so that is probably just as well, you don't want to switch it on just before you need it. Both the inputs and outputs come in balanced XLR and unbalanced phono. It also has 48V phantom power and a phase switch. Instead of a -20dB pad button, it has a +20db boost button. Yeah, same thing, really, I know.
In use
OK, so we chug the condenser mic into the Tube MP and put on the phantom power and adjust the levels. And here we find the biggest drawback, it's just not good enough to have the one led that the Tube MP has. Besides, differencies in manufacturing seems to make some Tube MPs clip before the led lights up. There is a more expensive version out, the Tube MP Studio, that has a VU meter to show the level. That should take care of the problem. But having found the hottest level I can have without clipping, and the adjusting the output level so that my tape recorder likes it, I sing a bit into the mic, and play a tune on my acoustic guitar. I rewind the tape, and connects the mic to the DP1. The level adjustment here is much easier of course, with the nice leds. Also I quickly discover that with the levels set nicely on the preamp, the levels are set correctly for my tape recorder. Thats good for me, since those VU meters are hard to see from where I sit when I record guitar. I sing and play again, and rewind to compare.
It's clear that the DP1 has a more transparent treble. The Tube MP does cut a bit of the higher frequencies.
Next step in the testing is connecting my MC-303 through the preamps. I play some high-speed techno beat with a lot of high-frequencies like hihats and stuff, and yes, it's there again. There really is a significant amount of high-frequency loss with the Tube MP as compared with the DP1. I guess thats what digital guys usually call "tube warmth".
Since I use analog tape I have no need for that, and the DP1 has found itself a new home in my studio. I also felt that the bass was a bit muddy in the Tube MP, but that was really subtle and I could be imagening. I might actually still use the Tube MP on my vocals, I'll have to try it some more, but I think I liked the sound of my voice better there.
The only real omission I can find with the DP1 is that there is no phase switch. It could prove very useful, especielly when you have two channels, and you suspect a phase problem. Ah well.
http://www.lineaudio.se/linepre.htm
http://www.artroch.com/products_detail.asp?PRODUCTID=32