Thoughts on ART MPA Gold?

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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

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Does anyone have anythoughts on the ART MPA Gold? Is it a good pre? I know there are a lot of people who are inimpressed with "budget" pres, but I don't have a ton of money and have heard good things about these. I'd like to get your opinions since you all tend to steer me the right way. SO I leave it to you. Thanks.
 
nate_dennis said:
Does anyone have anythoughts on the ART MPA Gold? Is it a good pre? I know there are a lot of people who are inimpressed with "budget" pres, but I don't have a ton of money and have heard good things about these. I'd like to get your opinions since you all tend to steer me the right way. SO I leave it to you. Thanks.
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And I leave it to you... to use the search function and find the thousands of glowing posts on this piece...
 
i just got an ART MPA gold about a month ago. if you dont have any tube pres, i HIGHLY suggest getting one. its just adds so much to whatever youre recording. very warm and pristine...then again this is my first tube pre.
 
I don't know why. Honestly. I think that it probably has to do with advertising, and having heard some good things about it. Honestly I just want a good quality tube pre for around that price. I don't have any real places to shop near me so i do a lot of shopping online and like to be informed before I buy.
 
nate_dennis said:
Does anyone have anythoughts on the ART MPA Gold? Is it a good pre? I know there are a lot of people who are inimpressed with "budget" pres, but I don't have a ton of money and have heard good things about these. I'd like to get your opinions since you all tend to steer me the right way. SO I leave it to you. Thanks.
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I JUST bought a digital mpa gold and love it. If you have tons of money grab a really nice Joe Meek pre! That's what I aspire to buy. They sounds incredible.

However, this mpa gold is amazing. There is a mic impendance feature that works great to ANY mic, and there is a "hot plate" option that sounds GREAT. On the digital version, you use it as a S/PDIF or ADAT and add 2 extra full channels to your mixer (ex 003). I think for $300-$400 you can't go wrong with this. It definately gives you a ton of features for the money, but it sounds incredible for 2 channels. Great for OH's.
 
There are a million glowing reviews on it...I have two...it's very hard to beat it at that price. It's not *quite* a true 300V design, but the high plate voltage puts 150V through the tube stage, so it doesn't actually make a huge difference which tube you use in it. The stock Chinese AX7's aren't *terrible*, but a replacement is definitely warranted.

Frank
 
Weasel9992 said:
It's not *quite* a true 300V design, but the high plate voltage puts 150V through the tube stage, so it doesn't actually make a huge difference which tube you use in it.
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As far as the tube knows it pretty much is. The tube doesn't know it's strapped to a current source rather than a resistor. A tube supply at +300V across a typical plate resistor doesn't see +300V at the plate either.

Also, +300V is not the required voltage for 12AX7; they are specified from +100V to +300V.
 
mshilarious said:
As far as the tube knows it pretty much is. The tube doesn't know it's strapped to a current source rather than a resistor. A tube supply at +300V across a typical plate resistor doesn't see +300V at the plate either.

Also, +300V is not the required voltage for 12AX7; they are specified from +100V to +300V.
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Thanks...good information.

I just cut a bass line with my MPA with the Telefunkens in it. Aside from the fact that the bass player took *53* takes to get it right, the preamp sure sounds great. :D

...no, I'm not kidding. 53 takes.

Frank
 
WHAT?!New gear doesn't make you a better musician? I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!! :rolleyes:never mind, i don't want it
 
I have the Gold. It's my first preamp. I like it a lot.

I was recording acoustic guitar the other night....here's the sequence of errors/ takes:

1. Ok...playback too boomy, let's do it again and alter mic position a bit
2. A bit better, still, boomy, alter again
3. Forgot to turn off speakers while recording otherwise good take
4. Forget to turn speakers vol down again
5. Watch strikes 9pm with almighty beeeeeep!
6. Detect low level thumping...it's my foot tapping the ground near the mic
7. Forget to turn speakers down
8. Nice take except for big clunk of hand on guitar body
9. Mobile phone rings half way in
10. I leave the speakers on again


etc
 
Monkey Allen said:
.... Detect low level thumping...it's my foot tapping the ground near the mic

...Nice take except for big clunk of hand on guitar body
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Both are sounds I would gladly leave in a recording but I think that's better suited for another thread somewhere. :D
 
It could be a great pre for all I know...but it is a one trick pony in the price range with a very versitile 8 channel in a Line6 UX8

From what Ive owned of ART I wouldnt reccomend it any higher than I would an alesis or Behringer product...but this could be the one thing they make that is decent.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
It could be a great pre for all I know...but it is a one trick pony in the price range with a very versitile 8 channel in a Line6 UX8

From what Ive owned of ART I wouldnt reccomend it any higher than I would an alesis or Behringer product...but this could be the one thing they make that is decent.
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How is it a one trick pony?
 
nate_dennis said:
Both are sounds I would gladly leave in a recording but I think that's better suited for another thread somewhere. :D
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The foot tapping was really a whomping sound...really bad. As it turns out the one I kept has a bit of a clunk...not to worry.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
It could be a great pre for all I know...but it is a one trick pony in the price range with a very versitile 8 channel in a Line6 UX8

From what Ive owned of ART I wouldnt reccomend it any higher than I would an alesis or Behringer product...but this could be the one thing they make that is decent.
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Yeah, I'd completely disagree with you on this one. I've got some really nice preamps, and the MPA stands up pretty well to them. It's certainly not a one trick pony...it's probably the most flexible preamp I own, as a matter of fact. It's way, way above the Behringer/Alesis quality level.

Frank
 
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