Customer Reviews

ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

+ REVIEW +

This is really an excellent little preamp for the money. It's quiet as a mouse, built like a sherman tank, and has some nice little features like an output limiter, phase reverse, a -20db pad, and of course, 48V phantom power for your condenser mic. Great for boosting a quiet source like an electric guitar or a condenser mic, but don't expect it to give you crazy tube warmth like you'd find on higher end units. It's more like a DI box with just the slightest bit of tube character. I've used this thing for vocals and guitar mostly, and in both cases it provides super silent amplification of my signal. My only complaint is that it doesn't push the signal quite as hard as I'd like to get a good level going into my DAW (Garageband or Logic 8).

+ COMPARE TO: Presonus TubePre +

PreSonus Tubepre Single-Channel Vacuum Tube Mic Pre

The only thing keeping me from recommending it over something like the PreSonus TubePre (despite the fact that I gave the TubePre 3 stars instead of the 4 I've given to the ART) is that it's hard to get a high enough level out of the ART -- I've maxed out the volume controls for both input and output with my AT4040 ($300) mic. In contrast, the Presonus TubePre provides a little more gain and allows you to control the amount of signal being sent to the tube via a separate "drive" knob. This is nice because you can boost the signal using the solid state portion, and then add the tube in as desired to color the sound a bit.

+ HOW TO: Replace the tube +

This can be a bit intimidating to some people but it's super easy and you'd have to be pretty clumsy to do any damage. Tubes are meant to be swapped -- they're engineered in such a way that they're very easy to replace. If you don't like the way the MP sounds out of the box, replace the cheap piece of junk tube it comes with. Try a Sovtek 12ax7 or any of the JJ tubes, either of which will cost about $12 at your local music store or Guitar Center. To install it, just remove all of the screws and unscrew the hex nuts around the line level input jacks. Gently rock the top part of the unit it opens like a book. Be careful because there is some wiring near the "spine" of the "book" and you don't want to rip it apart. Rock the tube back and forth until it comes out. Don't be afraid to apply counter pressure and tug on the tube fairly hard to get it moving -- you won't hurt it. Pop the new tube in, put the screws back in, and you're ready to rock. If you're freaked out by the process, as someone at a local guitar shop to give you a hand but don't let them charge you more than $5 because replacing a tube is really not a difficult task.

I'll confess - I needed a mic pre-amp and didn't have a big budget. This seemed like I couldn't go wrong so I bought it.

So far I'm impressed with the sound quality, features, build, and value of this low end tube preamp.

First, it has both 1/4" and XLR inputs and outputs, with no switches needed (both work all the time). The VU meter is backlit and features an overdrive LED as well as a limiter circuit as well as input gain and output level controls.

This unit has performed well so far - I ran it constantly for the first 48 hours to weed out any early problems and none appeared. The box gets a little warm in constant usage, but not objectionably so. Some is from the meter light and some from the tube heater.

If I ran into the need to go from mic --> line level again I'd buy this amp again. It's nice to be surprised with the quality and features instead of disappointed with snap together plastic stuff that eats 9V batteries every day.

This was definitely a case of the wallet talking and making the right decision.

For smoothing the rawness and thickening the sound of

an inexpensive condenser mic, this box is just the thing.

Microphone settings usually are best somewhere generally

around "straight-up", with some variations. Use restraint

when using with Mics!

***With Microphones, I would strongly urge you use ONLY the XLR inputs,

for lowest noise level.***

However, the VU meter doesn't

seem to register much when using the XLRs (unless you overdrive/distort it excessively).

I would go so far as to say,

don't even worry about the Art VUs when using the XLR ins & outs.

The VU meter seems to be more for line-level

applications like electric guitar/bass,

which sound just fine thru the 1/4" line inputs and outputs.

Compare vocal track recordings both WITH and WITHOUT

the preamp in use, to get a feel for the subtle, enrichening magic it does.

It is even better with guitar or bass, where it

just kicks it up a whole notch

in terms of thickness/smoothness of sound.

And if you overdrive it (guitar, esp), you can

get some enhanced distortion, for sure.

The best use of preamps (esp inexpensive ones), is to keep

its application fairly subtle (i.e.CLEAN) on any 1 track (except for the more

extreme special distortion/compression FX).

But if you were doing multitrack-recording of a song

and you used it on several tracks--Say, vocal mics,

guitar and bass, it would make

a solid difference in your final recording

as a WHOLE, I would think.

When recording a clean mic sound (i.e.lead vocal), You should go for

quite loud output from the pre--Just use your ears a lot

to make sure you have not reached distortion levels.

Aim for a strong output into the recorder, and

keep the input volume on your recording device low (like 1-2).

Used properly, it does that wonderful preamp thing--It makes the sound "bigger",

fatter, "warmer", whatever--In any case, It's a very good thing.

The newer version of this box (with numerous presets),

might be even better and easier to get good results from--But that

is just my guess.

This model is simpler, but I got some

good results from it, and it also "taught" me

what a difference a preamp makes.

This much is true---NO 2nd preamp you get will ever be

as much an improvement in your sound

as the 1st preamp was an improvement over

NOT using a preamp at all.

The VU just makes it a little better than

the non-VU model for line-level stuff.

Great starter pre.

And has pro-level applications as well, IMO.

Length:: 4:19 Mins

This is part 2 of a 5 part in depth video review series that I created on the ART Tube MP preamp. You can find the series on YouTube under "ToneTaster". In one of the videos I compare the sound of different tube brands inside the Tube MP. My particular ART Tube MP is the most basic model WITHOUT the VU meter. I'm not sure about the newer ones since mine is an older model but mine is very well made, very dependable, very quiet, and has plenty of gain for this price! The very best tip I can offer is: use a short quality cable like a monster brand cable or similar at the output. This is VERY important, otherwise you will not get the clarity out of it that it is capable of. If you can find a Tube MP at the bottom street price of around $30.00 I believe it is a GREAT value!

[I'm beginning to think I did this item an injustice. I've looked at the prices of XLR to USB adapters made by Shure, Blue, MX, and all--esp. the Shure--cost considerably more while offering less flexibility and features than the ART Preamp. The only "downside" might be the greater size and weight of the ART. If you plan to travel with the item a lot, throwing it in a gig bag with tons of other equipment, the Blue or MX may make more sense.]

In attempting to record announcements at home suitable for studio use (NPR radio), I encountered 3 problems: 1. My iMac didn't have enough power to provide adequate gain for non-USB microphones; 2. My results were often unusable due to recurring plosives (pops from "p" sounds); 3. My voice had none of the flattering "baritone richness" of the expensive studio mics.

A USB mic such as the Blue Snowball or Snowflake solved the first problem. The ART Preamp did the same with my condenser and dynamic mics plugged into the computer's audio input jack. The second problem was solved by a pop filter, though the added gain provided by the preamp reduced plosives by enabling me to speak more softly and "mute" my consonants; thirdly, as for the rich and resonant radio studio sound, I experimented with various mics, running each through the ART box. While there were differences in the "presence" and "natural" sound of my voice, all of the samples seemed overly treblish and slightly shrill compared to the studio mics (perhaps equalizers and filters would help, but I'm increasingly inclined to give the credit to mics at the studio costing several thousand each).

There are several of these mic preamps on Amazon, all supplying approximately the same amount of phantom power--up to 48 volts and 60 dbs. The ART is heavier and far more "stylish" than some others that cost ten dollars less. Whether the tube "warms" the sound as claimed may be more placebo than real, but the device strikes me as well-built, full-featured, and fairly valued.

In sum, if you run a small recording studio on a limited budget, it will be easy to fall in love with this seductive box. But bear in mind that it may not be needed with a USB mic (for recording purposes, I've noticed no need for phantom power) and that using it with a computer's 1/8" audio input will set you back extra for the right adapter (male XLR or quarter-inch plug to male 3.5mm). In addition, the power supply is a throwback to the wall warts of old, so it'll eat up 2-3 spaces on your power strip besides the box itself taking up extra room in your work space (suddenly a sensitive, compact USB mic is looking better than ever).

All the same, if you're willing to carry the extra weight, this baby, besides proving useful for recording purposes, can make an underperforming mic plus instrument amp come to life with more than ample power and loudness to serve as an emergency P.A. system.

I use this for podcasting and other home recording. Adds much needed warmth to that cold digital sound. I'm thinking of buying another for my second recording station. Haven't recorded guitar with it but I hear that sounds great as well...

I like the warmth that the preamp adds, but the 60hz hum at any setting is excessive. Yes, I tried changing cables, checked and rechecked connections. If you're thinking maybe I got a defective one, well, possibly. If that's so then the my 2-star rating goes towards poor quality control.

i know 'you get what you pay for' sounds negative, but that's not why i'm writing this review. i purchased this unit with the intention of modifying it. before i started to do that, i gave it a very good listen. the pots (volume knobs) seemed to adjust a couple different humming noises. only in certain positions on the dial did the noise subside to a low level. and mind you, that low level is anything but acceptable to anyone doing semi-pro work. basically, i was restricted to only one position on the gain knobs to work in, because the two different noise sources seemed to phase out there. i might as well have hot glued them in place, but for the resulting sound, it wouldnt even be worth the effort.

if you are looking for a strictly entry level phantom power preamp, and dont care about noisy gear, this is a must buy. otherwise, dont waste your time.

I really wanted to like the ART Tube MP Studio, but I'm giving it a resounding "meh." That said, the reviews for this product vary so much that it's probably worth reading a little further.

My interest is in boosting the gain from some vocal mics I'm using for sound reinforcement with an acoustic band. I'm not interested in professional recording or driving the tube into a guitar amp. I was hoping that the ART Tube MP Studio (which is billed here as a mic pre) would give me a hotter signal without adding a lot of noise.

First impression: An attractive and fairly solid little box for the price. Comprehensive and well written manual, but no schematic. Three-year warranty is probably voided by opening the case to swap the tube. Lack of power switch is a pain -- what were they thinking? VU meter and OPL are theoretically nice features.

Test setup: Shure BG 5.1 cardioid condenser mic (roughly equiv to the current PG81) into Roland CM-30 Cube Monitor (tested with both mic and line inputs) using balanced input and output connex with Whirlwind MK-series XLR cables. Used my ears as test instruments.

The tube: I tested three units, two with Electro Harmonix 12AX7-EH's against one with the stock tube.

Results: This pre is supposed to provide up to 60db of gain from the input section, plus up to 10db from the output section. With the +20db switch off and the output control up half way, I hit major hiss by the time I reached the 3 o'clock position on the input side. With the +20db switch on, all three units were so noisy that they were unusable at any setting. My estimate is that you can get maybe 30db of usable gain out of the Tube MP using it with a prosumer-level condenser mic.

Just to double-check, I tried swapping the stock tube in the third unit with an EH, and the new tube made no difference in the perceived noise level. The performance of all three units was identical.

The prevailing wisdom here is that these things work pretty well once you upgrade the tube. However, I found that the hybrid circuitry was so noisy that switching the tubes didn't make any difference. How to explain this? Well, all three boxes had a manufacturing date of 3/2010. It could be that this particular production run happened to use an exceptionally good supply of stock tubes, along with an exceptionally crappy batch of op amps. Could be, but I doubt it.

Wrapping Up: I agree with another reviewer that the phrase "You get what you pay for" rules the day. According the to the manual, "The main application of the Tube MP Studio is a microphone preamplifier." Not for me. The ART Tube MP Studio might be a handy project box for practicing your soldering skills. Some of the guys running instruments through it are getting good results. And if that's the case, then more power to ya. For my purposes, I would have been better off saving the money I spent on the ART Tube MP Studio and the tube upgrades and investing it in a more suitable product.

By the way, great service from Music123, which sent off a well-packed shipment that arrived in record time.

I loved it for recording. I had a sm58, but it just didn't have enough gain on my tascam USB-224 audio interface. So I bought a MXL V63M condenser mic and the Tube MP pre-amp. Great sounding combination, really helped to improve my recording quality. Bought it 11/24/07. Last night (04/17/08), I went to use it and -- no power! Bummer. Now, I have to check if it is under warranty and see about a replacement. Cheap and effective -- but if it dies this early, then the lower cost is now offset by all the replacement hassles. Heck if I have to drive to guitar center (it was shipped from Musician's friend) there's $15-20 in gas. Dang, back to the sm58 for awhile.

Kevin