ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I've read a lot of neagtive reviews regarding this unit being too noisy, and emitting static and hiss. All of this is true. It can give off the most annoying hiss/hum/buzzing sounds...if you dont know what you're doing. I almost gave this thing a 1 star due to all the background noise I was hearing. I also couldnt figure out why or how this thing got so many positve reviews. I started to wonder if my unit was defective or if most people just couldnt hear the noise i was hearing. However, after spending about an hour or so tweaking the settings, I figured out how to find optimum results...

TURN DOWN THE GAIN ON YOUR INTERFACE!!!

It was the gain on my interface that was causing 90% of the hiss I was hearing. And when I say turn down the gain, I really mean turn down the gain! I have my gain/volume knob just barely turned up, and it makes a world of difference.

ALSO...

I have the gain button as well as the phantom power button on the preamp pushed in (and the other two buttons pushed out), and it seemed to clear up some of the noise as well.

You also need to find a wall outlet in your house that doesnt make this unit buzz. It's susceptible to that.

Bottom line to make this thing sound good...

-Find an outlet that doesnt make the unit buzz.

-Turn the gain knob on your interface way, way, way down.

-Tweak the output/input knobs on the preamp.

-Adjust the buttons on the preamp to whatever yields the best resulting sound.

-Try to be patient!!!

(If anyone is interested in my chain, this is how I have it setup...

Sm57 running into the preamp, preamp running into my interface, interface running into my laptop)

Overall, im giving this unit 4 stars. For the price, you simply cannot beat it. It makes my overall tone sound much, much warmer. The quality isnt as flat as it used to be.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

A good buy. If you have more money to spend, there are definitely better options out there, but if you just need something simple, this works fine and it's good and cheap.
This uses a 12AX7 tube, and is normally a microphone preamp. I have heard of bass players using it as DI box.

It has a 1/4" and XLR jacks for both Input and Output, +20dB gain switch, a Limiter, Phantom Power, and Phase Invert. Also has a VU meter to see the current levels, and also the LED will change from green to red when clipping is induced. It will also change when the limiter is engaged.

The +20dB gain will cause cilpping and overdrive with a 12AX7. With a 12AU7 tube, it will barely clip, even with the +20dB switch engaged and the input set all the way up. The Limiter is fair. I don't really use it, but it works decent. I haven't had experience with the Phantom Power--I don't use a microphone with it. I really like the Phase Invert, because it helps make the bass standout more in a band situation (So some of the lower frequencies on the guitar don't cancel some of the signal out.) The VU meter and color changing LED is a nice feature too. I'm not sure whether both the 1/4 and XLR jacks will work at the same time, I haven't tried yet.

I gave it a 9, because the features offered are great for the price range this preamp is in, but it's still shy of a 10 because 1 or 2 do not work the greatest they could.
This seems pretty well-made for the price range it's in. Let me explain my situation for this pedal:
My pedalboard has a few effects that are easily overdriven, but I put a Tech 21 Bass Driver to use as a preamp on my pedalboard. In order to keep the other effects from clipping, I have to crank the Tech 21 fairly low. But when I do that, the levels to the power amplifier are way too low, so I needed something that could bring them back up, but boosters are pretty expensive. Someone suggested this to me, and I figured it was worth a try.

First off, the cheap tube that comes with it is mediocre. It sounds cold and so-so. I replaced it at first with a JJ's 12AX7 tube and it really helped warm it up. However, I found a 12AU7A General Electric tube in my grandparents shop, and if you know anything about tubes, you know the 12AU7A is a good substitute for the 12AX7, but it's a lot lower gain. WOW. It's warm, and it does EXACTLY what I need...Also, even with the gain switch on, it doesn't drive the signal too much.

I am not sure about the VU meters not working out of the box, mine worked just fine right out of the box and hasn't suddenly stopped working since I bought it months ago. It sees regular use too.
A great value. If you need a DI box to just sit around, just in case, I suggest picking one or two of these up and fitting them with 12AU7A NOS tubes. I love it, and it works great for many situations.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

This was a great buy for me. I won't call it an investment because of the inexpensive price! I plan to order a couple more as soon as I have a few items on my list.
This unit has multiple ways to dial in the amount of effect you want. It has a boost, a limiter, phantom power, phase reversal, a vu meter and separate controls for both input and output. The two outputs allow me to run a line direct from pre-amp to computer for recording, and the other to the mixing board first. Two inputs allows you to sum together two sources, say a direct and a miked sound. I wish the descriptions next to the buttons and knobs were bigger, but I'm getting old, or so I hear.
Sure, the pre-amps you pay over a thousand bucks for sound better, but I got enhancements to sound running either a microphone or a guitar through this puppy. I'm sure I'll try several more instruments. I have also used it to warm up the sound from my mixer, which tends to be tinny most of the time. I haven't owned it very long (a few weeks) so I cannot comment on durability yet. Everything worked fine right out of the box, no set up, just a read through the manual.
Look up "value" in your Webster's, this has to be there. The price spread between this and other glass tube pre-amps is frickin' HUGE! It has added to tone in every application I have tried so far. If you can do that for this price, its an extreme value.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

If you have a solid state amp and you are thinking about spending a ton of money for a tube amp, you would be silly to not try this thing for the very low price.
Nice features. Some that I haven't used: it can be used to supply phantom power to your mike. I like the Vu meter.

I also play bass and like to run my bass through this into a Fender Rumble head that drive my old (circa 1974) Peavey bass cab. Really nice; much better sound than trying to warm it up using the electronic overdrive.

My only complaint on the features is that there is no on/off or bypass switch. But, what the hey?
Pretty inexpensive tube, but it will really warm up a solid state amp. I had been using a friend's Ultimate Chorus as a guitar amp, and no one liked it, not even the owner. After I ran the guitar through this, it sounded OK. Currently I am running my harp mike through this into a small Ibanez 25 watt amp with spring reverb, and even the most peevish tube amp connoisseur in the band thinks it sounds good.

I've read a lot of reviews where people have replace the cheap tube with better tubes, and I am anxious to try this.
I can't say anything bad about this pre amp. For the price, it's just great. Even if it craps out, it was great having it. I would buy another right away. It took my old transistor guitar amp and made it sound like an old time Fender Princeton. How's that for value?

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I purchased this preamp to use between my beta87a and the house. Like other reviewers said, this mic pre is just ok with the stock 12ax7, but if you change the tube the difference is dramatic. I am currently using a Tung-sol 5751 tube and could not be happier. My voice is warmer, more focused, and more dynamic that with the mackie mixer alone. I would recommend this preamp to anyone who is looking for a good working mans tube preamp. No its not an avalon, or even as good as the art mpa gold, but it really warms up my vocals nicely.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I've got other more high end preamps that I use for recording, but this is what I use for my live acoustic amplification rig. It works great! Just let it warm up for a few minutes and you are good to go! I actually have used it on recordings as well and the results were great! I liked it so much I bought a few of them. At this price point and at this quality, you really can't go wrong!

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I purchased this unit to "warm" up the tone of my guitars. It worked wonderfully for about four months. When it worked, I had great tone and good control over my sound. I mounted it on my pedalboard so I wouldn't be vibrating on top of my amp head - probably not a good thing to do either way. After about four months, it started crackling and making all kinds of noise. When I took the cover off of it to check the tube, the ribbon cable that connected the two circuit boards broke (I'm an experienced electronics technician, so it's not like I went tearing into the box). If the unit were constructed with a little more quality, it would be fantastic. As it is, buyer beware.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

As soon as I plugged this thing into my PA it started crackling. It does not stop. I adjusted the input and output. If you turn the output up even slightly it creates an annoying buzz. It does sound good with my nice mic; but the buzz and crackles make this product %100 unusable. Do not buy it unless you want snap, crackles, and buzz.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

The beauty of this preamp is it's simplicity. It does ONLY what it claims. It takes what goes in and brings it up to a higher level for the following device to do its job easier. It can push an amp into distortion or increase its dynamic range. It will not safe the world, but it will amplify it without coloring it. if your signal is dirty, noisy, i.e. not pristine, it will not correct it. It will how ever make you aware that you need to clean up whatever you are using to cause the issue. It WILL make a bad signal sound worse and a good signal sound louder.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I was looking for an inexpensive mic preamp, and the description of this one sounded pretty good. Unfortunately, the one I got buzzes. Even when there's no mic plugged into it and it isn't doing anything, a distinct hum comes from the device.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

Following the manufacturer's instruction to eliminate or reduce hum did nothing to get rid of the unwanted noise. Even adding a Behringer loop, hum-eliminating box did nothing. And the hum was definitely caused by this unit. Switching it our with different preamps eliminate the hum completely. In all fairness, I did not try one of the manufacturer's hum-eliminating solutions which was to remove the ground pin from the male end of the microphone's XLR cable. If you've tried that solution before and it reduced hum for you in other applications, then this unit might work for you. But, also, the unit heated up too much and too fast.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

waste your time today, by ordering one of these - order it, unpack it, plug it in, test it for 5 minutes, call for RA#, pack it back up, pay for return shipping, take it to UPS - ahh, done.

This thing is so noisy you can barely hear yourself. And the gauge doesn't work.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

This unit adds real 12ax7A tube color and warmth at a very reasonable price. I have tried it with guitar, as an extra pre-amp stage on the input side of a silverface Champ, and it adds punch, grit and gravel. It is especially effective with humbuckers. I am eager to try it with different tubes. One downside is that access to the tube is not the easiest, and involves partial disassembly of the unit (4 screws).

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I bought two of these to use as preamps for a 1k watt, custom hi-fi stereo. The sound is mind blowing. The tubes really give it the warm, explosive sound I was looking for.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

Bought it to warm up a cheap ribbon mic. Everything sounds muddy and dull through this. The pre's on my cheap mixer and recorder sound so much better.

This will trash any signal you send through it.

I have lots of ART rack units, and they are decent enough for low-end units, but this is a stain on the ART brand name.

And.. like so many other reviews the VU meter is nothing but a bright light. No needle movement.

This product should be discontinued.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I've had a couple of these I got some time ago to go between an older digital recorder and a pair of condenser mics (Boss BR8 and AT20/20s) which worked out nicely. However, my main guitar these days is a '62 RI Jazzmaster, which I play through a Fender SuperSonic22. I recently bought a Squire Telecaster for knocking around, but when I plugged it into the amp, it barely came through. I've spent hours tweaking the amp to get the right tone out of it for the Jazzmaster, so instead of undoing the settings, I just ran the Tele through the MP and twiddled the knobs until I got more volume out of the Tele. Almost wish I hadn't, because it really sounds better than I had anticipated.

I have since used the MP between the Tele and a Fender Frontman 25R, and the result is very pleasing. Maybe not full tube sound, but a serious bump from plugging the Tele straight into the Frontman (I've also put a Jensen in the Frontman, which really helps the sound, too).

I've also used the MP directly between a mic and a cheap powered (Kustom) speaker and an acoustic electric guitar and the powered speaker because I was too lazy to fire up a mixer, and the MP worked great for that, too.

These things are fabulous just to have lying around whenever one wants to add a little boost to the signal, and warm it up a bit, too.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

Now I have 4 of these... With the phantom power, these are great for boosting the signals of condenser microphones before they hit my DAW. It works out real well, and at this price point, you can't go wrong...

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

I recently purchased this preamp because I wanted to get one for my ribbon mic. In the short time I have owned it, I have found I like it MORE as a DI box for recording electric guitar. Does a nice job of allowing the instrument to breathe a lot more than without it. It did work well for vocals with my ribbon mic, but I think I may wind up using it more with guitar!

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

Great sounding tube pre, good features, easy to use. I had it mounted to my pedalboard, so it was fairly secure and stationary. After about six months, it started crackling and producing static. I thought maybe the tube had loosened up, and when I pulled the cover off to check, the ribbon cable that connected the circuit board broke (I was an electronics technician, so I know how to treat that kind of equipment). Anyway, although it sounded great, the quality leaves a lot to be desired.

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp:

initially used as a quick recording setup to overdub vocals to a previously recorded band track. It was a little noisy, mostly 60 Hz hum which may have been due to the power system I was using. I used it again for live rehearsals and it worked like a champ-clean, warm and allowed me to tailor my sound from where I was standing without having to rely on anyone else at the monitor board. For the price it is a no-brainer. I plan to try it with some of my recording condensers to check out the phantom power, and see if it can warm up a few of my more "sterile" sounding mics.