ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

[Newc]

What's the "best" ART tube mic preamp for direct-recording of spoken words (not singing, rapping, etc)?

Note: "Best" here is being defined as providing a medium-high gain level, but minimal distortion and no "permanently on" Compression.

This will be used primarily for recording dialog, not singing or miking amps and such (but ya never know with me [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img])

Is the Studio V3 any good?

$150 would be the limit I'm looking at, and there's a V3 on Ebay for $99. This would probably not see much use, so a Pocket Neve or Classic Germanium Console Strip for $1500 is out of the question [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[RR0849]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

I have the cheapest ART Tube MP (no extensions like OPL or studio). It doesn't have the meters etc. but soundwise it's identical to the more expensive models. It's cheap and IMO sounds very good. Check out the mp3s at http://ca.regionline.fi/unitar/guitarpalace . I used it for guitars and it didn't color the sound or add any noise/compression. The mic was an old sennheiser MD421. I wish we had used it on vocals also.

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

I think these things start with like 60-70 dB of gain in the basic model. From there you pay extra for a switchable limiter then more for the V3 technology that expands to voicings for use beyond vocals. Probably the cheapie that you can pick up on the 'bay for $25-30 would do what you're looking for given your definition of "best".

[Matt Crooks]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

Newc... you can also look at the 1/2 (maybe 1/3) rack presonus preamps... I think they're in your price range as well.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

I have an ART Studio V3 that I'm going to sell if you want it.
http://artproaudio.com/products_main...&type=79&show=




I just replaced it with a dual channel one, DPS II, its a dual channel rackount vesion that has S/PDIF so I can go digital to my M-Audio 1814 FireWire card.

I haven't had any issues with mine and they are pretty noise free.

[Newc]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

Thanks fellers [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

Shawn, PM me a price

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

PM sent...

[Infernal Death]

Re: ART Tube Mic Preamp - which one to get?

Just wanted to mention that none of those devices are real tube gear. The amplification still is done by a ic-circuit (cheaper to be implemented) and the tube is just there for marketing reasons.
I don't want to make those devices look bad as for the price i think they are really ok. It's just that if you want tube gear you have to look elsewhere.

Flo