review title:
Subject
Good sounds but....
By: Jonathan Buckingham
Submitted: 9/26/2020
Product Rating
Product Review
Here is my take on the ART Digital MPA II. This preamp is nice on a lot of sound sources. Especially great for drum overheads. One useful feature is the Plate Voltage button which allows the user to switch to a higher plate voltage is the signal is too quick to clip. In the “high” setting there is way more headroom. This is great for loud sources like drum overheads. Has an excellent mid side option and works great as a DI on bass. The digital out sounds good but you better match up the sample rate. One drawback is the analog out seems to have a higher range and is great for gain staging with a DAW which you can not do with the digital outs (for obvious reasons). Because of this I switched to analog outs for recording stereo overheads only to find that channel 1 analog out was fried. Now I’m back to the digital outs to finish my project. Then it’s getting fixed.
Overall this is a really good product for recording stereo sources, vocals, bass and guitar.
review title:
Subject
Excellent Tube Pre - Utility Box - A/D Converter
By: Ivan Doc Rodriguez
Submitted: 10/31/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
The Unit Is Quiet / Powerful / Adjustable / Affordable / Has Excellent Metering And Get Ready For This One . . . It Has A Digital Output!! That (When You Know Your Way Around Audio) Is A Godsend. #MixedByDeeJayDoc
review title:
Subject
Great Mic Pre
By: Sin
Submitted: 10/14/2018
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This thing is pretty awesome. Able to get great clean tones as well as tube warmth. The stock Chinese tubes weren't bad, but I swapped them out anyway. Killer pre for the money.
review title:
Subject
Pro quality
By: TJ from NorrthPole, AK, USA
Submitted: 9/11/2012
2 people found this review helpful.
So far very dependable.
It has plenty of IO including AES digital IO. Separate analog and digital output level control. Wordclock pass thru to name a few.
Really easy to use and connect the way you want it. Manual is short but gives you enough info to start using without any problems.
Great. Numerous ways to get the sound you want. Plate voltage, input impedance or input gain. Easy to change tubes too for a different character.
Didn't have it for very long but no problems so far. Feels solid.
Your general opinion of this product.
You can buy other models but this seems most flexible and AD/DA (192k capable) with numerous including pro interface options is great to have.
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Best Value!
By: calaverasgrande from Oakland CA
Submitted: 10/11/2010
2 people found this review helpful.
All of teh knobs and switches feel very solid.
I am stunned that the highpass actually works on teh DI input! This is a simple feature that rules! Yet I have never seen another pre that does this. The support for both optical and RCA digital outs is great. Also the inclusion of AD conversion (all the way up to 192/24) is unheard of at this price point.
I havent even cracked teh maual. It is very easy to use, however I am an experienced sound engineer. Some features, such as mid-side are advanced techniques.
It has very good tone. Not great. This isnt a summit or neve or API. However, it beats the pants off of anything in its price range.
only owned a week so far. cant say
Your general opinion of this product.
This is a sleeper. This unit is literally raved about on pro audio boards. Buy one before ART gets wise and doubles the price. It is actually very quiet for a tube pre, the conversiosn sounds decent, and the extras are great. The only pther pres I have that beat this cost a LOT more.
review title:
Subject
AWESOME for the $!
By: Studioman from Mantua, OH. USA
Submitted: 4/4/2010
It looks AWESOME in the rack, you gain 2 channels of inputs (assuming your interface has SPdif in). It seems REAL nice for the $... My guess, nothing below $600 is as nice as this unit. My opinion, you must spend $700 or more to get something truly nicer, and then still you may want to add this pre for a multitude of reasons.
Bottom line, if you looking for something that has SPdif outs, this unit is perfect, for this reason alone! Then add the front instrument inputs, the added depth/fullness, this is your ticket for the $... Looks MUCH nicer than it actually is! The massive monitoring deal is nice & looks impressive.
SPdif output! My main reason for wanting to try this unit.
The front inputs are really sweet too!
The recorded tone is really strong, using a Beta87a, and Rode NT1000.
Simple to setup, easier to use. The front instrument inputs are cool, plug into them, it automatically disconnects the XLR inputs. SPdif out is the ONLY way to go. The converters in this unit seem REALLY nice.
Nice full sound, using the above said mics for my testing.
Im sure it will be fine for years to come.. At least I hope!lol
Your general opinion of this product.
I ran comparison tests, this is now my nicest pre, particularly using the converters on this hardware unit.
It just has a full sound to it for a budget pre.