All user reviews of 4/5 for the Art Tube MP

Pre-tube amp versatile enough for use: home studio (to give more punch and brilliance to the input signal), but can also be used in live to "warm" and especially compress the sound of a bass instrument type ( above) or guitar (bof) before attacking an amp or console (use as DI).

2 inputs: XLR and TRS
2 Outputs: jack and XLR

For the edge (input of a microphone), it is better to use XLR.

CAUTION: TRANSFORMERS in AC: I made the mistake of using the transformer power supply as another pedal (which is in DC and with a lower amperage) and many transformer shot: watch for it not very easy to find an AC transformer with this amp (1 A), the more it costs the price of the bike ...
The lamp is a lamp provided Chinese: I immediately changed to a DD 83S lamp, which I recommend for all round use (ntmt votes) more roundness.

MAJOR FAULT: no ON / OFF switch, so I put 7

UTILIZATION

Confuguration could not be more simple, manual ok ik you speak English

SOUND QUALITY

Then there beware: do not expect a miracle, the difference is very slight, which for me is a guarantee of quality, as this device complies with the color of his that deals, in other words, if you play on a low Harley Benton 6 string connected to a trace elliot, do not expect to have the precision of his 60s.
I tried it on a rickenbacker 4001 before attacking the Little Mark II Markbass me and that brings a little more roundness and compression, but the sound is very very close.
idem in home studio: it does not transform voice, unfortunately ...

OVERALL OPINION

the value is very good: I recommend this product to all those who have never finished buying the stuff and are always looking to improve their sound: in other words if you like the sound of your instrument and that you play back without asking questions, he will not do you anything.
for home studio, why not but I think the quality of a model depends to 99.99% from other factors: quality of components, talented performer, used instruments and microphones, mixing ... and that in any event a model will never be worth recording in a real studio.

with experience, I would do anyway because that choice is good stuff ... the

Already described several times.

UTILIZATION

In a Pod XT preamp to warm distos among others, I am testing to see other stuff too.

SOUND QUALITY

Boosted with Tung Sol 12AX7 and dampers! Its much more punchy, more gain!

Purchased http://passion-audio-tube.oxatis.com/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=297612
Very nice.

OVERALL OPINION

Bought used 'back to new with price changes (lamp and switch for the power supply, purchased from Bricorama 4 euros) no competition!

The Art Tube MP is a simple, one channel tube based microphone preamp. Art offers up mostly affordable tube based gear that is aimed at home studio owners looking to warm up their sound a bit outside of the box. The mic pre has both 1/4" and XLR connections for both inputs and outputs and is powered up by a nine volt power supply. It's got built in phantom power, a phase reverse button, and a +20 db of gain, acting as a pad when not switched on. The tube inside of this is a 12AX7...

UTILIZATION

You really don't need to know anything in order to use the Art Tube MP. It's only got the basics you'd want with a mic pre and nothing more. It does however, give you independent input and output leveling control, which isn't something you'll find on most mic preamps. Other than that it's really a standard and simple mic pre, so I've never had a need to look at it's manual.

SOUND QUALITY

If you're looking to warm up your sound a bit outside of your audio interface and DAW, the Art Tube MP is a super cheap way to do so. It's not going to give you a super clean sound at all, but it's a warmer option when compared to any audio interfaces' preamps. I wouldn't use the Tube MP in a professional studio, as it's not up to par, but in a home studio it's a perfect fit. It's so cheap that almost anyone can afford it, and for this reason it's an incredibly well selling product. It's not going to tear down any barriers in terms of it's sound, but when compared with what most people are using with their audio interface, it's a lot warmed and fuller sounding.

OVERALL OPINION

The Art Tube MP is the best way to get a tube microphone preamp for less than $100 US dollars. It's the perfect supplement to your audio interfaces' preamps, which most of the time can sound dull and lifeless. If you want to put together a home studio spending as little money as possible, but still want at least a tube based mic pre for warmer sounds, the Art Tube MP is the ticket you're looking for...

-What Technology? (analog, digital, tube...)
Analogue, tube.

- What available effects, or type of effects, are there?
No effects, just a preamp.

- What connection types are there?
Jack & XLR, in & out.

- Is it rackable, or in rack form?
Not rackable, not a pedal, just a little box.

Has +20dB switch, input gain, output gain, phantom power, phase inverse.
So no high-pass filter...

UTILIZATION

- Is the general configuration/setup simple?
Couldn't really be much simpler.

- Is the sound or effects editing easy?
No editing, just in & out.

- Is the manual clear and sufficient?...
Can't remember ever needing it.

Problem: one led, that changes colour, no meters. It's green normally, then changes to orange or red when you get to or above 0dB. So, needless to say, using this to set levels is a bit like playing the lottery.

SOUND QUALITY

- Is the sound of your instruments or your microphones faithfully reproduced?
Is the pre-amp transparent or does it color the sound?

I haven't compared this side by side with other preamps on the same source so it's hard to tell. I doubt it's very transparent, then again i haven't noticed any major problems.
I've recorded bass through this, and vocals, amongst others and they were all quite ok to me.

OVERALL OPINION

- For how long have you been using it?
About 8 years.

- What thing do you like most/least about it?
Most: it's cheap now, and still better than most preamps on cheap little desks. Can be used as a DI...can provide phantom power...you can go in with a jack and go out on XLR...so you can have looong lengths of cable even with an instrument.

- Did you try many other models before getting this one?
None. There were none at the time.

- What is your opinion about the value for the price?
The price i paid was very high (950 Francs / £95 / 143 €) but now it's worth about 39 €. So would i buy it for £95 again? Hell no! Is it a bargain at 39€ ? Hell yes!

- Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...
It has come in handy so i can't complain, sometimes i would have been stuck without it...and i will use it again for a gig...
But i will sell it sooner or later, i suppose. The question is...if you want to buy something like this, what else is there? Would you buy Behringer over ART? I wouldn't...

Final word:
If you're playing a gig and going through a cheap desk then using this will definitely improve matters considerably.
If you're recording at home, i'm not sure this will of much use on its own.