Art MPA Gold Clips!

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by prslespaul

Thanks again for everyone who listened to my clip. I am selling my MPA Gold for $250OBO if anyone wants it. Comes with a Mullard and Telefunken Tube installed. Mint Condition. Still has the Plastic on the DB Meters. PM if anyones interested?

2500? You meant 250?

[imdok]

Put a space between the "0" and the "O" and you have $250 OBO. Pretty obvious it's not $2500

[prslespaul]

Whoops sorry $250 OBO. I rarely find use for it anymore. Just let me know if anyone is interested. Thanks in again guys.

Avery Record Studios on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by imdok

Put a space between the "0" and the "O" and you have $250 OBO. Pretty obvious it's not $2500

Wow thanks "Mr. Obvious"!

[Groberts]

Well I got my MPA Gold! I also had the pleasure of meeting "Bowie" in person in Scottsdale a couple days ago. I bought a couple of really clean, genuine NOS Telefunkens from him!

I did a quick sound test of my new MPA Gold and compared the NOS Telefunken Ribbed plate tube to the NOS Generic Mullard that came in it. (these tubes do not have the Mullard Shield Logo, but Bowie confirmed they are a military grade of Mullards, but perhaps not quite as rich and magical in the mids as classic NOS Mullards are known for)

The short report is; I LIKE the MPA Gold A LOT!! Definitely a keeper. It is clean, quiet, has character, is well built and is going to be great for acoustic guitar, bass and vocals. And it's TWO channels, so I can record in stereo using my Stereo matched pair of Peluso CEMC6 mics. mmm.

I did a brief comparison recording a few simple sound clips. That demonstrated just how two dimensional and digital sounding the M-Audio Fast track Ultra is. (to my ears) It's clean, and useable, but it's pretty much entry level sounding. I used an XLR-TRS Mogami cable from the MPA Gold output and connected it to the "Insert input" on the Fast track Ultra to bypass the M-Audio preamp. Voila! Worked like a champ and allows me to use and hear the MPA Gold Preamp while completely bypassing the M-Audio Octane preamp.

I made three recordings using the same settings, same mic, same position, same cables, same song, same acoustic guitar.

M-Audio Fast track Ultra - Clean, thin, somewhat brittle (in contrast) Not bad, but not great.

ART MPA Gold Pre w/NOS Mullard tube - The MPA Gold with this Mullard Tube clearly has more harmonic presence, a thicker, richer midrange, yet with a slightly muted high end. Yet the Mullard still offers a more musical treble compared to the M-Audio. The MPA Gold Preamp sounds really nice and is totally acceptable using this generic military spec'd Mullard built tube. From my brief testing thus far, I am sure I will use the MPA Gold Preamp over the M-Audio .....gasp ... ...everytime! the MPA Gold is just way more musical to these old ears of mine. But just wait ....the MPA Gold w/NOS Telefunken tube is next!!

ART MPA Gold Pre w/NOS Telefunken 12ax7 Ribbed plate tube - Yo mama! Just better EVERYTHING!#$!. Wow. Nice, Nice, NICE tubes! These tubes have exceptional clarity, nice sparkle in the highs (Which I like), and they have a very musical/rich midrange that is leaner than the Mullards but in a good way that will work great for stacking and giving each track its own three dimensional space. The MPA Gold with these NOS Telefunken tubes is light years sweeter than the Fast track Ultra. By a MILE! The Telefunkens were not quite as thick in the mids as the Mullards. But I like the clarity and open clear sound that was very natural and very musical. The Telefunken tubes in the MPA Gold Preamp possess a sonic character that is much more analog and authentic sounding than I ever heard when recording direct via the Fast track Ultra onboard Octane preamps. With the MPA Gold/Telefunken, the bass notes were nice and tight, the mids clean and clear, the highs sweet and sparkly without being bright, brittle or overly hyped. With the MPA Gold Preamp (W/Telefunken NOS tubes) everything seems more three dimensional, more palpable and it offers a harmonic presence that sounds sweeter, richer and less digital sounding compared to the M-Audio. (hard to put into words)

I'll see if I can upload some of comparison clips to my website and I'll post them tomorrow. (Saturday) I'm happy to email the sound clips (brief 30 second clips) if anyone wants to hear them. Just PM with your email addy for now.

I'll post them later once I get them uploaded to my website.

PS: That MPA Gold with a Mullard and Telefunken sure sounds like a good deal!

[Chris Lago]

I have the same setup as you w. Telefunken , but I even bypass the M-Audio's AD with my Digital MPA via S/PDIF... Wow awesome, seriously, this setup is as good as any high end preamp aka Avalon, Focusrite, UA... I'm talking from experience... Simply astonishing.

I also use the M-Audio Luna with the Art w.Telefunkens, and it has that "wow" factor. It's exactly on par with the 737/U87 combo. Different mic/preamp combinations, different coloration, all in all, different doesn't always mean better.

I have no idea why, but I'm able to get a c800g tone with the Luna and Art. I listen to T-Pain, Akon's stuff and it's on par sonically with my setup, just amazing. And for so much less too.

[Groberts]

Hey Chris, I am about to connect the my MPA Gold via S/pdif to an external RME ADI-2 AD/DA converter! I expect it will sound better than the M-Audio converters. So essentially, my M-Audio Fast track Ultra is becoming my Audio interface Dongle to the MAC. That's it. LOL

Here are the sound clips I recorded on the MPA. I'm interested in which you prefer and what differences you hear? I personally think the MPA Gold with Telefunkens is the clear winner. Its more three dimensional, is more articulate and is more analog sounding with a sweeter, more genunine tonality.

Keep in mind I threw these acoustic guitar recordings together very quickly just to get a general sense for the character of each preamp tube, and in comparison to going straight into the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. So there are likely subtle performance differences. But overall, everything is pretty equal.

I used a single Peluso CEMC6 mic, Mogami Gold cable to the Preamp. The Art MPA Gold was connected to the Insert Input on the M-Audio via Mogami Gold cabling as well.

You be the judge. What do you like best? see this thread for clips: Pre-Amp Shootout--M-Audio "Octane" VS "ART Tube MP" ~samples for yall to hear~

[Groberts]

Ok... I finally recorded Vocals and Bass DI through the MPA Gold w/NOS Telefunkens. I got my Apogee Duet this week, so comparisons were between the MPA Gold and Duet.

The bass sounded better through the Duet than going straight into an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra w/Octane Pre's. Not dramatic, but I thought the bass through the Duet was a bit punchier and meatier.

Then I put the bass into the MPA Gold and as expected, it definitely sounded more like a bass should.

Then, I recorded a vocal track with an AT4050 mic through the Duet. Then the same track through the MPA GOLD. I was very happy with the added warmth and presence that my vocals had through the MPA. They were slightly warmer, fatter, and richer. If I had to offer a characterization, it was like the difference between straight digital versus recording to Tape. Does that make sense? There was just a richer presence.
My vocal through the Duet had a bit harder leading edge to each vocal where they MPA Gold smoothed everything out in a very musical way.

The differerence was not night and day, but definitely noticeable to my ears. Enough that I believe I will personally track my vocals through the MPA going forward. (At least with this AT4050 mic) I initially tried a Blue Bluebird through the Duet, but quickly discarded the Bluebird as I felt the AT4050 was a bit richer sounding. I proceeded with my comparison from there. I recorded a whole song, so I'm not sure if attaching here is a good idea? I can email if anyone is interested. Nothing special, nothing fancy, and not mixed per se. But a decent comparison of Duet Pre versus MPA Gold. I got too tired to deal with running the comparison through my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. But I might still do that for giggles.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Ok... I finally recorded Vocals and Bass DI through the MPA Gold w/NOS Telefunkens. I got my Apogee Duet this week, so comparisons were between the MPA Gold and Duet.

The bass sounded better through the Duet than going straight into an M-Audio Fast Track Ultra w/Octane Pre's. Not dramatic, but I thought the bass through the Duet was a bit punchier and meatier.

Then I put the bass into the MPA Gold and as expected, it definitely sounded more like a bass should.

Then, I recorded a vocal track with an AT4050 mic through the Duet. Then the same track through the MPA GOLD. I was very happy with the added warmth and presence that my vocals had through the MPA. They were slightly warmer, fatter, and richer. If I had to offer a characterization, it was like the difference between straight digital versus recording to Tape. Does that make sense? There was just a richer presence.
My vocal through the Duet had a bit harder leading edge to each vocal where they MPA Gold smoothed everything out in a very musical way.

The differerence was not night and day, but definitely noticeable to my ears. Enough that I believe I will personally track my vocals through the MPA going forward. (At least with this AT4050 mic) I initially tried a Blue Bluebird through the Duet, but quickly discarded the Bluebird as I felt the AT4050 was a bit richer sounding. I proceeded with my comparison from there. I recorded a whole song, so I'm not sure if attaching here is a good idea? I can email if anyone is interested. Nothing special, nothing fancy, and not mixed per se. But a decent comparison of Duet Pre versus MPA Gold. I got too tired to deal with running the comparison through my M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. But I might still do that for giggles.

I love the MPA for that same reason, it tames all my shrill microphones. My M-Audio Luna sounds really warm through it. Right now I'm currently deciding if I want to buy a Rode K2, Sony c38b or Neumann U87. I'll post clips through the MPA soon.

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by chrislago

I love the MPA for that same reason, it tames all my shrill microphones.

Yeah me to!

[George Necola]

the upper mids sound pushed but the lower mids are missing. the guitar sound very bright, the vocals have some air problem. the topend doesnt sound very nice.

still.. the art mpa gold is like 200$?

cheers

[hello people]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Hey Chris, I am about to connect the my MPA Gold via S/pdif to an external RME ADI-2 AD/DA converter! I expect it will sound better than the M-Audio converters. So essentially, my M-Audio Fast track Ultra is becoming my Audio interface Dongle to the MAC. That's it. LOL

Here are the sound clips I recorded on the MPA. I'm interested in which you prefer and what differences you hear? I personally think the MPA Gold with Telefunkens is the clear winner. Its more three dimensional, is more articulate and is more analog sounding with a sweeter, more genunine tonality.

Keep in mind I threw these acoustic guitar recordings together very quickly just to get a general sense for the character of each preamp tube, and in comparison to going straight into the M-Audio Fast Track Ultra. So there are likely subtle performance differences. But overall, everything is pretty equal.

I used a single Peluso CEMC6 mic, Mogami Gold cable to the Preamp. The Art MPA Gold was connected to the Insert Input on the M-Audio via Mogami Gold cabling as well.

You be the judge. What do you like best? see this thread for clips: Pre-Amp Shootout--M-Audio "Octane" VS "ART Tube MP" ~samples for yall to hear~

But are you talking about the ART MPA Gold or the ART Tube MP?

Which one do you own? Which one is this thread about?

What is happening?

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by hello people

But are you talking about the ART MPA Gold or the ART Tube MP?

Which one do you own? Which one is this thread about?

What is happening?

I have the 2 Channel ART MPA Gold. That is the ART Preamp this thread is about! NOT the cheaper ART Tube MP.

[hello people]

Oh ok...so when you said the Art Tube MP was in the shootout you meant the ART MPa Gold?

[Groberts]

Originally Posted by hello people

Oh ok...so when you said the Art Tube MP was in the shootout you meant the ART MPa Gold?

There was another thread where someone has athe cheaper ART Tube MP. And the topic of the MPA GOLD came up in 'that shootout' thread. There was a lot of discussion about the MPA Gold there too. (as usually happens) So I posted a clip (of my MPA GOLD) in that thread. So Yes, I have the MPA GOLD, and any comments I make regarding my own recordings are about the MPA Gold. Sorry for any confusion.

[prslespaul]

I am selling my MPA Gold on Ebay. I had a few people message me about it but i have been busy moving to Nashville. Hope someone still wants it!!

ART MPA GOLD MIC PRE w/ TUNG-SOL + MULLARD TUBES PREAMP - eBay (item 180367852598 end time Jul-11-09 11:39:50 PDT)

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by prslespaul

I am selling my MPA Gold on Ebay. I had a few people message me about it but i have been busy moving to Nashville. Hope someone still wants it!!

ART MPA GOLD MIC PRE w/ TUNG-SOL + MULLARD TUBES PREAMP - eBay (item 180367852598 end time Jul-11-09 11:39:50 PDT)

It's an ok price, I got my Digital MPA for 200us.

[prslespaul]

I bought it for 300 then put 60 dollar tubes in it. So i figure thats a pretty good bargain. I am gunna upgrade to a daking IV i think.

[hello people]

I'll have a look