Y'all Help Me Out

[reggiesears]

I am having a rough time getting a good sound of this A R T Pro Channel preamp. Any suggestions? I'd really appreciate it!!

[reggiesears]

C'mon, now I now someone has experience with this juggernaut!!

[suedesound]

more info may help with replies. what mic, what source, what you aren't liking etc

[baslotto]

Lower the output gain, you are going in too hot!
And buy an AC filter for the power supply, they tend to be very sensitive.

[reggiesears]

Lowering the output gain was a good idea. I am used to vintage preamps and when the ART is driven too hard it distorts very ugly and it aint warm. So maybe I will lower the gaiin. I am using a Rode K2 for the most part, and while it sounded great on my old Platinum Voicemaster, but Im not able to get the results I am looking for with this ART preamp.

[reggiesears]

And I am having some trouble dialing in a good sound with this EQ

[reggiesears]

BUMP

[Kiwi]

If you don't like it, you don't like it. Sell it and try another.

Why did you buy it? Why did you sell your Focusrite?

Rode mics are aggressive enough to start with, and probably don't need to be followed by an agressive tube channel.

At least the eq is semi parametric - try lowest/widest Q for a start. Try cutting what you don't like, rather than boosting for a start.

Maybe you need an attenuator on the input to give you some clean headroom.

But ultimately, if you don't like it, you don't like.

[reggiesears]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

If you don't like it, you don't like it. Sell it and try another.

Why did you buy it? Why did you sell your Focusrite?

Rode mics are aggressive enough to start with, and probably don't need to be followed by an agressive tube channel.

At least the eq is semi parametric - try lowest/widest Q for a start. Try cutting what you don't like, rather than boosting for a start.

Maybe you need an attenuator on the input to give you some clean headroom.

But ultimately, if you don't like it, you don't like.

Sold the Focusrite 'cause I needed some money. I don't dislike it, I'm just trying to get a better sound out of this. I will definitely do some cutting here and I probably won't drive the preamp too hard until I replace the tubes. Thanks for the response!

[reggiesears]

Do you think changing the tubes would be a better idea then buying a new preamp?

[popmann]

I don't think it's actually a tune preamp...changing it will change the sound, but not likely from one you dot like to one you do.

...why EQ? Is there an issue?

Bright ass MICS don't take eq very well, IME.

Try taking the output straight from the preamp--there are patch pints at every stage, right? If its OK, use a cable out there and into the compressor...still OK? Point being, every stage in that thing uses at least one tube...might be the build up of three starved plates causing the sound you don't like. Bypassing one or all is solid troubleshooting...

[reggiesears]

Originally Posted by popmann

I don't think it's actually a tune preamp...changing it will change the sound, but not likely from one you dot like to one you do.

...why EQ? Is there an issue?

Bright ass MICS don't take eq very well, IME.

Try taking the output straight from the preamp--there are patch pints at every stage, right? If its OK, use a cable out there and into the compressor...still OK? Point being, every stage in that thing uses at least one tube...might be the build up of three starved plates causing the sound you don't like. Bypassing one or all is solid troubleshooting...

That sounds like a plan... I'ma try that. Thank you, my brutha

[reggiesears]

Bump... Anybody else who can give any suggestions?

[sameal]

there's gotta be a mod for that thing. if it's anything like the vla's you might even be able to steal some of the mod suggestions from that unit to this one, but research and schematics are needed.

tube changes in the art units usually help a little.

but as was said before, you might end up spending what you could get a better preamp for trying to polish this one. mods are better suited for tinkerers that like to do that sort of thing for sport really. if you want results it might be best to move on.

[reggiesears]

Originally Posted by sameal

there's gotta be a mod for that thing. if it's anything like the vla's you might even be able to steal some of the mod suggestions from that unit to this one, but research and schematics are needed.

tube changes in the art units usually help a little.

but as was said before, you might end up spending what you could get a better preamp for trying to polish this one. mods are better suited for tinkerers that like to do that sort of thing for sport really. if you want results it might be best to move on.

Alright my brotha, thank you for the help. Since this Art is pretty much still brand new, I'll probably get a couple of dollars together + trade this one in and get something else. I got a Rode mic, what preamp would you recommend? This is indeed a pretty bright/harsh mic, which with a suitable preamp can sound like a million bucks... I wish I had my Platinum Voicemaster still...

[sameal]

to be honest i might not be able to point you in the direction of a good pre, because i only know what works for me, and I'm not familiar with any of the equipment in this thread other then the art products.

the art isn't a bad unit. it just sounds like it isn't for you, or something in the chain isn't working well with it. try everything before selling it. make absolutely sure it has no use for you first.

what's your chain? from mic to disc

[pdlstl]

You're never gonna' get a decent sound out of this unit.

What do you expect out of a $300 channel strip?

[donnylang]

hey man,

I've had the Art Pro VLA compressor for a few years and have found it to work well for me.

a couple years back, I bought one of those Pro Channel preamps ... I couldn't really get a good sound out of it except on bass.

I'm used to vintage (though not expensive) stuff too.

You know what I got instead of the Art? An old Shure M67 for $11 on eBay. They usually go between $10-$50 ... 4 channel mic preamps. I ended up recording most of an entire album through them. You'll like them if you're into old sounds, like NUGGETS type stuff. Not hi-fi vintage. Sounds much cooler than the ART.

Oh, no phantom power though, so use dynamics or get one of those little phantom power units. The Shure is so cheap you'll still come out ahead.

[NYCruiser]

Trade that thing in and pick up a GAP Pre73

[reggiesears]

Originally Posted by NYCruiser

Trade that thing in and pick up a GAP Pre73

A lot of people recommend the GAP Pre73. I shall check it out