ART Tube MP or PreSonus TubePre ?

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Member Since: Feb 26, 2006

I'm interested in a budget Tube Pre to add some color to my DAW. Both of this Pre's (ART Tube MP and PreSonus TubePre) caught my eye.
Which one is better, or any other in this price range?
Regards
F. Bass

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Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Feb 26, 2006 02:24 am

I can only speak from experience on the Presonous Blue tube and have to saythat for a budget preamp it works well and you can get some good results with it.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 26, 2006 10:16 am

I wouldn't expect too much color from a budget tube pre.

I have the ART Tube MP Studio. It lacks high end response and isn't very dynamic. It makes a great bass DI but it sucks the life out of just about anything else you send through it.

It is build like a tank, though. I think I could pitch it down the stairs and it would come out OK.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Feb 27, 2006 12:50 pm

yep, my bluetube dosn't really color my sound anymore than the stock pre's on the q-10, when overdriven, the accual breakup of the signal isn't at all that great or 'warm', but the highs come out brilliantly comprared to my stock pre's....i've used it as a DI for bass, drum overheads, and vocals, and havn't been disappointed yet. one thing to consider is the presonus is two channels, and you can accually turn off the tube, and go solid state. oh and the presonus is not built like a tank, so if you're gonna be travelin' with it, that'd be a factor aswell.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 27, 2006 10:28 pm

AS stated by the others here. A cheaper mic pre, even a tube mic pre in the lower budget range will not give you the sound of a more expensive mic pre. The color you will get from the lower end mic pre's is not a prefered sound by any means. In thelower budget mic pre's you can hopefully rely on a clean transparant sound. But for a pre that will add the color you are looking for you will be spending upwards of $500.00 or moer just to get into the entry level of those types of mic pre's.

The mid range Presonus pre's are good. You might alos look into something by Grace Design as they are building some very good pre amps for the budget minded folks with home studio's.

String bender
Member
Since: Unknown


Feb 27, 2006 11:57 pm

I use a Presonus Tubepre. For the most part I leave the tube drive either down or off. It does the job just fine. In fact I used that little preamp and a Rode NT1A mic to record the voice-over for a little movie I worked on and its getting a few awards and nods even up against some big competition. Score one for the little guys! Like the others have said, I used it because it was cheap and got the job done clean but not really for the tube sound.

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