ART Tube MP USB

The Tube MP USB is a professional quality audio interface that lets you connect microphone, instrument, and line level signals to audio inputs to digital audio workstations as well as standard analog devices. We took our legendary Tube MP series and updated every aspect of the design, inside and out, while still maintaining a compact, reliable, cost effective product, and added a USB output.

From the new all-aluminium stackable chassis to the precision LED level metering circuitry, we have improved virtually every aspect of our already successful Tube MP series and added USB connectivity.

The TUBE MP features a single Type B USB peripheral connector on the rear panel for outputting audio over USB to your computer. The ART TUBE MP USB is fully USB 1.1 compliant, operating under Windows and Mac OS.

The new ultra low noise discrete microphone preamp front end has an extremely flat and wide frequency response and handles a wide range of input signal levels with a minimum of colouration.

• Clean and neutral sound with a wide variety of signal sources.

• High impedance 1/4″ instrument inputs optimized for guitar pickups allowing every nuance to be heard.

• High quality 12AX7A tube inside to add warmth to musical dynamics.

• External power supply to keep AC line noise and hum back at the wall.

• Input Gain control and switch to maximize input dynamic range and s control tube drive Input

• Switch selectable impedance to optimize microphone response on the front end.

• Maximizes vintage ribbon or studio grade microphones

• Switch selectable high-pass filter to removes very low frequency rumble and wind noise before it has a chance to overload inputs

• Bessel filter design is set at a low 40Hz to preserve bass tonality and time domain response and it is very effective when tracking or interfacing to your computer based audio workstation

• Phantom power available for the XLR input and a clean +48 Volts DC from a low noise internal current limited supply prevent damage to sensitive microphones

• FET Limiter with fast attack and musical release times limits the maximum audio output level to prevent overloading succeeding equipment while maintaining clear uncompressed sound.

• Phase Invert switch allows you to switch signal polarity right at the source for mixing the signal output with other channels in a mix

• Output control comes after the Tube and Limiter to match the output level to a wide variety of systems

• Output section that provides high output signal drive capability to both outputs.

APPLICATIONS

Microphone Pre-Amplifier

The Tube MP Project Series with USB is a high-quality microphone preamplifier suitable for all dynamic, condenser, and ribbon microphones. Most conventional mixers utilise budget minded microphone preamps and while very functional, they do not sound all that great. The Tube MP Project Series with USB serves as a quality upgrade that will give you more flexibility and a more robust tone than the standard preamps.

Simply plug the microphone into the XLR input, determine the impedance of the mic you selected. Apply phantom power if using a condenser. Then dial up the gain and you are ready to go. Refer to the 4 segment LED on the front for input for a visual measure of input gain, then route the output to a mixer, workstation, or computer interface via the XLR, ¼-inch or USB output. The overall output can be adjusted on the face of the unit; you may also choose to use the limit function to protect from any spikes in audio. Once you begin to pass audio through the system, you will have the ability to further dial in the tone a little closer by using the phase invert switch and low filter. These features can be very useful on drums and other areas where multiple microphones are being used.

Phantom Power Supply

Many mixers, workstations, and computer interface boxes will not supply +48 Volt phantom power on all the microphone inputs. This is a critical feature if you plan to use a condenser microphone. The Tube MP Project Series with USB is a perfect solution to this problem, letting you connect any microphone to the existing mixer or computer. Operation is identical to what is covered above.

Instrument DI

The Tube MP Project Series with USB will work well as a very functional Tube DI for Bass, Acoustic Guitar and virtually any other instrument with a ¼-inch or XLR output. Many people prefer the sound of a tube for responsiveness and warmth instead of standard DI’s and preamps. You will also enjoy more flexibility and control over a standard DI.

Operation is simple, insert the output of the instrument into the input of the Tube MP Project Series with USB. Make sure the volume on the bass or guitar is up all the way. If you are using any effects, make sure that the overall output is not greatly increased when the effect is on. Adjust the input gain knob and refer to the 4 segment LED on the front for a visual measure of input gain. Then route the output to a mixer, workstation or computer interface via the XLR, 1/4”, or USB output. The overall output and limiter can be adjusted on the face of the unit. Both analog outputs and the USB port may be used at the same time so the 1/4” can be routed to an amplifier, the XLR to a monitor mixer and the USB to a computer. Using a local analog mixer for monitoring during the record process gives you the most flexibility but, in a pinch, you can drive a set of headphones directly from the ¼-inch analog output jack without problems. Just note that in this case the output is a mono signal that will only play on one side of your headphones if they are stereo.