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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: saysiadog on May 21, 2008, 05:57:16 PM

Title: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: saysiadog on May 21, 2008, 05:57:16 PM
http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=90&cat=13&id=132

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but has anyone used one of these on this site?  I know it's cheap, but I'm on a budget.  If this is total garbage are there any recommendations within this price range.  I have a matched pair of AT 3035's.  I usually use them with a Mackie 402-VLZ3, but I'd like to be able to run the 3035's when there is no power available.  My recorder is the H2.  Any feedback is appreciated!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: illconditioned on May 21, 2008, 06:19:59 PM
http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=90&cat=13&id=132

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but has anyone used one of these on this site?  I know it's cheap, but I'm on a budget.  If this is total garbage are there any recommendations within this price range.  I have a matched pair of AT 3035's.  I usually use them with a Mackie VLZ-3, but I'd like to be able to run the 3035's when there is no power available.  My recorder is the H2.  Any feedback is appreciated!  Thanks!

I'd be curious to see what's inside if anyone gets this...

Things to look for: opamps used, power supply.
  Richard
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: Chuck on May 21, 2008, 07:52:59 PM
It looks pretty cool for under 100 bucks. I'd be interested in whether it can supply anywhere near 48 volts phantom power to a pair of microphones when powered through the USB cable. I'm sure someone will buy one and run some tests.
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: illconditioned on May 21, 2008, 08:04:41 PM
It looks pretty cool for under 100 bucks. I'd be interested in whether it can supply anywhere near 48 volts phantom power to a pair of microphones when powered through the USB cable. I'm sure someone will buy one and run some tests.
Yeah, that "someone" will not be me.  But I'm happy to comment on the "guts" if the "someone" who buys it is willing to open it up.   >:D
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: Kindguy on May 21, 2008, 09:41:57 PM
20 hours of 48v phantom from a single 9v? Seems impossible? My cooper pre gets 5 hours tops on 4 9v's
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: yug du nord on May 22, 2008, 02:50:50 PM
I have one...  used it for about a month or two until I was able to pick up a UA-5.  Ran it behind the Busman's and in front of an SBM-1 (until my RCA's went bad).  Even ran it straight into (line-in) HiMD.  Great results IMO!  I was able to get a solid 2-3 shows off of a single 9v.  Then I swapped batteries cause it seemed impossible to me that it could provide enough juice to power the pre-amp AND 48v phantom.  I never pushed it...  but I never had a battery die either.  It might be able to last as long as ART states...  not sure.  Then I started using a DVD battery to power it...  it probably could last an entire weekend at a festi with the DVD battery. 

The only major issue I could find is that it has 48db of gain, but it seems that if I raise the gain above +30db, it gets a bit noisy.  At a loud show, I can't see any issues, but at a quiet acoustic show...  it may be too noisy.  Same if I use it to monitor audio from the PC...  noisy.  I never have used it with the AC adapter, but I would guess that would create less noise than either the battery or USB.  Keep the gain below +30db, and it's been a great $100 spent (I bought it locally during the first week it was available...  I was my local store's guinea pig).  And yes, it seems to provide 48v phantom...  or at least enough to allow the Busman's to shine!       

I'd say, if you're in a pinch and need a pre...  this is definitely worth the $100!  Even if you're not in a pinch...  it's small,  >:D-able, provides 48v, and sounds well enough!  I'm gonna probably use mine at some point to run 4 mics into my UA-5...  cheap solution for wanting to run 4mics. 

I'll try to open it up and provide some pics after the weekend...  festival time!!!
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: bugg100 on May 22, 2008, 03:50:48 PM
What about the Nady DMP-2?  Anyone ever use one in the wild?  At $51 US, it sure is cheap.....


http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&safe=off&q=nady+dmp-2&scoring=p
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: saysiadog on May 23, 2008, 07:15:53 AM
Thanks for the input.  Responses much appreciated!
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: run_run_run on May 23, 2008, 08:57:17 PM
What about the Nady DMP-2?  Anyone ever use one in the wild?  At $51 US, it sure is cheap.....


http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&safe=off&q=nady+dmp-2&scoring=p
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,78663.0.html
Title: Re: Art USB Dual Pre...
Post by: heyitsmejess on May 23, 2008, 09:39:53 PM
ive got a dmp-2...used it once for about 3 hrs...and it performed well!

will get more use this coming week....and i will report the results