ART MPA Gold: Before You Amplify, Preamplify

Anyone delving into home recording might find that a basic setup can be improved by using a dedicated preamp. Bill Holland takes a look at the ART MPA Gold microphone and instrument preamp with a walkthru of its features because it pays off to go beyond plug and play. See more on gearwire.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ART
• MPA
• Gold
• microphone
• and
• instrument
• preamp

[disciple43]

If that's what it sounds like, then you're better off buying a mackie mixer and using that as a preamp. I couldn't tell that it "warmed up" anything. It sounded cold and sterile to my ears.

[gearwire]

to be fair, I was not monitoring the sound in this one. We were short help the day I shot this, but i'm not a big fan of the ART regardless. I personally have a joe meek six q for tracking vocals and bass and it's amazing. I will live off spam before letting it go.

[disciple43]

That's totally fair. It seems like such a great deal for a two channel tube preamp, and I would buy one if I was sure it would warm up a vocal track. Is there any kind of tube swap that can improve the tone? Also, does it sound better live than this particular recording? I realize that not having the normal people around can change how a recording comes out.

[gearwire]

i think part of what you lose in this recording is the lows, because our camera has a lo rolloff that sometimes affects bass frequencies. our bass demos, for example, are recorded with a sound devices recorder.  it actually sounds much better in person, although I think something smaller like the presonus tube pre sounds even better ( which is saying a lot).

[bassrockin]

This is a terrible review! You make this unit sound like crap and when the guitar gets plugged in it just sounds like a complete joke!!! I know ART isn't highend stuff but jeez c'mon and give it a fair chance!!! Erase this and start over... PLEASE!

[XXxESPxXX]

this guy does not know what hes doing. Crank the inout gain to full...lol sounds like shit. his microphone sounds liek old time radio

[deadbirdsings]

If this is a fair representation of what this preamp sounds like, I wouldn't want to use it as anything other than a special effect. The preamps in budget mixers sound better.

[JimijaymesGuitarist]

@XXxESPxXX he is distorting the tube stage heaps despite the readings because the stage goes solid stage high voltage tube section then solid state better to balance them to just add some tonal warmth not to distort

[simaojoseph]

hey are you or not using a condenser microphone. because if you are, we shouldn't hear you when you turned off the 48v phantom power.

[drmoroe30]

@d3tach3d

You mean "matching 1000+ mic pre's" right? :)

[drmoroe30]

I own the MPA Gold and think that it is a great deal for the moola. I will say that it seems that one has to crank the input and output up to get a decent signal into the DAW though. I am using a decent condenser mic and would have thought that there would be a little more oomph to the signal. Also, I have replaced the cheap stock tubes with some good Tung-sols so I doubt if that is the issue.

All in all a good buy!

[thehornypuppy]

Very bad review. Take this off...if you are going to review equipment at least record properly.

[Bijen]

I'm a big fan of ART Products, the price/performance ratio is just incredible. You can check my video because everything including vocals, back vocals, bass guitar, all electric guitars, acoustic guitars recorded with ART Mpa Gold and ART Pro VLA II and all recorded at my home studio and I'm not a professional. I'm really happy with my ART preamp and compressor. These things are cost less and sound quite fine to my ears.

watch?v=Frr41YObBug

[FingerstheLynch]

@d3tach3d ... i would have to agree. i just got mine, and switched the tubes immediately, huge improvement. This is a quality piece of gear (and I HATE art gear, minus the price). For the price of this item it is much better than people realize. This is definitely one of the best products ART has put out. The goal with this preamp is to learn its qualities, change the tubes, and feel it out for improvements. It is definitely under-rated in my books.

[FingerstheLynch]

@bassrockin .... you are correct. I own this preamp, and it sounds great. I base this on the experience of using many different preamps for a short period of time (2-6 months each). I think this review is a mess to be honest, and is not actually reviewing the preamp very well at all. This is sorta jokes, because there is zero application in this review, try recording something so we can judge it, not listen to you talk through a camera mic.

[IzztekProductions]

@d3tach3d ummmm dude, this isn't a compressor....this is a tube pre......lol