ART Pro MPA II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamp

Name: ART Pro MPA II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamp
Brand: ART
Rating: 4 (67 reviews)

2-channel Tube Microphone Preamplifier with 48V Phantom Power, Selectable Input Impedance, and VU Metering

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Item ID: ProMPA2

ART Pro MPA II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamp

559

.99

36 months

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ART Pro MPA II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamp

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Versatile Tube Preamplifier Steps Up Your Sound!

ART's Pro MPA-II is a value-packed 2-channel tube microphone preamplifier. It's loaded with the right complement of professional features to deliver a serious sonic upgrade for any project studio or mobile recording studio. For flexible flavor, the ART Pro MPA-II features variable input impedance, so you can dial in a range of tube tones to suit your microphones. What's more, dual-mono and stereo support, and a mid/side miking switch give you the flexibility you need to tackle a wide range of projects and recording setups with the ART Pro MPA-II.

ART Pro MPA-II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamplifier at a Glance:

Two channels of flexible tube preamplification
Supports dual-mono and stereo operation, as well as mid/side miking
Large VU meters and multicolored LEDs display levels

Two channels of flexible tube preamplification
If you're looking to bring your recordings up to the level, there's nothing like introducing a quality preamplifier. And, with ART's Pro MPA-II, you'll have more than enough sonic range to dial in nearly any sound imaginable - no matter what kind of microphones you have in your mic locker right now, or the microphones you add to it in the future. That's because, on each channel you have selectable phantom power for your condensers. Plus, there's plenty of gain onboard for bringing your ribbon microphone signals up into usable levels. Beyond that, variable input impedance lets you draw out a rich range of tones from each of your microphones - use it to match the preamplifier to your microphones, or creatively mismatch tones for a unique sound. Plus, you can operate the ART Pro MPA-II at high or normal plate voltage, for an even wider range of sounds. There's also a per-channel low-cut filter to squelch issues with rumble.

Supports dual-mono and stereo operation, as well as mid/side miking
Your preamplification needs will vary depending on what you want to do and what you're recording - but, luckily, ART equipped the Pro MPA-II with the flexibility to meet your changing needs. You can operate the preamplifier in dual-mono or stereo, to suit what you're recording. There's even selectable support for mid/side microphone setups.

Large VU meters and multicolored LEDs display levels
Get an eye on what's going on using the ART Pro MPA-II's full assortment of metering. Onboard, two professional VU meters display input or output levels, while its multicolored LED arrays, with average or peak hold, show you tube gain.

ART Pro MPA-II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamplifier Features:

Variable Input Impedance For Flexible Microphone Voicing (150 Ohms To 2400 Ohms)
Selectable Plate Voltage
Large VU Meters
Backlit Function Switches
Discrete Class-A Input Microphone Preamplifier
Low Noise at Lower Gain Settings
Extremely Low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
Wide Frequency Response
Additional Front-mounted Instrument Input Jack
Supports Mid/Side Miking Technique
Operates at +4dbm/-10dbv Output
Selectable Stereo/Dual Operation of Output Controls
Automatic Instrument Input Selection

The ART Pro MPA-II is an incredible value-packed addition to any project studio wanting a step up in recording quality!

Resources

From the Manufacturer

Pro MPA II User Manual

Studio Preamp Buying Guide

Getting Started with Hardware: Building a Budget Rack

Oct 5, 2022

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Tech Specs

Preamp Type: Tube
Number of Channels: 2
Phantom Power: Yes
Analog Inputs: 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4" (Hi-Z)
Analog Outputs: 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4"
Frequency Response: 15Hz-48kHz
Rack Spaces: 2U
Height: 3.5"
Depth: 8.75"
Width: 19"
Weight: 10.5 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: PROMPAII

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Reviews

4.1

67 Reviews

Customer Photos & Videos

INCIDENT MUSIC LABS
This added a touch to the vocals that no plugin could match. Very pleased with this purchase! Sweetwater has never let me down in keeping my quality up and my costs down.

I purchased this after watching some reviews on YouTube about how authentically it warms up your mics for acoustic guitar recording. I could not be more pleased. This might be the best value purchase I've made for my home studio. I am feeding a pair a Lewitt LCT 140 Airs into this and passing it on to my Clarett+ 4pre and the results are absolutely astounding. This is THE mic sound I've been chasing. The true tube preamp using 12AX7s is saturating my sound in such a beautiful way. Shout out to Andy Eason for getting this order out so quickly!

Sounds great, very high quality feel. Priced to sell, worth every penny, Just buy it...

I'm a home studio engineer, but full time with a few years under my belt.

I didn't need a mic preamp to record. I have interfaces with more than enough. I wanted a preamp because I run an analog rack for mastering, and I'd like the microphone signal to pass through some compressors and things before hitting my daw.

This was a great choice. I not only use it for the purposes outlined above, but I will even use it on paid mastering projects first in my chain. I turn gain down to-20db in daw, then send the track through these preamps to make up that gain. It adds clarity, but I use them almost as a limiter and allow them to gently clip.

You don't need anything special. Just an interface and two xlr cables for your mic and interface connection.

Yes it is the same kind of preamp in your interface. The difference is you can control multiple things about these before they get to your recording software so you can shape the sound.

You can overdrive these. Think of guitar pedals that make distortion. These won't produce as much but when you drive the tubes hard they produce a very satisfying overdrive.

Next I get asked if this is really a tube preamp. There's others out there in this price range say tube but they literally just pass the signal through a tube plate at low voltage which doesn't do what a tube is intended to do.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE. These preamps run on real 12ax7 sets. They receive full plate voltage (button engaged) or choked voltage. These are real tube preamp circuits. Therefor you can actually push them like a tube guitar amp.

I do wish they had line input. But that's ok. I just adapt trs to xlr and reduce gain before it hits the preamps.

The instrument 1/4 cables on the front are a nice touch. They bypass the mic input which allows me to leave my mics in place while tracking di guitars.

They are great for everything from guitars to synths to vocals or even using them with compressors to color your signal a bit.

Say less than $500 most days these are a steal.

And don't let YouTube fool you, you don't need some rare new old stock tubes. lol. I pulled the unbranded tubes out before use and both were matched almost perfectly. Bias was great and all soldering was acceptable.

The transformers when pushed remind me of my warm audio bus compressors transformers. Although these in the art are not branded.

Last thing to note is be prepared for the weight when racking up this fat boy. It is around 11 lbs which doesn't sound too heavy, but my real pultec is around 2.5 lbs. these are 2unit rack space and I highly recommend not mounting this in a flimsy desktop rack. Like the gator cases ones. I have a gator 12unit and I did not even attempt to mount it.

I use two 42 unit 4 post networking racks in my studio. These produce heat so if you can separate other hot stuff.

The normal plate voltage setting is the dark, vintage sound I was expecting from a tube pre, but the high plate voltage setting is surprisingly clear. The sweepable impedance is excellent for broad tone shaping on the way in. The input and output controls are great for cranking up the tube saturation without overloading your interface, a feature that many high-end preamp manufacturers are still missing. Many people talk about upgrading the tubes, but I went a few years with the stocks tubes and did not feel like anything was missing. I recently swapped them out for a pair of Tung-Sol 12AX7's and did some test recordings before and after. I do notice a bit more clarity in the high end, but a very subtle improvement. Your results may vary if you're willing to shill out more for pricier tubes than I did.