art tube channel anyone?

runmikeyrun · #1 01-26-2009, 08:59 PM

I think i'm gonna throw my M-80 up on the Bay and look for one of these suckers... anyone used one before?

Snakeman1066 · #2 01-26-2009, 09:08 PM

Yep...

this model for several reasons...

1. all the knobs are on the front so i can set a pedal on top of it to save space

2. it has spereate gain and volume output controls so that you can drive it without distortorting the signal or you can crank it for a very dirty response

runs about $70.00 new

OxJohnson · #3 01-26-2009, 09:20 PM

I have used one of the cheap $30 (on sale) units kind of like the one above and not had a problem at all. No frills, but gets the job done.

Then I bought one of the rack mount ones ($300) that had a compressor, eq and preamp. I had to send it back because the EQ did not work. It had a real nasty buzz if the EQ was not bypassed. The buzz would go away if you touched the chassis, so I think it was a grounding issue, but after reading a few bad reviews, I decided to get a refund over a replacement. I believe that this was the same model that you are referring to.

So... oddly enough, I would go with the cheaper one (if I had to go ART, otherwise I would just get a Tech21) and skip the ART mid priced stuff. I hear that their really high end stuff is o.k., but I personally wouldn't chance it.

Ox.

Snakeman1066 · #4 01-26-2009, 09:40 PM

their basic model runs about 30.00 bucks new (honestly I have spent more on a tank of gas) they work great for what they are....

buy one if you don't like it sell it....seriosly $30.00 bucks isn't much to spend on an experiment....also i think Musicians Friend has a few listed under the scratch and dent section in the neighborhood of $20.00

fightthepower · #5 01-26-2009, 11:52 PM

At the rehersal spot we go direct through the drummers pro tools rig; art tube pre into the mixer. My pbass of doom (clips everything) doesn't play well with it, so I think next practice I'm going to go directly to the board and see which sounds better. I have to keep the input gain almost at 0, and still clip occasionally on hard plucks.

I've only used it a few times now and don't have much experience, but from my experience I would expect a high output bass with a heavy player (heavy music with a pick for instance) to have consistent issues with it. Other than that, the recordings from practice sound pretty damn good! The tube pre does a good job of warming up the vdrums and keys as well. If you're really thinking about it, then for $30 new, why the hell not!

bassman1185 · #6 01-27-2009, 06:55 AM

I just picked up the Tube PAC, which, as I understand it, is the preamp and compressor sections of the Tube Channel, but without the EQ. I replaced the tubes with JJ Teslas, and it sounds fantastic. Seriously, really thick and growly, but still nice and clear. At the last couple of practices with my band, I've just been plugging my pedal board into the PAC and going from that into the effects return on my amp, and it sounds great. If I didn't need the thing for other stuff (I work for an A/V company, so having a simple mic compressor comes in handy, and I also run sound at my church) I would just keep it velcroed in my rack.

I will say that the compressor hasn't been a whole lot of help so far for me. The threshold isn't adjustable high enough that I can use it without overcompressing my sound when I'm using it with my band. I use really hot pickups and I play pretty hard, though, so take that with a grain of salt.

John Wentzien · #7 01-27-2009, 07:05 AM

I have the cheap one..Works great.
The compressor isn't the greatest in it.
Changed out the Chinese tube and it sounds real good.

bongomania · #8 01-27-2009, 08:44 AM

The old all-black 1RU one was pretty cool. They also sold the EQ section as a half-rack unit, and it was seriously one of the fattest-sounding EQ's I've ever used. The construction was maybe a bit on the flimsy side though. The compressor is good, but not great.

Koeda · #9 01-27-2009, 11:12 AM

+1 for the Tube Pac.
Works as the Studio MP + Levelar - without the wall wart. Power supply is internal, big plus. Run the bass/pedal board to the Tupe Pac and then balanced to the fob/mixer/ProTools and the unbalanced to your amp.

Used the Studio MP ($29 at MF) before and worked just as well sans the optical compressor. Great stuff and a warm DI.
Still have as a backup or extra.
David

runmikeyrun · #10 01-27-2009, 04:48 PM

Thanks for the suggestions guys, they are quite helpful! I am gonna have to try out the MP but i do have an extremely high output bass so we'll see about the clipping. I think i'm still going to try to hold out for the tube channel; i have one rack space left and need the space on my pedalboard (and i don't like velcro-ing things into my rack). I might see if my friend @ GC can find one used somewhere with their computer.

Koeda · #11 01-27-2009, 08:25 PM

Hey hey,
I can't see how you could clip the Studio MP with a bass - it may be clipping the mixer or maybe the +20dB switch was engaged. When the Studio MP clips it od's like a tube preamp rather than clip. I used to push my so it would od before I got an od pedal, then just dial down the output to taste. The MP does have a limiter you can engage as well. Can't go wrong for $29 period - then again the channel can only be better (the Tube Pac sure was)!
David