My settings for that ART MP tube pre-amp
(more $30 Pre-Amp School…..continued from How could we BE any dirtier?)
Symon Michael bought one, at my suggestion, to use on his saxaphone. Here’s what I told him works for me:
Let it warm up for a half-hour or more before recording with it.
And the settings I use are:
–input and output knobs, both at 12 o’clock (straight up)
–20 db gain: in (on)
–P-Pwr: in (on) (Has to be on for condensor mics. Should be off for dynamic mics, and MUST be off for ribbon mics.)
–Phase Reverse out (off) (Should be off, unless you have an out-of-phase issue with another mic.)
–OPL: in (on) (This is limiting that keeps you from being too loud.)
I use the XLR mic jack in for the mic, and use the 1/4″ jack out to my mixer (the XLR out could blow a mixer or computer.)
MWD
p/s I just ordered a THIRD ART MP tube pre-amp. It’s to go with the RODE microphone I ordered last week. That way when DJ and I have guests in the studio, we’ll all have a nice condenser mic with a nice tube pre-amp to dirty and warm us up before feeding into the digital Über-Purity of my perfect happy snug little kick-ass laptop computer. The Rode will be a nice addendeum to my good-but-budget mic closet, already including two MXLV63Ms: 
September 10th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Hi, Michael:
Just wanted to say THANKS for the equipment recommendation. The ART tube preamp was a great call. I re-recorded some of my sax tracks for the new album in an effort to see if it really would make a difference, and I was pleasantly surprised - there is a noticeable “something” that seems to work on about 1/2 of the tracks as an advantage. Also, it seemed to really add something when I recorded the flute tracks (no laughing - my new album features a generous portion of flute. Guess I’ve been listening to too much Neil Sedaka lately or something.)
One problem I ran into was the radio frequency thing - the first time I tried to use the box, I was getting AM radio in the monitor! It’s been so long since I worked with tube equipment that I had forgotten all about that side effect. I physically moved shit around the room and eventually it stopped.
–>S.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
i use a art pre-amp i run mogami 2534 gold cable to my rode NT-1A do you use mogami in your studio????
February 20th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
and have you tried the art project series Pre-amp its what i run with a 3 ft Mogami gold jumper to the mixer Mic line clean clear thd 0.5%
November 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I am seeking some material on audio recording for Alto Saxophones and I’ve just found stinkfight! An interesting read which I enjoyed and found to be of use. I look forward to have more time to take in more.