User`s manual

3
INTRODUCTION:
Thank you for purchasing the ART Tube MP Project Series with USB. Though it is very reliable and easy to
use, we ask that you take a moment to read the manual to get the best performance.
The Tube MP Project Series with USB is a professional quality audio interface that lets you connect micro-
phone, instrument, and line level signals to a mixer or other audio input as well as directly to your computer via
USB. This hybrid design is the latest in a long line of ART tube preamps. We took our legendary Tube MP
series and updated every aspect of the design, inside and out, while still maintaining a compact, reliable, and
cost effective product. From the all-aluminum stackable chassis to the precision LED level metering circuitry,
we have improved virtually every aspect of our already successful Tube MP series.
Included in this model is a USB interface that adds the ability to go direct to digital audio for connecting to
virtually any personal computer. It works with the USB audio device drivers that are already built into Windows
98SE/ME/2000/XP and Apple OS9.1/OSX computers with native USB support. No special drivers are needed
for basic operation. Just connect to the USB jack and your Tube MP will look like a USB Audio Device to your
system. This gives you a totally isolated low noise audio interface for hard disk recording.
The ultra low noise discrete microphone preamp front end has an extremely flat and wide frequency response
and handles a wide range of input signal levels with a minimum of coloration. This gives you a very clean and
neutral sound with a wide variety of signal sources. The high impedance ¼” instrument input bypasses the
microphone preamp circuitry to maintain a clean signal path. We use a high quality 12AX7A tube inside to add
warmth to musical dynamics and the analog section power supply is external to keep AC line noise and hum
back at the wall. The USB interface is isolated and powered directly off the USB port.
The input Gain control and switch helps to maximize your input dynamic range as well as control how hard you
are driving the tube. Input impedance is switch selectable to optimize your microphone response right on the
front end. These two features are a must when trying to get the most out of a vintage ribbon or studio grade
microphone. The switch selectable high pass filter removes very low frequency rumble and wind noise before it
has a chance to overload your inputs. The Bessel filter design is set at a low 40Hz to preserve bass tonality
and time domain response and it is very effective when tracking or interfacing to your computer based audio
workstation. Phantom power is available for the XLR input and is a clean +48 Volts DC from a low noise
internal supply that is current limited to prevent damage to your sensitive microphones.
A FET Limiter with fast attack and musical release times limits the maximum audio output level to prevent
overloading succeeding equipment while still maintaining a clear uncompressed sound. This allows you to
maximize the dynamic range of your signal before converting to digital. A Phase Invert switch lets you switch
signal polarity right at the source. This is handy when you are mixing the signal output with other channels in a
mix. The Output control comes after the Tube, Limiter, and Metering and is used to match the output level to a
wide variety of systems. Following it is a high performance output section that provides high output signal drive
capability to both analog outputs and also feeds the input to the USB interface. This allows you to use the
analog output jacks to directly monitor, with no latency, the signal that is going to digital via the USB interface.
Key Features Include:
• USB Connectivity to PC & Mac Computers and Laptops
• Extremely Low Noise Discrete Front End
• Up to 70dB of Clean, “Musical” Gain
• High Output Signal Drive Capability
• Fast FET Limiter to Prevent Overload
• Switch Selectable Input Impedance
• Precision LED Metering
• Built-in Low Noise Phantom Power Supply
• Compact, Stackable all Aluminum Chassis
• XLR and ¼” Inputs and Outputs
• Phase Invert Switch and High Pass Filter Switch
• Variable Input and Output Controls