ART / Tube MP/C U

The ART/Tube MP/CU combines a 12AX7 vacuum tube preamp, optical compressor/limiter, and DI box into one unit! !

■ Tube Preamp/Compressor/DI Box

■ Overview

The Tube MP/C is a tube preamp, compressor/limiter, and DI box. This compact unit contains two circuits: a tube analog preamp and a tube optical compressor. Its hybrid design of solid-state and tube technology results in extremely low noise. The compressor circuit can also be bypassed.

■ Equipped with a 12AX7 Vacuum Tube

The preamp circuit uses a 12AX7A vacuum tube. An additional 20dB of gain can be added, allowing the tube to be overdriven. This allows the tube's gain to be added to a variety of sounds.

■ Optical & Tube Compressor Circuit

The compressor circuit is a combination of optical and tube circuits, not a VCA. The compressor has a soft knee. In limit mode, the sound is more compressed, but it maintains transparency and allows for musical dynamic control.


Optical and vacuum tube circuits produce less noise and greater compression compared to VCA circuit compressors. This results in a very natural compression effect.

■Features

Tube microphone/line preamp with 80dB gain boost

Uses carefully selected 12AX7 vacuum tubes

Optical compressor circuit

Compressor can be bypassed

1/4″ TS unbalanced and XLR balanced input/output

Transformer-isolated XLR output

Selectable line/instrument output level

LED meter displaying tube operation, gain reduction, and output level

+48V phantom power

Phase inversion switch

Selectable release time

Dynamic range of over 90dB

Custom aluminum chassis

■Specifications

Input terminals: XLR balanced or 1/4″ unbalanced

Input impedance

1MΩ (1/4″ input terminal)

5KΩ (XLR input terminal)

Output terminals

1/4″ unbalanced

XLR balanced (transformer-isolated)

Output impedance

?600 Ω (XLR)

?300 Ω (1/4″)

Frequency Response

30 Hz - 60 kHz ±1 dB Balanced Output

20 Hz - 60 kHz ±1 dB 1/4″ Output

Maximum Gain

+80 dB (Balanced Input/Output)

+64 dB (Unbalanced Input, Balanced Output)

THD: <0.1% @ 1 kHz

CMRR: >60 dB @ max gain

EIN: -128 dBu typical (""A"" wtd., Shortened XLR Balanced Input, Gain @ max)

Maximum Input Level: Unbalanced (Inst) = +15 dBu, Balanced (mic) = +10 dBu

Maximum Output Level: +19 dBu (Line Mode)

Phantom Power: Switchable, +48V DC, Filtered, Current Limited

Vacuum Tube: Hand-selected 12AX7A

Compressor Slope: 2.3:1 (Compressor) / 11:1 (Limited)

Attack Time: <1 ms (Limited), 20 ms (Compressor)

Release Time: 150 ms (Fast), 20 ms?3 sec (Auto)

Low-Cut Filter: -3dB @ 70Hz, 6dB/Octave

Case: Aluminum, rubber on both sides

Power Supply: 9VAC@1000mA adapter

Dimensions: 44.5 × 150 × 165 mm

Weight: 820g

Note: 0 dBu = 0.775Vrms