ART Pro Audio USBDualTubePre - Two Channel USB Tube Preamp - Manual (Page 4)

INTRODUCTION:
Thank you for purchasing the ART USB Dual Tube Pre computer interface. 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 USB Dual Tube Pre is a two channel professional quality audio interface that lets you connect microphone, instrument, and line
level signals to a mixer or other audio input as well as directly to your computer via USB or S/PDIF. 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 are two different digital interfaces that add the ability to go direct to digital audio for connecting to virtually
any personal computer. The USB interface is supported by USB audio device drivers that are already built into Windows
98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7 and Apple OS9.1/OSX computers. No special drivers are needed for basic operation. Just con-
nect to the USB jack and your USB Dual Tube Pre will look like a USB Audio Device to your system. This gives you a totally iso-
lated low noise audio interface for hard disk recording. A Separate S/PDIF jack allows a standard digital connection to various audio
interfaces.
The latest 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 1/4” 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.
These two features are a must when trying to get the most out of a vintage ribbon or studio grade microphone. The switch selectable
Low Cut 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 70Hz 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.
An optical Compressor with fast attack and musical release times controls the maximum audio output level to prevent overloading
succeeding equipment. 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, Compressor and is used to match the output level to a wide variety of systems. Following
The Output controls are Insert Loop jacks and a bypass switch that allows adding effects and monitoring of the input signal.
Finally, a high performance output monitor section provides output signal drive capability to both balanced outputs and Headphone
output. 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 and S/PDIF interface and mix it with audio from your computer (via USB).
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