ART Tube MP Studio V3 Single Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with V3 Preset Technology and Output Protection Limiter

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio V3 Microphone Preamp:

YOWZA, this thing ROCKS! Look no further, my friends! I've been cobbling together a few things here and there to finally start shooting the films (okay...digital video) that I wanna make before I die. I started with a Canon T3i and a Pro Series Canon lens (35-105mm, I think). Plus I bought a tripod, lighting, and built my own nle workstation (very nice!). But the sound quality over Canon's P.O.C. condenser mic is even worse than ANYTHING I've ever heard recorded (yes, really).

So I buy me a battery powered Rode mic that everybody says is the bomb for prosumer hacks like me, and the sound is marginally improved, but still not acceptable. Then I'm doing the internet solutions bit, and everyone's touting these uncomfortably priced ($350-800 is uncomfortable to me) boxes and recorders and such, and you STILL have to sync your sound track to your video files in post-edit. Fuggedaboudit!

Just as I was about to give up hope, I run across this little bad boy. Not only does it JACK UP the input from my Rode (you could easily go phantom power, kids), and have settings out the wazoo, IT'S GOT A STINKIN METER ON IT!!! All this at a price so obscenely miniscule, that I only had to sell roses on a street corner ONE DAY to be able to pay for it. And it's even cheaper now than when I bought it a couple months ago.

Sorry, but you gotta use AC power (read the product name, people--"Studio" V3 Preamp). And though I'm thinking it'll take two mics (one XLR jack and one 1/4 inch), there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust individually for each input. No worries...I just plug my one Rode mic into the V3 and send my newly amped output to the Canon T3i. Now I'm not gonna go look, but I think the manual audio on my camera has between 20 and 40 levels that I can set it to--so I bump it down to ZERO, and then notch it up to a level ONE! I test levels and make adjustments on the V3, NEVER on the Canon. And my vocals are byoooooootiful!!! AND THEY SHOW UP ON THE DADGUM VIDEO FILE so there's NO SYNCING in the edit!!!

Sure, the audiophile quality snobs are gonna poo-poo that your sound now only rates an 8 or a 9 instead of a 9.438 or higher, but to them I say, "Get over yourselves!" This is VIDEO. It's all about what comes through the lens, or they'd all be in radio. Believe me--this mamma-jamma will give your mic signal EXACTLY the boost you need for a REASONABLE price so you can focus (no pun intended) on the more important parts of your shoot...like why the actor who can't stop talking between takes cannot remember the 3 WORDS of dialog you've given him in the script!

Comments about ART Tube MP Studio V3 Microphone Preamp:

First of all, removing the Chinese 12AX7 tube for it is far from good. Simply use an inexpensive GE or Tesla tube instead can make it at least 3 times the value. With the price you can't find anything else better than that. Though the V3 features different characteristics, it does increase the noise floor. I would suggest to keep it at flat position to get the best sound, or turns to the Tube MP instead if you really don't need the V3. With the above modification and configuration it really sounds good. No doubt it can greatly outperform the onboard pres, and even compete those with many times of the price after replacing the tube inside.