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ART USB Dual Pre USB 1.1 Digital Audio Interface with Dual Microphone Preamps

BH #ARUSBDP • MFR #USBDUALPREPS
 72 reviews
ART USB Dual Pre USB 1.1 Digital Audio Interface with Dual Microphone Preamps
Key Features
  • 2 Input/2 Output
  • Phantom Power
  • 3 Powering Options
  • Mac OS & Windows Compatible
The USB Dual Pre from ART is a combination portable preamplifier and computer interface housed in a compact, rugged case. The unit is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including remote field work to desktop/studio recording. The 2 input channels can accept either a microphone or line input and provide up to 48 dB of gain.
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ART USB Dual Pre Overview

The USB Dual Pre from ART is a combination portable preamplifier and computer interface housed in a compact, rugged case. The unit is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including remote field work to desktop/studio recording. The 2 input channels can accept either a microphone or line input and provide up to 48 dB of gain.

Phantom power is available for use with condenser microphones, even when running from the USB bus or any of the other powering options. Those include using an external power supply or an internal 9V battery (both available separately). When running off the battery, operational hours are in excess of 50 hours with phantom power off.

A stereo mini headphone jack is provided for monitoring and the rear level and monitor mix controls allow for latency-free recording. The monitor mix is also routed to the main outputs. The USB interface is fully compliant with the USB 1.1 specification and uses USB adaptive mode for playback and USB asynchronous mode for record.

Portable USB interface with dual microphone preamps
Low-noise, fully balanced combo XLR-1/4" inputs
Preamps provide up to 48 dB of gain and feature independent gain controls
Built-in, low-noise phantom power supply
Signal present and clip LED indicators
Latency free monitoring with mix and level controls
Includes Audacity recording and production software
3-way powering options via the USB bus, an optional external power supply or 9V battery
UPC: 804040201904

ART USB Dual Pre Specs

Key Specs
Form Factor
Desktop
Channels of I/O
2 Input / 2 Output
Maximum Sampling Rate
48 kHz / 16-Bit
Number of Microphone Preamps
2 Preamps
Analog Audio I/O
2 x Combo XLR-1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced Input
2 x 1/4" TRS Balanced Output
1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Headphone Output
Host Connection
USB-B
OS Compatibility
macOS 9.1
macOS
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
*As of November, 2021: Check with manufacturer for the most up-to-date compatibility
Power Requirements
AC/DC Power Adapter (Not Included), Battery, USB Bus Power
Display
None
Channels of I/O
2 Input / 2 Output
Maximum Sampling Rate
48 kHz / 16-Bit
Number of Microphone Preamps
2 Preamps
Input Level Adjustment
2 x Button
Expansion Slots
None
Signal Processing
Pad
None
Gain/Trim Range
+48 dB
High-Pass Filter
None
Solo/Mute
None
Connectivity
Analog Audio I/O
2 x Combo XLR-1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced Input
2 x 1/4" TRS Balanced Output
1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Headphone Output
Phantom Power
48 V, Selectable On/Off
Digital Audio I/O
None
Host Connection
USB-B
Host Connection Protocol
USB 1.0
MIDI I/O
None
Performance
Frequency Response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +0/-1 dB
Maximum Input Level
+6 dBu
Maximum Output Level
+10 dBu (Balanced)
+4 dBu (Unbalanced)
Impedance
> 300 Kilohms
4 Kilohms
SNR
> 90 dB (at 0 dBu)
THD
1% (1 kHz)
CMRR
> 60 dB
Digital Audio
Sample Rates
44.1 / 48 kHz
Bit Depths
16-Bit
Compatibility
OS Compatibility
macOS 9.1
macOS
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Vista
*As of November, 2021: Check with manufacturer for the most up-to-date compatibility
Included Software
None
Required Hardware
Available USB 1.1 Port
Power
Power Requirements
AC/DC Power Adapter (Not Included), Battery, USB Bus Power
AC/DC Power Adapter
7.5 to 12 V (Not Included)
Battery Type
1 x 9V
Physical
Dimensions
4.7 x 4.6 x 1.8" / 119 x 117 x 44.5 mm
Weight
1.3 lb / 590.0 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.445 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
9.8 x 6.2 x 3.7"

ART USB Dual Pre Reviews

Simple, Good Quality Preamp

By Daniel
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-09-27

This is my second ART USB Dual preamp. After years of flawless use, my first unit appeared to occasionally added high pitch noise to voice-over recordings. The new preamp produces identical voice quality as my first unit using the same microphone. Very simple to set up and use.

Digital artifacts (noise)

By Daniel
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2017-01-12

It seemed to work fine at first, until I listened carefully and heard a faint but noticeable digital artifact repeating every four and a half seconds or so. When you know it's there, it's impossible to overlook, and it's all you hear when you play back your recording. I emailed [email protected] to try to find out if the unit might be defective, but of course I never got a reply. I suspect the digital artifact is caused by a poorly shielded microprocessor inside the unit. Aside from the noise, the quality of the recording through USB seems poor when compared to recording through my low-budget Zoom H2n. I replaced it with a Rolls MP13 which seems to be completely analog, so no digital noise.

Really good, except...

By Nikolai
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2016-11-26

From a sonic point of view, this is really rather decent, however: NOTE: I have two of these pres, and both exhibit the same issues. The battery compartment/wiring is really badly designed. The door is fiddly, and the wires might last maybe single-digit battery changes before coming off at the board. They are only soldered directly, with no strain relief. Why? Why not a slide-to-make contact arrangement? The presence battery door suggests you could use it, and perhaps on a camera, but the poor design precludes this, unless you are handy and can make a D-tap (with regulator as it ceilings at 12v), etc., or use Sony NP-F outboard battery. I had that stuff lying around, but if not, the great price might be canceled out. RF rejection: You may not encounter this, but despite a really nice aluminum extruded casing, and although fine in other situations, for some reason this preamp picked up pulsing from our wireless FF, even though replacing it with a lowly Zoom H4 exactly the same cables & position) eliminated the problem. Phantom power: Takes a long time (many seconds) to engage, and makes a loud hiss-storm as it charges up. Additionally, although the main power button has a light, the phantom does not. Also, both units have now decided to be very noisy with phantom power, causing us to use internal battery mics. No 416s, etc. So, despite best efforts, I cannot get this to function for production, and due to the phantom noise/failure (after only about 6 months of occasional use) I can't see how it could be recommended for anything, except that power light still shines ridiculously brightly!

In line with other reviews...

By Samsung Fan
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2016-09-04

The battery compartment is, as others have said, kind of a joke. The compartment is covered with a metal plate, which is screwed into the frame. Once you get that open, it is literally a cardboard sleeve and wires with a 9V battery receiver at the end. If you get a battery in there, it's a lot of work to yank it back out. Without the cardboard sleeve, the inner guts of the device are exposed. A battery could feasibly be pushed in too far and end up loose, rattling around somewhere in the device housing. I had high hopes for the battery powered option. But now I will probably be powering this with a mobile power bank. So far that's working fine. Using it for a brass instrument condenser mic. I also found, similar to other reviewers, that the headphone monitor will only output to one side. If I want stereo I have to use the 1/4 output. It's Balanced which I suppose makes more sense - though I thought it was generally understood that a headphone monitor output would be stereo, even if simulated (same mono out to L and R).

Great Buy

By RadioShowPro Inc.
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-08-02

I've purchased a couple dozen over the past few years to help others record audio from their home office. Very simple to install, great sound and sturdy quality. Never had an issue with any of the units.

Very good for my application

By None
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-07-21

I really like this item, especially since my application for it is field and location recording and processing. Very portable and packs a bevy of features in a small case. Would like to have a firewire connection, but the USB works quite well.

Great Service

By Mark
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-09-05

Easy to navigate website, fast shipping, and product arrived well packaged and works fine

Solid

By Robert
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-03-04

Small footprint, works perfectly with the AT2035 mic.

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question

Will this work with Windows 10?
Asked by: DANIEL S.
Not compatible with Windows 10.
Answered by: Mark S.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

I'm getting really low monitoring through headphones on this. even turned up to 10 and balanced to hear the preamp only. Does anyone else have this issue?
Asked by: Justin S.
I haven't heard of this issue per-say. The first thing I'd look at would be the impedance specification on my headphones. If it's on the high side, I'd consider getting a headphone amp, or headphones with a lower impedance.
Answered by: Jacob C.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

Can one use this simply as a stereo mic amplifier with a 9v battery and no USB connection?
Asked by: Richard L.
Yes
Answered by: Barbara S.
Date published: 2018-08-27

What are the dimensions of this unit?

What are the dimensions of this unit?
Asked by: Patrick
It is 4.6" wide x 4.7" deep x 1.75" high.
Answered by: John
Date published: 2019-12-10

question

Does it work combining the Right and Left output into single mono output by using a Y-cable?
Asked by: Anonymous
Yes that should work. An audio signal is a stream significant voltage variations on the wires.
Answered by: DANIEL B.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

Will the USB cable work both to provide power and to transmit signal to a computer? I need something to record from a condenser microphone (MXL770) to a laptop.
Asked by: Dulat B.
YES, the power can be supplied via the USB cable. I use it to connect a condenser microphone to an Apple laptop without issue.
Answered by: Mark B.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

Hello,I need a lightweight battery powered preamp. It will be used for nature sounds recording with a matched pair Rode NT5 and a Tascam DP008EX recorder. This preamp doesn't have XLR outs bu 1/4'', and the recorder has 2 1/4'' inputs. Is it possible to use this preamp with my recorder?Thanks!Dani
Asked by: Anonymous
Hi Dani,Yes, you can use the 1/4 outputs from the preamplifier to directly drive the 1/4 inputs in your recorder. you only need to buy or build two simple cables with plugs at both ends. As far as signal voltage levels are concerned, I don't expect any problem because you can comfortably adjust the preamplifier monitor level to prevent saturation of your recorder inputs (by the way, the 1/4 outputs and the 1/8 outputs both depend on the monitor knob). As far as equalization is concerned, I don't expect a problem either, assuming the recorder inputs have a flat response - i.e. are not designed for musical instruments (if the latter applies, you might need re-equalization during recording or playback, but I'd not consider this as a drawback). Therefore, this wonderful preamplifier meets your needs. Cheers from Italy.
Answered by: RICARDO Y.
Date published: 2018-08-27

question

Will this work as a headphone amp/ dac as well as microphone amp? Am wanting to improve sound from laptop to headphones
Asked by: Anonymous
Do not understand what you mean with dac . If the purpose is to improve the laptop output, I suggest you look for something else, as this pre-amp was conceived for high quality Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC) from microphones. The headphone level you've got with this pre-amp is just for monitoring purposes during recording, thus the output level is quite comparable to what's provided by a laptop.
Answered by: RICARDO Y.
Date published: 2018-08-27
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