Art Tube MP Studio V3 User Manual
The ART
TUBE MP STUDIO V3™
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ........................................................................................... 2
Installation ............................................................................................. 3
AC Power Hookup .............................................................................. 3
Audio Connections .............................................................................. 3
Safety Precautions .............................................................................. 3
Controls and Indicators .........................................................................4
Input Control ....................................................................................... 4
+20 dB Gain Switch ............................................................................ 4
Phantom Power +48V Switch ............................................................. 4
Phase Reverse Switch ........................................................................ 5
OPL™ (Peak Limiter) Switch .............................................................. 6
Power/Clip/Limit LED .......................................................................... 6
VU Meter ............................................................................................. 6
Output Control .................................................................................... 7
Connections .......................................................................................... 8
¼” Input Jack....................................................................................... 8
XLR Input Jack ................................................................................... 8
XLR Output Jack ................................................................................. 8
¼” Output Jack ................................................................................... 9
Power Jack ......................................................................................... 9
Operation ............................................................................................. 10
Warranty Information .......................................................................... 12
Service ................................................................................................. 13
Tube MP Studio Specifications .......................................................... 14
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Tube MP Studio V3™ - and congratulations:
You now own one of the most versatile preamplifiers available. Offering a
superb level of sound quality, the Tube MP Studio’s hybrid solid state and
tube circuit design combined with a straightforward user interface quickly
and easily gives you access to all of its features.
The original ART Tube MP put professional-caliber tube preamplification
into the hands of thousands of musicians and recordists that wanted great
tube tone in a compact and flexible package.
The Tube MP Studio V3™ extends the range of applications by adding V3™
(Variable Valve Voicing) technology with an output protection limiter
(OPL™) to precisely control output peaks, and analog VU metering to aid in
setting and maintaining proper signal levels.
The Tube MP Studio V3™ can be used in a wide variety of applications
including recording, project and home studios, where its metering
functionality and OPL™ circuitry really shines. It also functions as a direct
box, with impedance matching and preamplification for instrument or linelevel sources.
FEATURES:
• Built -in analog VU metering
• V3™ (Variable Valve Voicing) with OPL™ (switch selectable)
• Up to 70dB of gain
• Hand selected 12AX7A dual triode tube
• Balanced XLR inputs and outputs
• ¼” High impedance Instrument input and ¼” line level output
• +48V Phantom power (switch selectable)
• Phase Reverse Switch
• Gain (+20dB) Switch
• Input Gain Control
• Output Level Control
• Multifunction, dual color LED Power/Clip/Limit indicator
• Fully shielded all steel chassis
• Designed and developed in the USA
INSTALLATION
The Tube MP Studio V3™ may be used in a wide variety of
applications and environments. Self-contained in an all-steel
enclosure, the Tube MP Studio V3™ is designed for continuous
professional use. Because the unit is compact and lightweight,
mounting location is not critical. However, for greater reliability we
recommend that you not place the Tube MP Studio V3™ on top of
power amps or other sources of heat. The tube circuitry needs about a
minute to “warm up” from a cold power up.
AC POWER HOOKUP
The Tube MP Studio has an external power supply designed to
operate at 115 VAC @ 50 to 60 Hz. Units manufactured for use
outside the United States of America have been modified to comply
with the required electrical specifications. Only use the adapter that
came with the Tube MP Studio V3™. If the adapter becomes lost or
damaged, contact ART Customer Service for replacement. If you need
to purchase one locally, just make sure that you specify 9 Volt AC (not
DC), at 800 ma.
AUDIO CONNECTIONS
Audio connections to and from the Tube MP Studio V3™ are balanced
XLR (Pin 2 = Hot (+), Pin 3 = Cold (-), Pin 1 = Ground) and unbalanced
¼” (Tip = Hot (+), Sleeve = Ground). We recommend that you switch
off the +48V Phantom Power whenever changing connections to the
XLR input .
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Warning: To avoid the risk of shock or fire, do not expose this unit to
moisture. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Do not remove the
metal cover; there are no user-serviceable parts inside. Only use the
power adapter that came with this unit or one obtained from Arts
Customer Service Department.
CONTROLS & INDICATORS
INPUT CONTROL
The Input Control sets the amount of input gain of the Tube MP Studio
V3™. Turn the control clockwise to increase gain and
counterclockwise to decrease gain. You may control two ranges of
gain with this control, +26 to +60dB and +6 to +40dB. Selection of the
gain range is made with the +20dB gain switch.
+20DB GAIN SWITCH
Use the +20dB Gain Switch to set the gain range of the input control.
When the switch is out, the Tube MP Studio V3™ operates in Normal
mode. Depressing the switch adds 20dB of gain. This mode is
indicated by the labeling in red and corresponds directly to the input
control’s red gain range labeling. For microphone applications, where
more gain is needed, push the switch in. For hot line level inputs, set
the switch in the out position.
PHANTOM POWER +48V SWITCH
The Tube MP Studio V3™ can power any microphone needing +48
volts DC Phantom power. Phantom power is supplied to pins 2 and 3
of the XLR Input jack when this switch is depressed. The Tube MP
Studio V3™ slowly applies and removes the +48volts, to prevent
damage to microphones.
Be sure to turn down or mute the output of the Tube MP Studio V3™
when engaging or disengaging Phantom power. Additionally, when
disengaging, allow 30 to 45 seconds for the power to completely
discharge. Most microphones will make a sound like air leaking from a
tire when Phantom power is disconnected, but some can make some
very nasty low rumbles and whines as well.
Dynamic microphones should not be affected or damaged if they are
plugged into a line where Phantom power is present. However, if the
mic doesn't need it, do not use it. Some things are best left untested!
PHASE REVERSE SWITC H
The Phase Reverse switch is provided to reverse the phase of the
signal. This switch works on Pins 2 and 3 of the XLR output jack and
also reverses the polarity of the ¼” output jack. In the Normal position,
the signal is in-phase. In the Reverse (or “in”) position, Pins 2 and 3
are reversed and the signal is changed to 180 degrees out of phase.
In multiple microphone applications, mic placement can affect the
phase of the signals. If two microphones pick up the same signal from
different locations, the result can be a hollow or frequency “shifted”
sound. In some cases it may sound as if an instrument disappears if it
happens to be 180 degrees out of phase. Depressing the Phase switch
can remedy this. In general, if your sound is “thin” or “out of position”,
try reversing the phase to correct the problem.
V3 – VARIABLE VALVE VO ICING CONTROL
This Tube MP Studio V3™ features ART’s proprietary V3
technology. V3 (which stands for Variable Valve Voicing), provides
optimized reference points to begin the recording process for guitars,
bass guitars, synths, acoustic instruments, percussion and more.
ART engineers ran our preamplification circuit through a battery of
tests and real life studio conditions. Our goal was to create a processor
that would allow a user to have presets that were optimized for specific
recording applications. We set out to create a preamp that would be
nimble enough to handle both violins and kick drums, and nearly
everything in between.
We wanted to take the guessing out of the equation – and that is how
we developed V3™. It’s simple, easy and it works really well.
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