VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[DanG]

Hi everyone I am getting the ART MPA Gold next week I can’t wait. I am getting new tubes for it but that is another thread.
I had a couple of questions on the signal chain going to my Firebox since I cannot get enough gain from the Firebox.

First question is about the MPA and achieving the 75db gain. To get the 75db it needs to be XLR to XLR from what I read, here’s where I am a little confused. 1st off the mic XLR goes goes to the XLR input on the back of MPA. Now for the output to the Firebox. XLR output from MPA, now for my confusion do I go from the MPA output XLR to the XLR inputs on the front of the Firebox and if so do I also use the phatom power and gain on the firebox in conjunction with my MPA?

2nd question is from the XLR output on MPA. Would I need a special cable like XLR coming out of MPA to ¼ inch going into either Line In inputs 3 or 4 on the back of my Firebox? If that is the way to hook up the Firebox through the line inputs on the back of the Firebox doesn’t that take away the XLR to XLR setup to achieve the 75db gain by plugging in a ¼ inch jack in the back and not to the front XLR jacks?

Last question. I have read on the forums that with the ART MPA Gold that you are bypassing your audio interfaces. What does that mean and how is that done and what is it’s purpose?

I hope I am not confusing anyone since I am confused myself on this issue.

[Edo]

[Lance Blair]

Congratulations on the MPA Gold.

My condolences on the Firebox, which I used to own. I replaced it with an AudioFire2 a while back which is unbelievably better. I kept the Firebox stored away for a while in case I needed it. I threw it in the trash last week, because I don't want anybody to suffer through using that thing on a second-hand purchase.

First, the preamps (XLR) inputs are garbage. Low gain and noisy. You cannot use dynamic mics with them at all.
Secondly, the converters are garbage, giving everything a thin and distant sound.
Third, the Firebox doesn't even do 96kHz as advertised. Two years after the release a user (not the company) discovered that it just takes 48kHz and doubles it. Presonus couldn't even figure this out, and when they came up with a driver fix after many delays, it's so noisy it's unusable for pro recordings.

I strongly recommend that you upgrade to just about anything over the Firebox.

For the time being, go into inputs 3 or 4 on the firebox to bypass the laughably poor preamps in the Firebox.

As for the 75db gain, the MPA Gold is not quiet enough to make professional VO recordings with such high gain. Up to 45-55 db it's acceptable, but it really starts to get noisy at 60db or above.
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and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[mcm]

So other than that Mr. Blair, how did you like the Firebox?

[Lance Blair]

LOL!!!
Oh, it tasted great. Ate the knobs and the little blue light and threw out the rest.

I don't know which purchases have disappointed me more, the Heil PR40, the Firebox, or the dongle-licious Cubase Bloatware (grrr) that's fantastic if you want to record one track for 15 seconds at a time and not edit or process it. Just fantastic for that coveted application.

Luckily, everything else I've purchased has been smile-inducing.
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and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[DanG]

Thanks for the advice very informative. to Edo's question on the chaining together you are right about the MPA not being able to go directly to the computer so that's why I have to run it through the firebox which will now be bypassed but I will able to record through it. Since now that I have to go into the line ins on the back of the firebox I guess that the XLR to XLR connection will not be true to get the 75db gain if I am running XLR out with 1/4 inch on one end to the line in I belive I will lose 10db of gain which will not be to bad at all since Lance said that I will not even need to go that high on the gain. Lance by the way I actually bought 2 fireboxes one for a backup just in case. You are probably grinding your teeth right now but I am selling one of them its NIB never used but it looks like it might have been a european model which might have a much more savory flavor.

[Lance Blair]

Here's the MXL v67g into an ART MPA Gold with Siemens und Halske Valvo ECC83 tube ($40 and in pristine condition).

http://www.lanceblair.net/files/Siemens%20NOS%20ARTMPA%20v67g.mp3
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[DanG]

I just ordered my MPA gold today should get it next week and looking forward to it.
Knowing that the MPA has the chinese tubes and I am looking for new tubes to put in it. I just don't really know much about them. I know that NOS is the new old stock which are quite pricey but probably worth the money, but I have seen things like black plate, narrow and wide plates soft plates grey plates what does all that mean?

How good are the reissue tubes are they worth it or go with the NOS?

I did find this one site that explains some of the definitions
http://www.vacuumtubes.com/12ax7.html
Just want to hear what your thoughts are on which way to go with these tubes.

[Lance Blair]

I like JJ and Tung Sol new production tubes, but they don't come close to most good NOS tubes terms of being smooth and clear. The new production tubes break up or get distorted easier than the NOS, and not in a very flattering way. I'm keeping my JJ because it's very dark and distorted sounding which is a nice effect in contrast. I think its worth supporting JJ and Sensor manufacturers so that one day they can get around to making really good tubes which isn't as easy as it sounds.

The ART MPA Gold is a darker or muddy preamp, so I would prefer something like the Siemens, Telefunken, Philips Miniwatt, or new Tung Sol rather than something very warm sounding like Mullard or Brimar.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[DanG]

Interesting fact on the MPA being dark and muddy. So I guess a brighter tube is the way to go to offset the MPA's charactoristics?
Have your heard anything about the Amperex tubes. They say they are like the Telefunkens. I was originally going for the Mullards not sure now.

[Diane Maggipinto]

[Frank F]

You will need a screwdriver, a clean lint-free cloth, and about ten minutes to change the tube(s) in the MPA Gold.

This is NOT rocket-science.

Lance mentioned getting a brighter tube, The MPA Gold's original tubes are Chinese and they may be muddy - they may be bright - no one knows until you plug it in and turn it on.

The Tung Sol's and Mullard's are tubes which will change the qualities for you in the way you desire. Do a search here on the VO-BB, there are several posts regarding the MPA Gold and tubes.

Toodles

F2
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[Diane Maggipinto]

or, ya know, frank can help.

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www.d3voiceworks.com

[DanG]

Thanks Frank I will check out VO-BB for those treads.

[Frank F]

Just for grins: Mullard 4024 will clean up the sound or the Jan Phillips 12AT7WC will give you a bit cleaner signal with better color and definition.

Tung Sol's tend to provide a brighter sound.

Remember to let your tubes "burn-in" prior to using the MPA Gold in the "tube" selection". Using the digital selection will provide a brighter sound but more noise and artifacts to go with the amplification. Digital selection = grunge sound.

Toodles

F2
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