10May All in one Audio device, the Art USB Dual pre-amp.
I was looking for a battery powered pre-amp with a little bit more gain then my Fiio E5 has to offer. I wanted to use it in conjunction with microphones that don’t have a strong output like the Rode NTG-3. I was also looking for something with phantom power that was battery powered and compact.
I was originally looking at a Nady DMP-2 Microphone pre-amp. I had planned on taking it apart and converting the output to 1/8 inch stereo. Then feeding that into a camera. I would have continued on this course of action if I hadn’t found the ART USB 2 Channel pre-amp for $72.
The ART USB 2 Channel pre-amp has everything I’ve been looking for, phantom power, microphone pre-amp with 48db of gain, battery power, headphone monitoring, and combo XLR 1/4 inputs. If that wasn’t enough, it also allows you to use it as a usb audio interface for your computer. I’m not normally surprised by a product in this price range, but HOLY CRAP! As soon as I found this I ordered it.
The only thing missing from this all in one device is 1/4 20 threads. I will find a way to add them as soon as it shows up. ART has made a few handy tube preamps and other random audio equipment, but this is probably one of the handiest looking devices I’ve seen on the market this year. Prepare yourself for the post that will be coming when this shows up at the end of the week. I hope I’m not disappointed because this looks very cool.
May 11th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I’ve had one of these for 6 months now and it’s more than done the job. The noise floor is amazing and at the price (£80) you just cant ignore it. Only down side is it has no 1/4 20 threads.I got round that by housing it between two sheets of aluminium bolted in the corners. Then added some 1/4 20 screws in the center of each sheet, Now I just use a clamp.
One thing you will have to look out for the the battery tray.
It’s just a card board box surrounding the battery and if you insert the battery and push it down inside to far it will get stuck. Here is a quick solution http://twitpic.com/4wf4xr
May 11th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
I’m really surprised there isn’t more posts and info on this little box. I just found it a few days ago, but apparently its been out for months. Once it shows up I was going to design a 1/4 20 mount for it in CAD and use my makerbot to print it off. Maybe I’ll work on a battery case for it as well. If I come up with something cheap and easy I’ll post the results.
May 12th, 2011 at 2:16 am
I have briefly tested the ART Dual Pre USB together with an (low sensitivity) Audio Technica AT897 and was not too impressed – especially because of noise.
The cool thing is you can use an external battery pack with USB connector that is made for iPhones and co e.g. Mobile Gum and you get a truly mobile solution.
The ART is also missing a dual-mono conversion so that you have to post process the audio anyway (if you are not recording stereo).
I am currently using a Shure A96F adapter together with a Zoom H1. When I am lazy I record with the DSRL through the headphone out of the H1. In my ears this combination does not sound worse than the ART solution. Using the recording from the H1 sounds better. The A96F gives me 12db gain and I record at a recording level of 95 with the Zoom. The Zoom microphone preamp does not works best with this level but I would say at least comparable to the ART.
There are two other solutions out in the market with better microphone preamps and slightly higher costs than the ART: the MBox 1 and the Focusrite USB 6 solution. Both use the award winning focusrite mic preamps. The boxes are larger as well. The mbox 1 is traded as used around the same price as the art. I have not tested any of the latter but would like to hear aboout experiences.
May 12th, 2011 at 11:08 am
I’ve had this for quite some time. I think it’s been out for a long time.
I’ve never used it, though, because the thing is so clumsy. I’m still looking for a decent way to mount this sucker. Sucks there’s no 1/4 20.
DeeJay… would love to see what you come up with for mounting. Count me in for one!
July 9th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Hi, I was just wondering can you just hook an xlr mic through the fiio directly to camera? I’m on the cheap right now and wanted to know before I purchase it.
Thank you!
damian
July 10th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
You might be better off buying a ART USB Dual XLR to 3.5mm adapter
. $59 and you’ll also be able to power phantom power microphones and have a usb audio interface.
March 16th, 2013 at 10:21 am
Hi Deejay.
I decided to buy this ART dual usb box after I saw some reviews including yours on youtube. It works perfectly when I connect it to the computer. However, when I move it to another setup with the camcorder, it gave me all the noises. Buzz, hiss, and hum.
This is my setup:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/228/artdualusbpre.jpg/
I could hear a clear nice sound on my 1/8″ headphone, but the 1/4″ monitor output to the camcorder is another story. Buzz hiss and hum all are coming. Camcorder’s AGC is off. I have spare sheilded cables and 1/8″ to 1/4″ adaptors, but replacing them gave me the same results. Moving from left to right channel gave me the same result.
Right now the “better” fix for this setup is to connect the 1/8″ output directly to the camcorder. Sloppy and easy to fall off. And the audio is still mixed with some noise.
I’m not sure if the “Monitor output” is designed to be used this way, or did I do something wrong with this setup? Could you give me the recommendations to make this setup better? A nice clean fat signal with really low noise is preferred. Thank you very much.
March 17th, 2013 at 12:53 pm
You might try using the headphone output to feed the camera and using the headphone monitoring on the camera. Or you might also try using 2 1/4 inch to stereo 3.5mm cable.
The Art Dual boxes can be hit or miss. If the case is shielded properly the often sound ok, but some of them sound horrible. The unit I use is middle of the line and I’ve heard others that sound much better. I would guess it’s a QA issue.
March 18th, 2013 at 11:46 am
Hi Deejay,
Thanks for replying 🙂 Right now my setup is the same as your recommendation. I connect 1/8″ headphone output to the camera. Yet, I still get some noise mixed in the output.
I think the shielding/grounding work on my box is bad. When I touch the metal part of the box with my fingers, those noises are even more.