Just A Thought!

[carnology]

Just wanted to get some opinions! I'm on a budget just like all of us and wanted to know which would be the better item in the long run. Antares tube modeling plug-in or the outboard ART TPS II tube mic pre? How about the outboard ART DPS II tube mic pre? Any other suggestions considering these fall within $150 n $250? (Except Plug-in $99)

Thanx!

[macr0w]

I don't have any expirience with either one but I would probably go with the hardware. But that's just me.

[rockrev]

The hardware would be a better buy, though it's not going to give you the sound of a nice tube pre (Avalon, for example). To be perfectly honest, I find the ART tube line rather "lo-fi." It's good for getting that type of colored analog quality or adding grit, but other than that I'd find something cleaner. I've heard the same of the Presonus tube line (though I haven't heard first-hand). The ART Tube MP can be a nice DI, though there are better choices out there. If fact, that's about all I've used it for (and kept the track).

rockrev

[Joe Evans]

The hardware would be a better buy, though it's not going to give you the sound of a nice tube pre (Avalon, for example). To be perfectly honest, I find the ART tube line rather "lo-fi." It's good for getting that type of colored analog quality or adding grit, but other than that I'd find something cleaner. I've heard the same of the Presonus tube line (though I haven't heard first-hand). The ART Tube MP can be a nice DI, though there are better choices out there. If fact, that's about all I've used it for (and kept the track).

rockrev

I have the Antares Tube plug, the ART DPS II and a Presonus TubePRE. They all have distinctively different sounds. I do like some of the V3 settings on the ART quite a bit. I have found a pretty decent acoustic guitar setup with an Oktava MK12 mic as well as a good vocal setting here using a Rode NT1-A mic. I like the Presonus unit as a DI mainly with my Les Paul, but it isn't a bad vocal pre either, especially with an RNC in line. I have barely used the plugin since I bought it, but it does add a certain analog quality to things. I have used it on sampled drums with nice results. As you can probably guess I am partial to less expensive equipment since this is just a hobby for me.

Joe