All in one Microphone preamp, Harmonic Enhancement controller, tube compressor design. The ART PRO MPA when fully modified is $980. It is truly still unique for some of the clever adjustment capabilities. The most obvious is the ability to adjust the level and phase of a very euphonic second harmonic distortion which is then gain rided. The preamp can sound thick, punchy, dense, edgy, silky, warm, strident, etc. It's not just equalization… it is an alteration and enhancement of the original audio signal. PDF Manual Here This is a rough version manual we are making available now, however the final version manual will be available soon.
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It appears that ART actually did take my advice and used some of my design concepts in the TPS II Preamp. The ART TPS II is a well built and flexible preamp with one control to vary the tube gain harmonic and equalization characteristics. The original TPS II system is a bit too heavy handed and obvious when processing the preamp signal. I correct this to an even higher quality sounding device with a more usable euphonic character. The $220 PLUS RETURN SHIPPING rev 6 version modification makes this unit even more tempered across the fifteen presets and creates a nicer "tube" sound. This machine is beautifully built and nicer looking than even some of the really fancy stuff on the market....Read Full Article
Read Full ArticleDetails of our modification to the Behringer Composer, which lowers the noise floor and distortion levels and smooths out the controls.
The older Behringer Composer MDX 2100 has a heavy chassis and very high quality controls. People refuse to believe how good this unit is! It is virtually identical to the Boss CL-50, DBX 160xt, DBX 166, 266, 166xl, etc. In fact, the same DBX VCA, opamps, and controls are in use here, and even the rack ears fit DBX equipment. It looks like these were made in the same factory ...Read Full Article
Details of our modification to the Behringer Edison stereo image correction device, which lowers the noise floor especially when used with consumer level devices.
The modification we do reduces the noise floor slightly for consumer use. The original design was intended for use with professional +4dB signal levels, but consumer devices typically operate at -10dB.
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Details of our modification to the CAD Trion 6000 microphone....Read Full Article
Read Full ArticleDetails on the use of our custom tube harmonic enhancement device we build inside the ART Pro Channel.
1. Transformer equalizer mod for vactrol compressor: $140
2. Variable Cathode Bias (VCB) control for last output tube stage: $128
3. Tube information:
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If an expensive guitar effects pedal exists, I expect it to do something special. Indeed in the EH Tube Zipper, here is another unique sounding pedal which I do not find duplicated in the DSP realm or from other manufacturers. The Zipper design is basically 4 tube stages being very high gained and over driven into a fuzz tone effect but with an auto wah filter circuit in the middle (like a Dunlop wah wah, etc. but no foot pedal to manually vary the wah) ...Read Full Article
Read Full ArticleThe Mod for the ART Pro MPA II is very simple conceptually. More shielding, rescaling the gain control for more correct range, noise suppression in power supply, and a few cap changes. It's not about serious problems of quality (ART unit design is better than $1000-$2000 units!!!) It's about some minor issues with attaining super spec....Read Full Article
Read Full ArticleSpring reverbs are popular again. This unit has been serviced the spring pan assemblies opened and the transducer pick up coil assembly aligned and glued down to maintain reliable operation. The springs have also been "tuned" to make the reverb smoother over a wider frequency range. This is done by slightly shortening and slightly stretching the spring in sections to tune out severe spring resonances and excessive ringing. Both channels have matching service done. The unit still sounds like a spring reverb system, but the dynamic range and quality of the reverb is richer. This unit uses 2 sets of 3 springs per channel (quite a sophisticated version). I collect and modify the Orbans, Teacs, Fostex, Furmans, and AKGs. All get the same treatment (except the AKG "torsion spring" systems which remain untouched). Often times I am also adjusting the gain/level drive to and from the spring to improve the noise and to reduce the spring "rumble". The result is better clarity, punch and air of sound quality....Read Full Article
Read Full ArticleAlthough the Electrix Repeater is a great tool/instrument, there are several things that can be done to make it even better. Vince's modification takes care of many clicking noises made by the clocking circuit. As well as greatly reducing these noises, the modification also reduces the hum floor. The overall improvement is about a 10-20 dB drop in the overall noise. More importantly, this modification gives the Repeater increased clarity and more dynamic range. These changes greatly improve the sound when overdubbing....Read Full Article
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