I checked out some reviews and the results seem to be split down the middle between the GAP Pre-73 and the ART MPA II.

 
The Pre 73 (and the newer mkII) is a Neve clone. 
The basic design is a studio classic... known for adding size/girth.
Countless classic tracks have been recorded using Neve style preamps.
It's in a whole different league...
 

Hi guys,

I got the Pro MPA II Reference Series the other day.

It's definitely a vast improvement over the inputs on the Fast Track Ultra.

I hooked up my old Peavey Celebrity mic and oh my God! I think I figured out the problem with the tin can sound I was getting. The MPA II has an Impedance adjustment on it. I set the low cut filter, adjusted the mic Impedance, set the Plate Voltage to High, and oh my God! What an amazing difference compared to going through the Fast Track Ultra directly. I'm seriously contemplating canceling my order for the Blue Bluebird mic now. It's on backorder and won't ship until the 7th so I still have a few days to decide.

I opened up an old project and muted the vocal track and re-recorded part of it with the same mic but through the MPA II. On the original I had 4 EQ's, 2 compressors, on top of the vocal strip. With the MPA II ... nothing! All I had to do is roll off the low end a little more with the Pro Channel EQ to make it sit in the mix right, some light 4K compression and that was it! Sibilance and pop were almost non existent. The Impedance setting made all the difference in the world, too bad there's not something like that on the FTU.

As for guitar ... Holy cow! The best way I can describe it is, you know how you get that glassy lifeless sound when you plug in to the FTU (or any sound card really) and just strum with no effects ... through the preamp it's like you are listening to it through an amp without reverb. Plus it totally changes the way Guitar Rig sounds, although it didn't help my Les Paul Custom sound any better. I can't stand the way it sounds when I run it through Guitar Rig and rarely use it on my recordings.

Does it sound as good as more expensive preamp's ... I can't say because I've never used any, but for $299, plus the 10% off sale (it didn't qualify for the 15% discount like I originally thought ), I got a killer sounding upgrade to my little home studio.

The biggest benefit I see to this is, I'm not having to screw with EQ'ing my vocals to fix the bad recordings I was making before.

$299 for a two channel (dual tube design) mid/side capable tube preamp with adjustable Impedance ... it's a steal for a home studio guy like me.

Don't under-estimate ART products guys. If you have a local Guitar Center you can always take it back if you're not happy with the way it sounds. Heck, the 25 year old ART rack mount guitar effects unit I have sounds better than my new Digitech pedal. I can't wait to hook it up with this preamp. Need to get some rack rails and make a custom rack and some cables first.

I'll definitely be getting more ART rack mount equipment. They have a mastering compressor I want to get next, the Pro VLA II. I think I've come to realize that analog gear really makes a difference. Time to get back to the basics. :)

Hey Bub,

Glad you got something you're happy with!

The ART Digital MPA was on my short list about a month ago, and then I lucked into a secondhand Presonus Eureka channel strip with the Digital Card for $330.  On top of that, there's a $10 op-amp mod (Easy- no soldering required) that takes it to a higher sonic level, so I'm happy, even though I sacrificed a channel.

Gear-wise, we're just too spoiled these days. 

Finally got the Blue Bluebird mic tonight. It was on backorder.

I did an A/B vocal comparison with my old Peavey.

What an unbelievable difference. I can't wait to do some acoustic guitar and mic'd amp tests with it.

Two things about the mic:

1. It's mounted on a swivel mount and has a thumb screw to keep it in place. You really have to crank that thing down to keep it in position. I mean really really crank it down to the point where it feels like it might break. I've read reviews complaining about that.

2. Not a complaint, just an observation ... the cleaner the better. I had to run tube gain almost completely off.

So far with the ART Preamp, I'm not having to EQ the living daylights out of my guitar tracks anymore and judging by initial test I won't have to be messing with my vocals anymore either.

I never fully understood the saying, "Crap in crap out." until now.

Is the Peavey mic in question is a electret condenser?

To All,

From ART's website:
"The ProMPA II can operate at either a low or high plate voltage on the two integrated hand-selected 12AX7 tubes for wider variation of preamp tone and performance. Large back-lit analog VU output meters display output levels while multi-colored LED arrays show tube gain."

I stand corrected, I assumed it was "starved plate".

Enjoy!

The only NOS tubes I have, Mullards...
What else can I say?

mike_mccue

Is the Peavey mic in question is a electret condenser?

Hi Mike,

I'm not sure. I've never been able to find any information on it.

Jim Roseberry

Musician's Friend is having a 15% off sale this weekend. I guess it's time to make a decision.

 
I'd opt for the mic first...
But if/when you're looking for a nice affordable preamp, I'd recommend checking out the GAP Pre-73.
It's a Neve clone...
The GAP Pre-73 is one of the few inexpensive preamps worth buying.  Most inexpensive preamps aren't a substantial (if any) upgrade over the preamps in the FTU.

+1 on the GAP Pre-73.  Just got one and for the price it is a sweet pre!  Based on a Neve 1073.

Here's SOS's take:  GA Pre73

Those blue backlit VU meters are... pornographic!

i regularly track using a ART DPS preamp...
works fine.
sounds pretty good.

i imagine the mpa is similar?

gotcha.

i run my signals real clean, hardly ever starving!