User manual ART TUBE MP-PROJECT

[. . . ] Environment: Protect from excessive dirt, dust, heat, and vibration when operating and storing. Avoid tobacco ash, drink spillage and smoke, especially that associated with smoke machines. To avoid injury to yourself or damage to the equipment, take care when lifting, moving, or carrying the unit. Servicing: Unplug power immediately if equipment is exposed to moisture, the power supply becomes damaged during a lightning storm or if smoke odor or noise is noted. [. . . ] Both output jacks can be used at the same time, which is handy when you want to run to a mixer and your instrument amp in a live situation, or when connecting to a computer or recording system and locally monitoring your source. Though the two output signals are isolated they do share a common ground so care should be used to make sure that you don't create a ground loop in your system. The power connector on the rear should only be hooked up to the power supply that comes with the unit. Internal circuitry converts this power to the higher voltages needed for the tube and phantom power sections. 5 CONTROLS and OPERATION: The Gain Control directly adjusts the input amplifiers giving you control over the dynamic range of your source. You get a 45dB range of control when using the XLR input and a 25dB range when using the ¼" input. Set the control counterclockwise to minimum gain when connecting the inputs. The Gain Switch gives you an additional 20dB of gain between the input stage and the tube to bring up very low-level signals and allow you to drive the tube harder. This position should be used for most microphones and line level signals to minimize any loading effects on the source. This position terminates the signal with known low impedance that can flatten and clean up the frequency response of some vintage equipment including ribbon microphones, and various transformer coupled outputs. By doing this at the input you reduce the need for added equalization and the response to percussive audio dynamics is tightened in many cases. This helps to cut out low frequency rumble, wind noise, and all types of low frequency energy before it is amplified. When recording, this allows you to get more gain before clipping the preamp, recorder, or computer and in a live situation you get more gain before clipping your amp. The Phantom Power Switch applies +48 Volt phantom power to the XLR input jack for powering your microphone, if needed. It is slow at turning on and off and is current limited to protect sensitive microphones and reduce pops. Ideally, when connecting a microphone that requires phantom power, you should first turn down gain, next connect the microphone, next switch on the phantom power, and finally bring gain back up to the desired level. This helps to prevent clipping or overload of any equipment following the preamp. When engaged it limits the maximum signal on the meter to 0dB and maximum output at the XLR output to +6dBu if the Output control is up full. When recording this lets you get the hottest signal before clipping into your computer or recorder. It can limit peaks of over 20dB but should normally be used to protect on overshoots and musical peaks for best results. 6 The Phase Switch allows you to invert or reverse the phase of the output signal. In the normal position, output signals are in phase with the input signal on all jacks. When engaged, both the XLR and ¼" outputs have their signals changed to 180 degrees out of phase. This function comes in handy to prevent a hollow sound, due to phase cancellations, when using multiple microphones on a single source or when using a combination of direct and microphone pickups on the same source. [. . . ] Check to make sure the unit has power, all cables are connected correctly, and the cables themselves are in working condition. 2) If you find the unit to be at fault, make sure you can give a complete description of the problem, including how and when it occurs as well as your setup before calling Customer Service. 3) Contact our Customer Service department at (716) 297-2920 for your Return Authorization number or questions regarding technical assistance or repairs. Customer Service hours are 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. [. . . ]