TEST: ART VOICE CHANNEL
Sometimes you get the impression that the studio industry is also moving more and more in the direction of fashion boutiques when it comes to product selection. There is hardly a new product in the outgear or monitor sector where you don't have the feeling that the MK II version will arrive just 365 days later and immediately devalue the first edition by a full percentage. But they still exist, the products that have been in constant studio use for years and whose basic design was created so close to practice that there would be nothing to change in the conception except for tiny details that would not cause a change in either appearance or function. One of these products is the ART Voice Channel, which, as a Channel Strip, combines the most important components for a vocal recording in one device.
The construction of the ART Voice Channel
The ART Voice Channel is a 2 U channel strip, which not only contains almost all common control options of a strip, but also has an extensive connection periphery on the back of the housing, in addition to the fact that it has a Class A tube circuit.
The first haptic impression of the Chinese-made product is very good. With a weight of almost 5 kg, the ART Voice Channel leaves quite a massive impression, which conveys a long life. The product does not come with any rubber feet for stand-alone operation, as the manufacturer has focused exclusively on rack operation. All knobs, switches and pushbuttons run pleasantly smoothly, which immensely supports sensitive control. The individual control options of the ART Voice Channel are as follows:
1.) Input jack / Preamp:
Both on the front, as well as on the back is an XLR / TRS input combo jack, which is very helpful especially in rack operation. The control range of the preamplification in the microphone range is 0 dB to +60 dB, in the high-impedance range +3 dB to +40 dB. With this, pretty much all microphone types up to the low-power ribbon microphones can be covered well. For very powerful signals a PAD switch is available. In addition, there are the standards such as phase shifter, phono power and a low cut. Below these pushbuttons is the first special feature of the ART Voice Channel, which is especially useful for dynamic microphones.
The input impedance of the channel can be tuned continuously (!) from 150 to 3 kOhm, which has a massive effect on the sound of the microphone. An impedance selector in itself is not a great feature, but I have actually never seen a continuously tunable input range on a 19 inch outgear product before.
2nd) Compressor / De-Esser:
The compressor section has the rule standards attack time (250 uSec to 100 mSec), release time (100 mSec to 3 sec), threshold (-40 dB to +20 dB) and a ratio of 1:1 (off) all the way up to 20:1. The de-esser can be adjusted by sibilance all the way up to -20 dB, with a stepless frequency selection from 2.5 kHz up to 15 kHz.
3.) Expander / Gate:
Above the compressor / de-esser function is an optical LED indicator, which informs about the audio signal of the optional expander or gate circuit to be activated. A push button selects the function, the Threshold control adjusts the degree of processing (up to +20 dB).
4) Tube Voltage:
As already mentioned, the ART Voice Channel has a 12AX7 tube in the signal path, which allows for significant saturation depending on the control. To vary the sound even more, the tube voltage can be switched between "Normal" and "High" via a push button switch. But beware, the tube needs a few seconds to change its voltage state, so don't be surprised if the sound doesn't change immediately after switching.
5) EQ:
Indeed, the EQ section of the ART Voice Channel also comes very extensive. Besides a bass control (optional 50 Hz / 150 Hz) and a treble control (optional 5 kHz / 15 kHz), the product offers 2 semi-parametric mid bands, which work like the shelving EQs +/- 12 dB and are tunable from 100 Hz to 3 kHz, respetive 500 Hz to 15 kHz. In addition, you can choose whether the EQ should run post or pre compressor. With a bypass switch, the EQ is completely removed from the signal path if necessary.
The Master section displays the output level via a large VU meter and an LED chain, while the Master Volume control boosts the signal from minus infinity to +20 dB. The listing of tools alone gives an idea of how much you can actually work out with the ART Voice Channel in terms of sonic versatility.
If you think that's it, you haven't seen the back of the ART Voice Channel yet. The sample rate selector switch gives an idea of what the product has in store, especially in the digital area. On the one hand, the microphone preamp can be tapped separately in the analog area and the signal can be further modulated via an FX loop using a Y-cable. But the ART Voice Channel can really shine with its digital connections, as there are:
- Sample rates from 44.1 - 192 kHz
- ADAT
- S/PDIF optical and coaxial
- AES/EBU and USB
- word clock I/O
In addition, there are two A/D loop-in paths and two analog, balanced outputs in the form of XLR and TRS. If you now once again recall the retail price of comparatively only 666, - €, the ART Voice Channel already offers a very good price / performance ratio from the equipment alone.
For the numbers nerds, here are a few more measured values:
Frequency Response:
- Analog In to Analog Out: 12 Hz to 100 KHz +0, -1 dB
- Analog In to Digital Out: 12 Hz to 20 KHz +0, -1 dB @ 44.1 KHz sample rate - 16 Hz to 42 KHz +0, -1 dB @ 96 KHz
- THD: 1 KHz < .015% typical - 20 to 20 KHz < .033% typical
Equivalent Input Noise:
Mic/Line: -130 dBu, Input shorted, Max gain, "A" weighted.
Instrument: -105 dBu, Input shorted, Max gain, "A" weighted
The ART Voice Channel in practice
Personally, I have always been a big fan of self-explanatory front panels. The counter-productive around-the-corner thinking of some manufacturers never had anything to do with cult for me, but mostly with bad product development. I was all the more pleased with the interface of the ART Voice Channel, because you really didn't have to think or ponder once before you could start working.
Accordingly, it was quick and easy to find the sound that I had already worked out in my head. All the controls did exactly what their labels said they would do, but with varying degrees of intensity. In general, one can attest the ART Voice Channel a slightly coloring character, which is far away from products based on a pure tube circuit. However, the product also has a discreetly condensing character in the complete standby circuit, which, however, does not affect the sound quality.
In addition to a well and simply functioning compressor, 2 points in particular struck me sonically. On the one hand, the EQ offers a good, but not very spectacular sound overall, despite the extensive control options. The entire control range is rather discreet according to its field of application, but in my opinion the ultimate "fine" is missing, which offers the next higher league. Please do not misunderstand, the ART Voice Channel sounds really good for the mentioned retail price, just not spectacular.
What convinced me, however, is the High Voltage circuit, which indeed not only brings the additional expected compression with it, but adds more foundation to the vocal sound. The sound is properly "thickened" and gains massive assertiveness, which will probably also prevail in the mastering massacre of many rock and metal productions.
Overall, the ART Voice Channel must be given a very good rating, especially when it comes to the all-in-one solution. Especially ambitious project studios should benefit from the extensive detailed solutions, especially when it comes to the least possible "conversion path" within the signal flow.
Conclusion
With the ART Voice Channel, the manufacturer introduces an inexpensive, all-around successful channel strip in its portfolio, which is not without reason considered one of the company's biggest revenue generators. With a clear structure, good workmanship, interesting detailed solutions and an extensive digital management, ART offers a multifunctional tool that primarily prepares and optimizes vocals, but also other recordings for recording within a short time.
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