Collection: ART

About ART

ART (Applied Research and Technology) has been building practical studio tools since 1984. Based in New York, they've built a reputation for making gear that works without the boutique price tag. Their catalog spans everything from DI boxes and preamps to compressors and headphone amps. ART's design philosophy is straightforward: give engineers and musicians the features they need, build it to last, and keep the price reasonable. Their Tube MP and Pro Audio series preamps have been studio workhorses for decades, delivering clean gain and tube warmth without breaking the bank.

DI Boxes

ART makes direct boxes for every signal path scenario. The ZDirect is a passive DI that handles instrument and line-level sources with a transformer-isolated output. Need phantom power blocking or ground lift? It's built in. The DTI dual transformer isolator goes further, solving hum and ground loop issues in complex rigs. These aren't fancy. They're tools that do one job well: get your signal where it needs to go without noise or coloration.

Preamps

The Tube MP series put affordable tube preamps in home studios worldwide. You get a 12AX7 tube front end, variable tube drive, and a low-noise solid-state output stage. The Pro Audio line offers multi-channel preamps with phantom power and individual gain control per channel. ART preamps don't chase vintage mojo or esoteric specs. They add clean gain with optional warmth, and they do it reliably across thousands of sessions.

Mixing Consoles and Amplifiers

ART's small-format mixers handle basic routing and monitoring tasks in project studios and live rigs. Their amplifiers and headphone distribution systems solve practical problems: powering near-field monitors, splitting headphone feeds for tracking sessions, or driving multiple zones in an install. These products aren't designed to impress. They're designed to work quietly in the background while you focus on the music.

Shop ART at Blackout Audio

ART's DI boxes and preamps have earned their place in Canadian studios by showing up and doing the work. Browse the full range of signal processors, headphone amps, and studio essentials online. Free shipping on orders over $199 across Canada. Questions about which preamp or DI fits your setup? Contact the Blackout Audio team.