ART DR-X

well, it's got a lot under the hood, so it's a bit complex. I learned to use it ok

I liked it for processing voice sometimes. The chain of effects possible could really make a weak vocal punch through.

I got more use out of it than most. Of course, the reason I'm researching it now on the net is because it went bad. I also returned it 2x after purchase. It has a grounding problem, and has always been unstable. When you need it most ? It's dead...

This product is jinxed, and they know it

If you can't count on it, you end up not using it.

It's hard to say since they never gave me a proper manual for it - they promised to mail one when it was finished, but never did. I'm not sure exactly what it can do. Now I don't know because it doesn't work any more.

From what I recall, the sound quality was okay, but not great.

It hasn't worked for me in many years. When it did work, it was intermittant. This is not a gigging unit! In fact, it is not a reliable studio unit, in fact do *not* ever buy anything from ART. You have been warned.

I once called them about getting a manual, but I think they were going to charge me. So I said to forget it because I don't want to waste anymore money on it. The web site does not even mention this unit. They seem to want to forget they made this piece of garbage. Well, I will be forgetting ART.

Stay far away from this unit and ART.

The DR-X is not too hard to use, if you have the manual, but otherwise it can get a little cryptic. The display is so tiny that it's hard to tell what effects are on at any given time.

When the unit works, it sounds OK. The effects are a little brittle at times, but EQ can help. It's got a huge selection of effects, so it would have made a killer addition to my home studio. This unit would probably have gotten higher marks for me in the sound quality area, if only I could have kept the thing going long enough to fine-tune it a bit more. See below.

I only give this unit a "1", because the form won't let me give it a NEGATIVE number. The ART DR-X has to be, without a doubt, the single most unreliable, messed-up, crashy, buggy, horrible device I have ever encountered in my musical career. It freaks out if you bump it, plug it in, hell, even just look at it! I've had it for about three years, and it has worked for maybe two weeks out of that time. What's more, I've sent it in for repairs a couple of times. It always comes back just as screwed up as before.

When I called ART customer support (over and over again), they were very polite, and had a couple of suggestions, but they didn't offer to exchange the unit or give me a free repair. They just sort of expressed sympathy that I was OUTTA LUCK. No offer of a piece of replacement gear at a discount, no nothing. This after I'd paid to have it fixed AT LEAST TWICE, and it has NEVER, EVER WORKED. I am ashamed to admit that I have shelled out more for these non-repairs than I paid for the unit in the first place. I don't know if the local music store is ripping me off and not even sending it in, or if ART's technicians just couldn't find the problem. I really hate to be so negative, but it's really as bad as I say, no exaggeration.

I could not recommend ART to anyone, for any purpose. If you should ever encounter a piece of ART gear, do not allow it to come within several meters of any existing, quality gear, or it will likely cause major electronic malfunctions by osmosis. I am convinced that my DR-X is somehow responsible for my inability to have a stable and satisfying relationship with members of the opposite sex. I would hurl the ghastly waste of printed circuit board and steel from my balcony in a fit of rage, but I'm afraid that some small child might pick it up and send it in to ART for repairs, thus passing the curse on to another hapless victim. Oh, and never approach ART gear in the evening, when its powers are strongest.

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