Presonus Studio Channel Microphone Preamp

Rack-mountable, one-channel vacuum-tube channel strip that is a great solution for both studio and live applications. Featuring tube preamplification, a VCA-based compressor, and three-band EQ, it delivers a huge variety of timbres, allowing user to produce luscious, in-your-face vocals, dynamic acoustic piano, and fat, solid bass guitar, not to mention crystal-clear acoustic guitars and cracking snare. Its Class A preamplifier starts with a high-output 12AX7 tube that operates on voltages double that of other preamplifiers in its class. The result is lots of headroom and big tone. Gain and Tube Drive controls enable a wide range of sounds, from transparent and clear to edgy and overdriven. A -20 dB pad, 80 Hz high-pass filter, and polarity reverse let user tweak the signals to sit properly in the mix. From slap bass, to snare drum, to vocals, the VCA-based compressor allows user to record blazing-hot signals with accurate dynamics control. In addition to ratio, threshold, attack, release and gain controls, it offers a convenient Auto Attack/Release feature with preset attack and release curves. The backlit VU meter can display gain reduction or output gain. The three-band equalizer in the strip is a precision tool, with the ability to carve out unwanted frequencies as well as tailor the tone to enhance the sound. The EQ can be pre- or post-compressor, and user can bypass each stage independently. Custom-designed amplifiers deliver sweet-sounding gain and cut for smooth highs; deep, solid lows; and clear midrange. The midrange band is fully parametric, with variable Q, while the high- and low-frequency bands are semi-parametric, with Frequency and Gain controls but fixed Q, and can be either shelving or peak bands. And with separate XLR mic, balanced 6.3mm line, and unbalanced 6.3mm instrument inputs and balanced XLR and 6.3mm outputs, it can be connected to almost any recording interface, amp, or P.A. The channel strip is built with rugged steel chassis, sealed, detented, metal rotary controls and comes with an external 16 VAC power supply. Dimensions: 44.45 x 139.7 x 482.6 mm, 1U rackmount. Weight: 2.27 kg.