PRESONUS Studio Channel

The Studio Channel is a professional channel strip combining Class A tube preamplifier, VCA-based compressor and three-band parametric equalizer perfect for the professional and project studio. Great for all types of microphones, instruments, keyboards and synths, the Studio Channel has the sonic power and flexibility to achieve any tone you can dream of – luscious in your face vocals, crystal clear acoustic guitars, fat solid bass guitar, dynamic acoustic piano, cracking snare, punchy bass, huge MPC tracks and more.

Enhance your signal path

The Studio Channel noticeably outperforms preamplifiers that are built-in to most recording interfaces and affordable mixers. Add a VCA-based compressor and studio-grade equalizer to the class A tube preamp and you get not only big fat tube tonality but also complete control of your tone and sounds. Since much of the recording process is accomplished one track at a time, you need a signal path that can deliver a variety of high quality tones and sounds, which is why the Studio Channel is the perfect tool for any studio.

Class A Tube Preamplifier

The Studio Channel has everything needed to deliver big tone. The preamplifier stage of the Studio Channel is based on the award winning BlueTube preamplifier with a high output 12AX7 vacuum tube operating on voltages double than all other preamplifiers in its class delivering high headroom and big tone. Dual control Gain and Tube Drive enables a wide range of sounds from transparent and clear to edgy and overdriven.

Full Featured VCA Compressor

The compressor in the Studio Channel is a fully variable ultra-fast and smooth VCA-based circuit with all of the controls needed for a wide range of compression settings: ratio, threshold, attack, release and gain make up. The VCA-based compressor is known for musicality as well as ultra fast attack with the ability to tame the fastest transients. From slap bass, to snare drum, to vocals, the Studio Channelʼs compressor stage allows you to record as hot as needed without clipping giving you total dynamic control.

Three Band Parametric EQ
The equalizer in the Studio Channel is like a Swiss Army pocket knife, with the ability to carve out unwanted frequencies as well as tailor your tone to enhance your sound. The custom-designed amplifiers in the EQ deliver sweet-sounding gain/cut for ultra smooth highs, deep solid lows and clear midrange. The mid-band of the EQ section has variable Q for controlling the width around the center point of the selected frequency. High and low frequency bands give you the option for selecting peak/dip or shelving frequencies.
 
Technical Specification
 
    

Channels
    

One
    

Dynamic Range
    

>115 dB
    

Frequency Response
    

10 Hz to 50 kHz
    

Internal Operating Level
    

0 dBu = 0 dB

Microphone Preamp
    

Gain
    

-6 dB to +66 dB (+/- 10dB trim on line input)
    

Noise Floor
    

-96 dBu
    

EIN
    

-126 dB
    

THD + Noise (0% Tube Drive)
    

    

THD + Noise (100% Tube Drive)
    

    

Microphone Input Connector
    

XLR
    

Microphone Input Impedance
    

1.3 kΩ
    

Instrument Input Connector
    

¼” TS
    

Instrument Input Impedance
    

1 MΩ
    

Line Input Connector
    

¼” TRS
    

Line Input Impedance
    

10 kΩ
    

Phantom Power (switchable)
    

+48V
    

Pad (switchable)
    

0 dB / -20dB
    

Phase (switchable)
    

0°, 180°
    

Hi-pass filter (switchable)
    

-3 dB at 80 Hz

Compressor
    

Threshold (variable)
    

-40 dBu to +2- dBu
    

Ratio (variable)
    

1-10 (1:1 to 10:1)
    

Attack (variable)
    

0.1 to 200 ms
    

Release (variable)
    

0.05 ms to 3 S
    

Gain Make Up
    

-10 dB to +10 dB
    

Metering
    

Analog VU (Gain Reduction / Output)

Equalizer

LF Band Controls:
    

Frequency
    

Variable from 40 Hz to 500 kHz
    

Gain
    

Variable between ±10 dB
    

Q
    

0.7 (on ʽpeakʼ setting)

MF Band Controls:
    

Frequency
    

Variable from 200 Hz to 3 kHz
    

Gain
    

Variable from -10 dB to +10 dB
    

Q
    

Variable from 0.7 to 2.5

HF Band Controls:
    

Frequency
    

Variable from 2 kHz to 20 kHz
    

Gain
    

Variable between ±10 dB
    

Q
    

0.7 (on ʽpeakʼ setting)

Master
    

Output Fader
    

-80 dB to +10 dB
    

Output Connectors
    

XLR Balanced and ¼” TRS Balanced/Unbalanced
    

Output Impedance
    

51 Ω
    

Metering (Output level)
    

Analog VU (-20 dBu to +6 dBu)
    

Metering (Gain Reduction)
    

Analog VU -20 dB to 0 dB
    

Output Headroom
    

+22 dBu

Power Supply
    

Type
    

Linear
    

Input
    

16 VAC / 1000mA
    

Power Requirements (Continuous)
    

16W
    

Transformer
    

External (country specific)

Physical
    

Size
    

1U Rack
    

Dimensions
    

19” x 1.75” x 5.5”
    

Weight
    

5 lbs

• Maximum of 66 dB of gain, in eleven discrete steps
• Dynamic range exceeding 120 dB
• 10 Hz to 50 kHz audio bandwidth
• High immunity to RF interference
• High current line output driver
• Transformer-balanced input and output
• Extended range peak limiter via dual opto-isolators makes preamplifier virtually "unclippable“
• Selectable 48-volt / 12-volt phantom power or 12-volt "T" power
• High-pass filter @ 80 or 160 Hz, 6 dB per octave
• Headphone monitoring of microphone audio, monitor audio, or a mix of both
• Monitor input accepts mono, balanced or unbalanced line-level inputs on 1/4-inch tip-ring-sleeve connector
• Separate level control of Monitor gain and overall headphone gain
• Split ear function via DIP switches
• Internal battery power (two-AA)
• Excellent battery life with alkaline and NiMH rechargeable batteries
• External 5-17 VDC powering (plug included)
• High-strength aluminum chassis with durable belt clip

Applications

Console input extending for both Digital and Analog mixing
consoles in Studio, Live and Broadcast
Mic Pre-amps for ADAT/ Hard Disk/ Multitrack Recording
 
Innovation
If you love your compact Digital (or Analog) mixing console, but wish it had
more microphone inputs, ARX has the solution ? the 8 Pre: eight channels
of superb sounding Microphone Pre-amps in a compact 1 RU chassis.
The 8 Pre is the ideal console extender for those times when you need more
microphone inputs. Now you can put those unused line inputs to good use,
and who knows - the 8 Pre pre-amps sound so good that you?ll probably end
up using them all the time instead of the ones that came with your mixer!
Superb Audio Quality
The 8 Pre?s ultra low noise figures come from extensive use of premium
components plus care and attention to board design and layout. The result is
superb, transparent audio quality and the headroom to handle anything that a
mic can throw at it.
Gain is adjustable from 20 db through to 60 dB via a trim control on the front
panel, plus we?ve included a ?20dB Pad switch to tame the hottest condenser
mic output if required. The Clip status LED lights up 1 dB before the onset of
clipping, just to warn you you?re getting close.Phantom power is switchable in
banks of four channels: 1 through 4, 5 through 8. A Phase reverse switch is also
provided on each pre-amp channel to eliminate any close miking problems.
In short, the ARX 8 Pre is the mic Pre-amp that you?ll wish the console manufacturer
had used. It provides a unique solution to today?s multiple Mic Pre-amp requirements.

T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
Input Gain 20dB to 60dB
Input Pad ?20dB
Input Impedance 4 KOhm
Input Headroom +23dB
Output Impedance 300 Ohm
Output Level (Max) +23dB
Frequency Response 20Hz ? 20KHz ±0.2 dB
Signal to Noise ratio (Gain set @ 20 dB)
?93dB Unweighted, ?99dB ?A? weighted
Distortion @ Unity Gain .004%, 20 Hz ? 10 KHz
Dynamic Range 116 dB
Phantom Power 48 VDC
Input Connectors Balanced XLR
Output Connectors Balanced TRS jack
Clip Indicator Illuminates 1 dB prior to clipping
Power Requirements 100/120 V AC, 220/240 V AC
Weight 5 lbs/2.2 Kg
Dimensions 19“W x 1?“H x 6“D, 482 x 44 x 155mm

Having had great success with the PRE-73 preamp, we have received many requests for a version for the 500 eries rack format. We are therefore happy to present the PRE-573, expected to start shipping in late September.
 
The PRE-573 is a one width module that has the sound and the features that made the PRE-73 so successful and a few additional ones.
The circuit still uses the preamp and output section from the classic 1073-module, adapted to work in the api rack format. It has a total  gain range from -15 to +80 dB. The 10 - 70 dB range is handled by a turn switch  and there is a separate toggle switch to select an additional 5 or 10 dB gain. The input can be configured to accept line level signals by another switch, the gain is then lowered by about 25 dB and the input impedance increased to about 15 kohm.
 
The input impedance of the mic input mode can be switched between 1200 and 300 ohm. Phantom power and phase reverse is also selectable by front panel switches.
 
An added feature, using the same circuit as in the PRE-73 DLX, is the active DI-input with a high input impedance of about 1,5 Mohm. The output signal from the active DI circuit passes through the input transformer for some extra character.
The DI-input is very flexible since it can be changed to a purely passive one by a front panel switch. The DI input is then exactly the same as in the PRE-73 Mk2 where the signal is feed directly into the second gain stage, bypassing the transformer and with an input impedance of about 100 kohm.

These two DI-options makes it possible to get different tones from electric instruments and the passive DI input mode is more suited for injecting active units like sound modules. 
 
A new feature is the switchable AIR mode that  adds a small boost above 10 kHz that peaks at 2 dB at about 35 kHz.

A simple but effective signal and overload indicator is offered by a single LED that starts glowing red at about +4 dBu and then increases its intensity up to the maximum output level.
 
The PRE-573 has a dedicated insert connector at the back allowing it to interface with other GAP 500 modules. The insert can be activated by removing a jumper connector at the back of the module.
The second Golden Age Project module for the api 500 rack will be the EQ-573, expected to ship in November 2012. The EQ-573 consists of the inductor based high pass filter section  and the 3-band eq section from the classic 1073 module with some added frequencies. These two modules together will offer a fully fledged 1073-module in a compact format at a very low cost.
 
There is a second jumper at the back of the module that selects 600 ohm termination on the output. The standard mode is termination on, since it gives the flattest response when the PRE-573 is used with modern line inputs that typically has an input impedance of 10 kohm or more. The user can chose to remove the jumper and deactivate the termination resistor, this will increase the level above 10 kHz and create a peak in the response for an even more pronounced  "Air" effect.
The output is transformer balanced and fully floating and can drive a 600 ohm load up to level of about 28 dBu.

PreSonusʼ popular Class A XMAX preamps are widely lauded for their clarity and transparency. Our tube preamps are beloved for their warm, smooth sound. With the Blue Tube DP V2 dual-path mic/instrument preamp, you get both types of high-quality sound in one unit.

Now weʼve improved on the classic unit with the BlueTube DP V2. The solid-state path now feeds PreSonusʼ top-of-the-line Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifier with 80 dB of variable gain—an upgrade from the original BlueTube DPʼs solid-state stage.

You still get all the secondary features you expect in a professional-grade preamp: 48V phantom power, an 80 Hz high-pass filter, -20 dB pad to control hot input signals, and a polarity-reverse switch. Each channel has an illuminated VU meter so you can visually monitor your input levels.

A Tube Drive control provides a wide range of sounds: when itʼs clicked off, youʼre using the solid-state preamp for quiet, transparent amplification; when itʼs engaged, your signals flow through the tube preamp, and you can achieve anything from gentle warmth to edgy distortion.

    2 input channels, each with:
        High-headroom Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifier with 80 dB gain range
        12AX7 vacuum tube gain stage
        Tube Drive tube-saturation control
        48V phantom power
        80 Hz high-pass filter
        -20 dB pad to reduce hot input levels
        Polarity-reverse switch
        Illuminated analog VU input-level meter

    Input/Output
        2 balanced combo mic/unbalanced instrument inputs
        2 balanced XLR main (L/R) line outputs
        2 unbalanced ¼” main (L/R) line outputs

    Physical
        Compact 1/2U chassis
        External 12 VDC, 1A power supply