PreSonus Studio Channel Vacuum-Tube Channel Strip, UK

The PreSonus® Studio Channel channel strip is a wonderful studio tool that's great for live performance, too. Featuring a tube preamp, VCA-based compressor, and three-band EQ, it delivers a huge variety of timbres. With an XLR mic, balanced ¼-inch line, unbalanced ¼-inch instrument inputs and balanced XLR and ¼-inch outputs, you can connect it to almost any audio interface, amp or PA.

The Class A preamp starts with a high-output 12AX7 tube for lots of headroom and a 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 you tweak your signals.

PreSonus' VCA-based compressor is known for musicality and fast attack, with the ability to tame the fastest transients so you can record blazing-hot signals with accurate dynamics control. In addition to ratio, threshold, attack, release and gain controls, it offers an Auto Attack/Release feature with preset attack and release curves. The backlit VU meter displays gain reduction or output gain.

The three-band EQ is a precision tool that can be pre- or post-compressor, and you can bypass each stage independently. Custom-designed amps deliver sweet-sounding gain and cut for smooth highs, clear midrange and deep, solid lows. The midrange band is fully parametric, with variable Q, while the high- and low-frequency bands are semi-parametric, with Frequency and Gain controls, and can be shelving or peak bands.

Features:

• Class A 12AX7 vacuum-tube mic/instrument preamplifier with Tube Drive control
• Gain control with +10 dB to +54 dB gain range
• 48V phantom power switch, 80 Hz high-pass filter, -20 dB pad, and Polarity-reverse switch
• Fully Variable VCA compressor with Attack, Release, Ratio, Threshold, and (makeup) Gain; Auto Attack/Release switch; Soft/Hard Knee switch; and Bypass switch
• 3-band parametric equalizer with Gain, Frequency and Q controls (mid band); Gain and Frequency controls and Shelving/Peak switches (low and high bands); switchable pre-/post-compressor; Bypass switch
• Backlit VU meter with Gain Reduction to Meter switch (gain reduction or output gain)
• 1 unbalanced ¼-inch instrument input (front panel), 1 balanced ¼-inch line input, and 1 balanced XLR mic input
• 1 balanced ¼-inch and 1 balanced XLR line output
• 1U 19-inch rack-mountable, rugged steel chassis with sealed, detented rotary controls
• External 16 VAC power supply