PreSonus Studio Channel Microphone Tube Preamplifier Channel Strip

We named this channel strip the Studio Channel, and indeed it’s a wonderful studio tool. But it’s great for live performance, too. Featuring tube preamplification, a VCA-based compressor, and three-band EQ, it delivers a huge variety of timbres. Produce luscious, in-your-face vocals, dynamic acoustic piano, and fat, solid bass guitar, not to mention crystal-clear acoustic guitars and cracking snare. Yes, we got the name wrong; we should have called it the Anywhere Channel. But we got the design right.

The Studio Channel’s 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 you tweak your signals to sit properly in the mix.

Our VCA-based compressor is known for musicality and fast attack, with the ability to tame the fastest transients. From slap bass, to snare drum, to vocals, the Studio Channel’s compressor allows you 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 Studio Channel is a precision tool, with the ability to carve out unwanted frequencies as well as tailor your tone to enhance your sound. The EQ can be pre- or post-compressor, and you 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.

In the lunch room at PreSonus’® Baton Rouge headquarters, it’s an article of faith that Cajun spices taste great with almost everything. The Studio Channel is equally versatile, delivering great sound for virtually any type of recording or live music. And with separate XLR mic, balanced ¼-inch line, and unbalanced ¼-inch instrument inputs and balanced XLR and ¼-inch outputs, you can connect it to almost any recording interface, amp, or P.A. This really is an Anywhere Channel! Hear it for yourself at your favorite PreSonus dealer.

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 Channels 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.

1 channel with Class A 12AX7 vacuum-tube mic/instrument preamplifier

• Gain control with +10 dB to +54 dB gain range
• Tube Drive control
• 48V phantom power switch
• 80 Hz high-pass filter
• -20 dB pad
• Polarity-reverse switch

Fully Variable VCA Compressor

• Attack, Release, Ratio, Threshold, and (makeup) Gain
• Auto Attack/Release switch
• Soft/Hard Knee switch
• Bypass switch

3-band parametric equalizer

• Gain, Frequency, and Q controls (mid band)
• Gain and Frequency controls (low and high bands)
• Shelving/peak switches (low and high bands)
• Switchable pre-/post-compressor
• Bypass switch

Master level control

• Backlit VU meter
  • Gain Reduction to Meter switch (selects gain reduction or output gain)

Input/Output

• 1 unbalanced ¼” instrument input (front panel)
• 1 balanced ¼” line input
• 1 balanced XLR mic input
• 1 balanced ¼” line output
• 1 balanced XLR line output

Physical

• 1U 19” rack-mountable, rugged steel chassis
• Sealed, detented, metal rotary controls
• External 16 VAC power supply