PreSonus RC 500 Solid-State Channel Strip Preamp Review

PreSonus RC 500 Solid-State Channel Strip Preamp Review
PreSonus RC 500 Solid-State Channel Strip Preamp Overview | Full Compass
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The RC 500 is a single-channelFullcompass LogoDefinition:
1. In radio, television, citizen's band radio, and other wireless communications modes, a specific frequency for communication. 2. In mixers and video, an input or output signal path with controls. 3. In MIDI, one of 16 data paths.
solid-state channel stripFullcompass LogoDefinition:
A combination of preamp and signal processing, similar to the contents of a single channel in a mixer or console.
preamp with compressorFullcompass LogoDefinition:
A device that reduces dynamic range by a certain ratio, and used primarily for audio signals.
and EQ.

The RC 500 combines the custom-designed FETFullcompass LogoDefinition:
FET (Field-Effect Transistor): A semiconductor device with a very high input impedance, and distortion characteristics similar to a vacuum tube (it tends to accentuate even rather than odd harmonics). FETs are used in condenser microphones and other applications. Unlike standard transistors, which pass signals depending on the current applied to a control terminal (the transistor's base), an FET passes signals depending on a voltage applied to its control terminal (called the gate).
compressor and semi-parametric EQFullcompass LogoDefinition:
An equalizer with controls for bandwidth, frequency, and boost/cut.
circuits that Robert Creel developed for PreSonus’ highly lauded ADL 700 tubeFullcompass LogoDefinition:
(slang) A vacuum tube or (valve), an electronic amplifying or rectifying element with a heating filament, in a glass or metal envelope.
channel strip with his new ultra-low-distortionFullcompass LogoDefinition:
A change in an electronic or acoustic signal's waveform. This can undesirable if it impacts signal quality, or desirable when used for creative signal processing.
, high-gain, solid-state Class A preamplifierFullcompass LogoDefinition:
An amplifier that boosts low-level signals, such as those from phonograph cartridges, microphones, and instrument pickups to line level. May be stand-alone, or integrated into a device like a mixer.
design, which delivers consistent, repeatable, transparent, detailed audio. A balanced analogFullcompass LogoDefinition:
A signal that is continuous in nature, as opposed to being defined as a series of discrete numbers (or elements) as found in digital signals; electrically "analogous" to an acoustical signal in the air.
insert sends the source signal out of the RC 500 before the compressor, EQ, and Master Gain stages and returns the signal directly to the compressor stage, allowing you to add external processors.

The RC 500’s 3-band semi-parametric EQ was also designed by Robert Creel to match the preamp and compressor. It combines isolated filters and optimized, per-band QFullcompass LogoDefinition:
1. Short for Quality factor. The bandwidth of a filter, which often correlates to resonance. 2. The opposite of damping in a speaker, i.e., the magnification of resonance. With speakers, a high Q relates to low damping, and a low Q relates to high damping. See Damping.
to provide subtle signal-shaping without harsh artifactsFullcompass LogoDefinition:
Errors in digital conversion, recording, processing or transmission of audio and visual information caused by compression, quantization, jitter and/or packet loss.
.

This EQ employs the same circuitry as the 4-band semi-parametric EQ in the ADL 700. All three bands have Gain (±16 dBFullcompass LogoDefinition:
1. A deciBel is a logarithmic ratio between two quantities, and is a nonlinear measurement that mimics human perception. 2. A unit expressing sound levels relative to a nominal level just audible by the average human ear, and equal to 1/10th of a Bel.
) and FrequencyFullcompass LogoDefinition:
A value, expressed in Hertz, that indicates how many cycles of a periodic signal occur in one second.
controls and fixed Q (0.5), and the mid and high bands have overlapping frequency ranges. The low and high bands are switchable between shelving and peak. The EQ can also be hard-bypassed.

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