PreSonus Studio Channel Mono Vacuum Tube Preamp

A good preamp can do wonders for any production. There is a reason why pro studios spend thousands upon thousands to have a selection of good quality preamps for every channel on their mixing desk. PreSonus are bringing that level of quality to every kind of studio with the Studio Channel 1 channel tube channel strip with everything you need to build up a great signal.

Everything You Need

Studio channel strips are not just preamps. Everything from the compression to the EQ and everything else in between gives character to the sound. That is why the Studio Channel has so many different controls as you not only have a tube preamp with phantom power and phase control but also a full studio grade compressor and a powerful parametric EQ.

Every part of the Studio Channel was designed so that you can easily set this up in your rack and improve the quality of your recordings instantly. No messing around with patch leads between units, no trying to match up parts from different manufacturers. This is all you need in a single 1u 19" rack unit.

The Preamp

Built on a Class A design, this 12AX7 preamplifier has a lot of power with a touch of colour to the noise. Just like how tape defines a recording, tube preamps can apply natural sounding overdrive from that tube and give a certain warmth to the tone that you don't get with solid state circuits.

A lot of tube preamps like this however have a few issues when it comes to voltage. If you don't run the valve hot enough it ends up hurting the sounds more than helping. So PreSonus went and added voltage doublers around the tube circuit so you know it is running at optimal levels at all times.

VCA Compression

PreSonus are actually quite well known for the quality of their compression. Using a VCA style design the compressor in this rack unit is a perfect match for the tube preamp and gives you quality dynamics control at a moment's notice.

You really can use it on anything as well. With thresh, ratio, attack, release and gain knobs on top of the soft, auto and location controls you can set exactly the type and level of compression.

Never used a compressor before? No worries in Auto mode the Studio Channel will work with preset attack and release curves to help you find a great starting point.

Parametric EQ

Parametric EQs are a must for any studio setup. They give you so much more control over the sound of your mix compared to regular fixed EQs. The Studio Channel somehow makes it even more usable by giving you the option to chose if you want it before or after the compressor. This small change can drastically change your sound and is very useful when working with vocals, bass and percussion.

Inputs and Outputs

The Studio Channel is about as simple as you can get. You have a single XLR Mic in, one 1/4" Instrument in, and one 1/4" line in for your inputs. For the outputs it is your choice of XLR or 1/4" out, it is as simple as that. These connections are easy to set up and wire in to your current hardware for perfect integration wherever you are.

Here's what PreSonus say about the Studio Channel

The Anywhere Channel.
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.

Impressive headroom and a huge variety of fat sounds.
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 highpass filter, and polarity reverse let you tweak your signals to sit properly in the mix.

Fast, smooth, musical VCA compression.
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.

Sweet three-band EQ-before or after the compressor.
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.

Tasty spices that work with virtually everything.
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 1/4-inch line, and unbalanced 1/4-inch instrument inputs and balanced XLR and 1/4-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.