Studio Microphone Preamps

Notes: What It Is

It's tempting, if not a little lazy, to view these new 500-series offerings as mere repackages of the tried-and-true products like the RNLA. There is really nothing mere about them. It's not that there aren't obvious connections...the RNLA500's lineage is definitely visible and audible: red knobs-albeit slightly more refined-provide a visual clue as to its origins while it's thick & gooey sound tell you the RNLA's algorithm is still beating in its silicon heart! Okay, it's still an RNLA that you can use to add some compression-induced character (and control) to your vocal/bass/drum/mix/guitar/piano/orchestral/banjo tracks. It's also comfortably responsive to its controls, just like the 1/3 rack version. So what about this isn't merely a repackaging?

First, there's the 500-series thing: small, rugged and convenient analogue audio processing modules that fit into just about any recording situation-from pro studios to bedroom venues. Having what you need, when and where you need it is, as "they" say, half the battle. The 500-series format is, well, everywhere. Secondly, although convenience and size are important (this is audio after all), if it doesn't deliver the sonic results, what's the point? Even dyed-in-the-wool RNLA users notice that there's something more here: thick & gooey, meet creamy & smooth! From fully, electronically balanced I/O to higher-resolution arithmetic, the net result is a professional audio compressor that's both responsive, small, rugged and has tone for days! RNLA progeny? Yes. But not merely...

How It Sounds

Okay, thick, gooey, creamy & smooth. Got it. For most of us, this means that it sounds good, but what does that mean? The RNLA500 is, admittedly, much "gentler" and not as apt to grab'n'run with the signal as other, more "modern-sounding" compressors. Like an old-timey photocell, the RNLA500 is a little resistant to responding right away, but requires the signal to be there for a while to get the photocell to act. That slight hesitancy to respond is one of the key performance parameters that causes opto (and opto-like) compressors to be so coveted. Although the RNLA500 is a VCA-based compressor, the algorithm controls it in a manner that puts the essence of opto-compressors in a more modern and controllable compressor.

How It's Done

Like all FMR Audio dynamic audio processing products, the sidechain electronics replaced with chunks of software to accomplish both a bill-of-materials cost reduction while simultaneously improving dynamic performance accuracy and consistency. The beauty of this approach is that the main signal path (all dynamic audio processors have two paths: a sidechain/control path and the main audio path) remains firmly in the analogue domain thereby avoiding latency and digital conversion artifacts that are sometimes unwanted. Coupled with a faster (40x) processor and higher-resolution VCA control, sealed switches & relays, multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) the RNLA500 will deliver smooth and controllable compression for years to come.

Notes: PreSonus' popular Class A XMAX preamps are widely lauded for their clarity and transparency. The 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 PreSonus have improved on the classic unit with the BlueTube DP V2. The solid-state path now feeds PreSonus' top-of-the-line Class A XMAX mic preamplifier with 80dB of variable gainian upgrade from the original BlueTube DP's solid-state stage.

The tube path features a 12AX7 tube that operates on voltages double that of other preamplifiers in its class, producing lots of headroom and big tone. PreSonus have done an assortment of other tweaks as well. The result: the BlueTube DP V2 offers lower noise, more high-end clarity, and an even smoother tube sound than its predecessor.

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 it's clicked off, you're using the solid-state preamp for quiet, transparent amplification; when it's engaged, your signals flow through the tube preamp, and you can achieve anything from gentle warmth to edgy distortion.

With 2 combo mic/instrument inputs, the half rackspace BlueTube DP V2 is a great choice for guitars and basses as well as for vocals. Singer-songwriters can run their vocal through one channel and their guitar through the other, feeding both to the PA ino guitar amp needed. It also serves as a DI box, thanks to balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4" outputs, and is housed in a new, rugged, 1/2U case.

Try the BlueTube DP V2 as a front end for a DAW, too; sure, your recording interface might already include preamps, but few of them give you both tube and solid-state operation.

PreSonus have also updated the preamp's compact, rugged enclosure; it has more rounded edges and looks modern and sleek. It can be used as a desktop unit or it can be screw-mounted to a standard rack tray. And despite the improvements, PreSonus deliver the BlueTube DP V2 for essentially the same price as the original BlueTube DP.

So get the new and improved version of the most versatile, best-sounding mic/instrument preamplifier in its price range: the BlueTube DP V2.