The PreSonus Studio Channel is a professional channel strip combining a Class A tube preamplifier, a VCA-based compressor, and a 3-band parametric equalizer. The Studio Channel is perfect for all levels of studios. Ideal for all types of microphones, instruments, keyboards, and synths, the PreSonus Studio Channel has the sonic power and flexibility to achieve any tone you can dream of, including 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 Presonus Studio Channel was designed to outperform 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 a prime 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 higher than other preamplifiers in its class. It delivers 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 channel strip 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 Channel's 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 PreSonus 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.

 

Warm Up Your Tracks with this Fat-Sounding Front End!

What do you get when you combine a VCA-based compressor, a tube preamplifier, and a three-band parametric EQ? You get the PreSonus Studio Channel, a multi-functional tube-based microphone preamp/channel strip ideal for all types of mics and instruments. Designed to make any sound source pop (in the good way), the Studio Channel enhances signal paths with the desirable warmth and fatness associated with vacuum tubes.

Big Tube Warmth for Small Studios

The slim Studio Channel mic pre has everything needed to deliver high headroom and big tone. The preamplifier stage of the Studio Channel features a high-output 12AX7 vacuum tube operating on voltages twice as high as other preamps of its type, according to PreSonus. Dual control Gain and Tube Drive facilitate an extensive range of sounds spanning from crystal clear to edgy and overdriven.

Tone-Shaping VCA Compressor

Thanks to the compressor, the Studio Channel is able to impart dimension and musicality to any track. Available as a fully variable, fast and smooth VCA-based circuit, the Studio Channel's compressor sports all the essential controls needed for a wide range of compression settings, such as ratio, threshold, attack, release, and gain make up. Tame even the fastest transients and get complete dynamic control over everything from percussion to vocals to acoustic guitars.

3-Band EQ When You Need It

The mic preamp's bypassable three-band equalizer lets you shape your sound further, right on the front end. The PreSonus Studio Channel's fully parametric EQ section gives you 10 dB of gain/cut on highs, mids and lows. What's more, the mid band of the EQ section has variable resonance (Q) for controlling the width around the center point of the selected frequency, and high and low frequency bands are there for selecting peak/dip or shelving frequencies.

Features:

• Professional tube microphone/instrument preamplifier

• Tube gain and tube drive for a custom sound, from transparent and clear to hard and overdriven

• Variable VCA compressor has many compression settings: threshold, ratio, attack, release, make up gain, auto, soft

• 3-Band parametric EQ keeps all the good sounds in and unwanted frequencies out

• Ideal for all types of mics, instruments, synths, and keyboards

• Analog VU meter for gain reduction and output

• EQ Pre/Post compressor switch

• 80 Hz high-pass filter

• 20 dB pad

• Phase invert

• Housed in a rugged metal chassis

• High headroom

• Low noise design 

Specifications

• Channels: One

• Dynamic Range: >115 dB

• Frequency Response: 10 Hz to 50 kHz

• Internal Operating Level: 0 dBu = 0 dB

Microphone Preamp

• Gain: -6 dB to +66 dB (+/- 10dB trim on line input)

• Noise Floor: -96 dBu

• EIN : -126 dB

• THD + Noise (0% Tube Drive): < 0.050%

• THD + Noise (100% Tube Drive): < 0.10%

• Microphone Input Connector: XLR

• Microphone Input Impedance: 1.3 k ohms

• Instrument Input Connector: 1/4" TS

• Instrument Input Impedance: 1 M ohms

• Line Input Connector: 1/4" TRS

• Line Input Impedance: 10 k ohms

• Phantom Power (switchable): +48V

• Pad (switchable): 0 dB / -20 dB

• Phase (switchable): 0 degrees, 180 degrees

• Hi-pass filter (switchable): -3 dB at 80 Hz

Compressor

• Threshold (variable): -40 dBu to +2- dBu 

• Ratio (variable): 1-10 (1:1 to 10:1) 

• Attack (variable): 0.1 to 200 ms 

• Release (variable): 0.05 ms to 3 S 

• Gain Make Up: -10 dB to +10 dB 

• Metering: Analog VU (Gain Reduction / Output) 

Equalizer

LF Band Controls: 

• Frequency: Variable from 40 Hz to 500 kHz 

• Gain: Variable between +/-10 dB 

• Q: 0.7 (on 'peak' setting) 

MF Band Controls: 

• Frequency: Variable from 200 Hz to 3 kHz 

• Gain: Variable from -10 dB to +10 dB 

• Q: Variable from 0.7 to 2.5 

HF Band Controls: 

• Frequency: Variable from 2 kHz to 20 kHz 

• Gain: Variable between +/-10 dB 

• Q: 0.7 (on 'peak' setting) 

Master

• Output: Fader -80 dB to +10 dB 

• Output Connectors: XLR Balanced and 1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced 

• Output Impedance: 51 ohms 

• Metering (Output level): Analog VU (-20 dBu to +6 dBu) 

• Metering (Gain Reduction): Analog VU -20 dB to 0 dB 

• Output Headroom: +22 dBu

Power Supply

• Type: Linear 

• Input: 16 VAC / 1000mA 

• Power Requirements (Continuous): 16W 

• Transformer: External (country specific)