A-Designs P1 and EM Series
P-1, EM-Red, Em-Blue, EM-Silver, EM-Gold, EM-PEQ

A Designs Audio introduces a new line of microphone pre-amplifiers. Each has its own unique character. Depending on which microphone you use, you will be able to open a world of color and sound to inspire you and your recordings.

P-1
The P1 is based on the highly successful Pacifica.

All A-Design module preamps have -20dB Pad, Phase, 48v Phantom, cast aluminum knob, thumb screws (for easy in and un-install), solid construction, custom wound transformers (input and output) and a red LED indicator for Phantom power.

EM-Red
The EM-Red comes with a 50/50 output transformer. A-Designs added a little kick to this one by changing the "Input Transformer," as well. The results translates into more "up front mids". You may find this very useful when recording acoustic guitar with a condenser microphone.

With all the new condenser microphones on the market, the engineer or musician now has limitless possibilities to choose from in their endless search for their "perfect sound." You may also like to use the EM-Red for recording Toms, both rack and floor.

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EM-Blue
The EM-Blue is equipped with a "Nickel" custom wound output transformer. This translates into "highs" which will produce a much more airy top-end-ish tone. Used with a "dark" sounding microphone or a alto vocalist it can produce a "heavenly" sound.

You will also find this pre useful for recording a snare drum for a "crisp crack" sound. And if you use the DI feature you just might want to hear what an electric guitar sounds like going thru the nickel transformers.

To get down and dirty with an electric guitar you will want to pad your input and crank the gain for a slight growl.

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EM-Silver  
The EM-Silver has a custom wound steel output transformer which translates into a darker sound than the P-1, EM-Red, and EM-Blue. The EM-Silver is a very good match with ribbon microphones, due to the fact that steel transformers were widely used in the early days of recording and broadcast along with ribbon microphones.

It depends on which ribbon you have or use which will determine the sound/color/flavor you will receive. With today's influx of ribbon microphones there is a wide choice of character range available for you to determine which tone you are looking for or need.

Another feature of the EM-Silver is a "DI" (direct inject) for use with electric instruments. This is a great pre for Bass Guitar and Keyboards. Also, you may like to try the EM-Silver (depending on microphone) for your "kick" when recording drums. This is a very versatile tool for any recording situation.

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EM-Gold
The EM-Gold is their latest pre-amplifier of the EM Series. They took the custom wound output transformer of the EM-Silver and combined it with the custom wound input transformer of the EM-Red.

The results here made for the perfect sound on a floor tom as well as producing great results with a number of microphones for vocals, Bass, and MP3/Drum Machines.

The EM-Gold produces the dark end of the EM-Silver with more "up front" mids.

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EM-PEQ  
The classic all-tube Pultec EQP-1A goes down on the record books as one of the most venerated equalizers of all time, cherished by recording and mastering engineers for its almost mythical ability to improve the sound of just about anything running through it. Finally, after much research and development, A-Designs Audio announces that it has managed to capture much of the essence of the famed EQ in a new product - and one that fits in a compact 500 Series module frame size, no less.

Dubbed the EM-PEQ, A-Designs Audio was able to 'shrink' this highly sought after filter design into the now red-hot 500 Series format without compromise to either build quality or sonics. The EQ section design and control layout of the classic EQP-1A has been meticulously maintained, as well as its wonderfully smooth musicality.

Makeup amplification is achieved through the use of the same discrete Class AB amplifier found in A-Designs Audio's popular solid-state Pacifica mic pre, putting a slightly unique twist on the classic design of yesteryear.

Additional features include a nickel core output transformer, gold Grayhill rotary switches, Wima caps, and a true hard bypass. Instead of using common off-the-shelf chokes, A-Designs uses a custom-wound tapped inductor wound to the original values. Fully balanced, noise-free operation with modern impedance specs make for dummy- proof operation and fast studio integration.

The new EM-PEQ is an approved API 'VPR Alliance' product and may also be used in Brent Averill Enterprises racks and A-Designs Audio's R52 manufactured by Avedis Audio Electronics.

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