combines a high quality microphone preamp and a high impedance instrument preamp with all the basic functions needed in a recording or sound reinforcement audio channel. The input section consists of two independent preamp circuits: A low noise, low distortion microphone/line preamp, and an ultra high impedance, low noise instrument preamp.
The Microphone Channel includes phantom power with rear panel on / off switch, XLR connector, and a phase invert switch on the front panel. Gain is continuously adjustable from +6 to +40 dB. With additional distributed gain, a
total of 60dB of gain can be applied to the microphone. A separate 1/4 inch TRS line input is also provided which will accept balanced or single ended line signals from recording playback outputs or other sources such as
synthesizer modules.
The High Impedance Instrument Input will accept signals directly from acoustic guitar pickups, magnetic pickups or piezo contact mikes. The gain is continuously variable from unity to +30 dB. This input uses
BARBETTA's exclusive "Adaptive Impedancetm" circuitry, which allows it to work equally well with low impedance lines. There is an input clip warning indicator that lights at 10 volts peak signal, which is 3 dB below
actual voltage clipping.
A Three Band Parametric Equalizer with 20 dB cut and boost has overlapping sweep ranges to provide complete EQ coverage of the audio band. The section includes a bypass switch. The Bandwidth Control
section consists of a sharp low cut filter sweepable from 32 cycles to 320 cycles which is useful for removing low frequency thump and rumble, and a high cut filter that sweeps from 3200 cycles to 32 kHz, which can help control
siblance sounds.
A fast response Noise Gate follows which has frequency shaped sensitivity to make it useful as a siblance filter. The gate remains closed when high levels of sibilance are present but without signal in the voice
fundamental range. It can also eliminate hum and buzz when close miking something such as a noisy guitar amp.
The Compressor section offers smooth, seamless, silent gain control. Complete control is provided with Level, Ratio,
Threshold, Attack and Release controls, and a ten step compression level meter indicates the amount of gain reduction being applied.
The Audio Level Meter is switchable to read either internal system or line levels. It is a fast
response peak meter calibrated to read system clipping levels to facilitate settings that are completely distortion free.
Total system headroom is 10.8 volts RMS, or 30 Volts peak to peak, which is equivalent to 23 dB of headroom
relative to 0 dBv. Distortion is 0.0005% at 2 volts RMS output, and hum and noise are 94 dB below full output.
