The PreSonus RC 500 Solid State Channel Strip was designed by electronics engineer Robert Creel for professional studio recording. The device provides you with Creel's class A solid state preamplifier and vintage-style signal processing based on the PreSonus ADL 700 channel strip. The device features a custom FET compressor and a 3-band semi-parametric equaliser for a high gain, low distortion, and transparent signal chain. A VU metre allows you to select between displaying the overall output level and the compressor's gain reduction. The entire device is housed in a 1U rack mountable steel chassis.
The Field-Effect Transistor compressor has switchable relays for completely bypassing the circuit and utilises hybrid detection methods with a fully variable attack from 0.5 to 10 ms, a release time from 30 to 500 ms, an adjustable -25 to +20 dBu threshold, and a fixed ratio of 3:1. The 3-band semi-parametric AEQ can be hard bypassed using switching relays. The high gain preamplifier includes +48V phantom power, an 80Hz high pass filter, a polarity invert switch, and a -20 dB pad. The solid state design improves the frequency range of the preamplifier, providing cleaner highs and tighter lows than a tube design. You can also connect outboard processing equipment to the device through its balanced analogue insert. A master output control knob allows you to set the overall volume.
The channel strip is constructed with high grade components such as film capacitors, low distortion op amps, and resistors with 1% tolerance or less. For I/O the unit features balanced XLR microphone and line inputs, a front panel 1/4" instrument input, 1/4" insert send and return connectors, and balanced xlr and 1/4" TRS outputs. The unit is powered by an internal toroidal power supply with an IEC connector.
