A powerful recording channel strip in a 1 rackspace unit!

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.

PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Channel Strip Features:

• Class A vacuum tube microphone/instrument preamplifier
• Tube gain and tube drive
• Variable VCA compressor (threshold, ratio, attack, release, make up
• gain, auto, soft)
• 3-band parametric EQ
• Precision analog VU meter for gain reduction and output
• EQ Pre/Post compressor switch
• 80Hz high pass filter
• 20dB pad
• Phase invert
• Rugged metal chassis
• High headroom
• Ultra low noise design

Give your studio a top-notch channel strip by ordering the Studio Channel today!

PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Channel Strip Specifications:

• Channels: One
• Dynamic Range: >115dB
• Headroom: +22dB
• Frequency Response: 10Hz to 50kHz
• Internal Operating Level: 0dBu = 0B
  
  Microphone Preamp:
• Gain: -6dB to +66dB (+/-10dB Trim on line input)
• Noise Floor: -96dBu
• EIN: -126dB
• THD + Noise (0% Tube Drive): <0.050%
• THD + Noise (100% Tube Drive): <0.10%
• Microphone Input Connector: XLR
• Microphone Input Impedance: 1.3KOhm
• Instrument Input Connector: 1/4" TS
• Instrument Input Impedance: 1 Meg Ohm
• Line Input Connector: 1/4" TRS
• Line Input Impedance: 10 kOhm
• Phantom Power (switchable): +48V
• Pad (switchable): 0dB/-20dB
• Phase (switchable): 0, 180 degrees
• Hi-pass filter (switchable): -3dB at 80Hz
  
  Compressor:
• Threshold (variable): -40dBu to +20dBu
• Ratio (variable): 1-10 (1:1 to 2:1)
• Attack (variable): 0.1 to 200 ms
• Release (variable): 0.05 ms to 3 S
• Gain Make-up: -10dB to +10 dB
• Metering: Analog VU (gain reduction / Output)
  
  Equalizer:
• Low Band (+/-13dB): 40Hz to 500Hz
• Mid Band (+/-13dB): 200Hz to 3kHz
• High Band (+/-13dB): 2kHz to 20kHz
• Q (variable all bands): Q=0.7 to 2.5
  
  Master:
• Output Fader: -70dB to +10dB
• Output Connectors: XLR balanced and 1/4" TRS
• balanced/unbalanced
• Output Impedance: 51 ohms
• Metering (output level): Analog VU (-20dBu to
• +6dBu)
• Meter (gain reduction): Analog VU (-20dB to 0dB)
• Output headroom: +22dBu
  
  Power Supply:
• Type: Linear
• Input: 16VAC / 1000mA
• Power: 16 Watts
• Transformer: External (country specific)
  
  Physical:
• Size: 1U Rack
• Dimensions: 19W" x 1.75"H x 5.5D"
• Weight: 5lb.

PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Channel Strip

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Average of 6 User Ratings

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Reviewed after 5 months

Posted by Cameron from Fort Collins, CO on Oct 19, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Seasoned guitarist/drummer, recording engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: all things metal, hardcore, hard rock

I bought this unit 5 monthds ago and specifically wanted to wait to write an honest review and really understand the function of it. When you first use it, it definately takes time to understand where it shines. The tube sound definately smooths out vocals and bright acoustic guitars, yet where I love this unit is on a kick drum with the tube saturation at 100%. At least with an EV N/D868 kick mic it adds tons of upper mid growl and presence that for some reason just can't be achieved with an EQ. I like to set a low threshold low ratio on the compressor to keep it pretty invisible and do most compression at mixing, but I have to say even with the compressor clamped down on a kick drum signal it still sounds very natural, not boxy at all. The EQ does a very good job of letting you control unwanted or missing tones in a signal and it does it with minimal coloration, very musical but not very sensitive. Don't be shy on the EQ because sometimes it take bigger adjustments to hear the difference. Along with the A/D card option this preamp is a total winner for a home or project studio, it even sounds good as a guitar preamp live.

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Great Product

Posted by DOTR from Beantown on Sep 25, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Musical Star Gazer

Reviewer's Play Style: Electronic Neo-Classical Metal Fusion

As the reviewer below me indicates, it does take time to master this unit, but only a day or so if you put some work into it. Nice tube sound, not "clean" it gives you those tube "overtones" that so many love and a few hate, so keep in mind this isn't an Apogee or Blue product that gives you clean recordings, although the recordings are clear and detailed they have that distinct "tube color". If that is why you are looking at this product then go ahead and get it. Certainly the next step is UA and SSL preamps.

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GREAT BUT TAKES TIME

Posted by Detrath from North Dakota on Aug 21, 2009

Experience w/product: I have heard about it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician, Hobbyist, Home Studio

Reviewer's Play Style: Everything

My intentions with this unit were to improve the overall quality of my recordings.

Feature wise, this unit is great. The compressor works great and is very flexible. Presonus even offers some useful presets in the manual. The equalizer works great as well for boosting some needed frequencies. Both of these are very useful.

I had a lot of trouble at first with this unit trying to separate the gain on the Studio Channel with the gain on my EMU interface. I thought that the studio channel was noisy but in fact the gain was set to high on my EMU interface. Once I corrected myself, the Presonus is super quiet. I can record now with virtually no noise.

The preamp is great. It has definitely boosted the overall quality of my recordings and just makes the tracks sound more real.

Overall, this unit is a great buy and worth the money. It isn't the end all be all of preamps, but for the money it is very useful. If you are using a regular USB or Firewire interface but want one to improve your recordings on a budget, get this unit.

This unit WILL take time to dial in and to learn how to properly use it but once it does, it's worth it.

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Excellent all in one unit

Posted by Anonymous Musician on Mar 5, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: All kinds

The difference that this unit makes in your audio tracks is astounding. Granted, if you do not know how to use such a device, or don't even know what it's even for, I suggest you do some reading. The instruction manuals give decent presets.. I made my own based off of the presets. I have used this unit on my snare drum, guitars, bass, and vocals. It has greatly improved the quality of everything going into my audio interface. makes mixing and mastering so much easier. props to presonus for putting everything into one convenient strip.

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Must Have

Posted by The Big Bully Organization from Phoenix, AZ on Mar 4, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: Hip-Hop

I bought this unit to replace the built in preamp of my Fostex MR8-HD. And this thing is a beast with over 55 Db of gain availble, plus it has a built in 3 Band EQ, and VCA Comp, makes this thing awesome, the only reason I gave it a 4.5 overall, is because I wish I had a stereo version...

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PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Channel Strip

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