Focus rites Red Range gained legendary status following its release in 1993. The Red 1 rapidly became a sought-after mica preamp in the worlds top studios, thanks to its ability to handle almost any mica and its unique sound. Featuring the same circuit topology and components as the original transformer-based mica pre designs, Red 1 500 Series Mic Pre offers the same performance as the original Focus rite Red mica preamp in a new, popular format: the 500 Series, or "Lunchbox" portable modular system. Its ideal for mobile/location use as well as in the studio. If you remember the unique, stunning sound of the original Focus rite Red range and want to bring that signature sound into your studio, then Red 1 500, with its signature red anodized aluminum front panel is for you. As with the original Red range, this new module is also made in England. Red 1 500 offers a compact interface to digital recording systems or for location recordings as well as convenient access in any control room, with a Lindale LL1538 input transformer, just as in the original; switchable phantom power; polarity invert; and an illuminated classic porthole VU meter. The output stage of Red 1 500, with its custom Cornhill transformer, will easily drive long cable runs without loss of quality ideal for remote recordings. Mic gain is switched in 6dB steps from -6 to +60dB, for accurate, precise channel matching and recall. The unique Focus rite mica amp topology provides superb common mode rejection, excellent overload margin and, with its shared gain structure (14dB from the transformer and up to 46dB from the amplifier), a very low noise floor, combined with the traditional wide bandwidth of the original Red series (10Hz to 140kHz).- Original Red circuit topology and components: recreates the original Red 1 mic pre, made in England with the original circuitry and components (where commercially available)
- 500 Series "Lunchbox" format: for the first time, a Focusrite product is available in this popular portable rack format
- Lundahl LL1538 Input Transformer: the original mic transformer used in the original Red modules helps to provide the unique sound and performance of this groundbreaking design
- Carnhill custom output transformer: an important contributor to the sound, the output transformer also allows Red 1 500 to drive long cable runs
- Suitable for virtually any microphone: With gain from -6 to +60dB in 6dB steps and a carefully chosen input impedance, Red 1 500 is perfect for almost any microphone, be it ribbon, dynamic, or condenser