Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Focusrite Red 1 500 Series Preamp: Vertical Unit Brings Legacy Topology and Sonics

In a way, the Focusrite Red 1 500 Series Mic Pre is the modern return of the microphone preamp design and sound used in the original Focusrite Red Range line of 2U processors. The Red 1 Quad Mic-Pre, Red 6 Mono Mic-Pre Equalizer, Red 7 Mono Mic-Pre & Dynamics and the Red 8 Dual Mic-Pre variants all used that same preamp circuit topology. The Red Range was first released in 1992 and then discontinued in 2010, but its lineage goes back to the mid-1980s with the Focusrite ISA 110 Mono Mic-Pre & Equalizer. The vertically mounted ISA 110 was a Rupert Neve design from being commissioned to supply 16 extra inputs for a Neve console at AIR Studios in London.

In a way, the Focusrite Red 1 500 Series Mic Pre is the modern return of the microphone preamp design and sound used in the original Focusrite Red Range line of 2U processors. The Red 1 Quad Mic-Pre, Red 6 Mono Mic-Pre Equalizer, Red 7 Mono Mic-Pre & Dynamics and the Red 8 Dual Mic-Pre variants all used that same preamp circuit topology. The Red Range was first released in 1992 and then discontinued in 2010, but its lineage goes back to the mid-1980s with the Focusrite ISA 110 Mono Mic-Pre & Equalizer. The vertically mounted ISA 110 was a Rupert Neve design from being commissioned to supply 16 extra inputs for a Neve console at AIR Studios in London.

Let’s Get Vertical

The Red 1 500 Series module fits standard lunchbox racks as a single-rackspace unit housed in an all-steel, clam shell-style, shielded enclosure. Internal construction is first class, with surface mount components on thick circuit boards.

The Red 1 uses an internal steel frame to support three circuit boards: the main circuit board; a second board with a miniature backlit Nissei VU meter and 12-position Grayhill gold-plated, military-grade, rotary gain switch; and a third that holds the ISA-style lighted polarity flip and phantom on/off push buttons. The three boards connect to each other using high-grade interconnecting cables (not ribbon) and sockets.

The gain control shaft is topped with a machined aluminum knob. The knob, plus both switches and VU meter, are recessed and seen through chamfered holes made in the red anodized aluminum front panel. This presentation stays true to form of the original Red Range rack units.

There are also two, three-terminal voltage regulators on the main board that down-regulate the 500 rack’s ±16-volt rails and also filter out any possible high-frequency switch mode noise that might come from the power supply. The Red 1 500’s nominal slot current drain is 150mA for the +16-volt rail and 90mA for the -16volt rail—well within VPR spec.

A Look Inside

The mic input and output transformers are a big part of the sound of the original Focusrite Red mic preamp. Like the original’s design, the Red 1 500 uses a shared gain structure with the Lundahl input transformer offering 14 dB of gain, the Carnhill output transformer giving 6dB of gain and the active amplifier circuit giving the remaining 40 dB. A Zobel input network (specifically configured for the ISA design by Rupert Neve) and the identical dual-primary Lundahl LL1538 mic input transformer are used. The input impedance is 1,200 ohms.

The same Carnhill bifilar-wound toroidal output transformer is used—just made to fit the size-constraints of a single-slot 500 Series module. With its leads directly soldered to the main circuit board, this large transformer (which looks more like a power supply transformer) is bolted to the steel enclosure’s wall and dominates the interior of the Red 1 500 module.

The Red 1 500 has 12 fixed preamp-gain settings in 6dB steps from -6 to +60 dB. There is no variable output level control or switchable highpass filter. On the rear of the module is a slide switch that pads the meter’s 0VU = +4dB calibration by 6 dB. When engaged, it minimizes excessive needle pinning with the up to +25.5 dBu output level possible.

The Red 1 500 uses 5532 and 5534 op amps, the same as in the original unit, and a discrete transistorized Class-A/B amplifier drives the output transformer.

In the Studio

I plugged the Red 1 500 module into my six-slot, 500 6B API Lunchbox. I left the VU attenuator switch in the -6dB position for all tests. I used either Pro Tools 10 HD or 11 HDX, 24-bit/88.2kHz, and standard -18dBu (18 dB headroom) I/O reference set up on my Avid interface. I liked the mini VU as a sort of signal present indicator, but a peak indicator LED would be helpful for spotting a problem from across the control room.

For my first test, I used a mic splitter box with a Jensen JT-MB-E transformer inside to route a single drum mic to both the Red 1 and another mic pre at the same time. My splitter presents the same 150-ohm source impedance to all connected preamps.

I started with a 22-inch DW kick drum and placed a Shure Beta 52 in the hole aimed at the beater head. I compare the Red 1 500 set to 30dB of gain to my go-to mic pre, a 2-channel RTZ Professional 9762 Dual-Combo—a high-end remake of the Class-A Neve 1272. The RTZ was also set to 30dB. The Red 1 had a clear sound with good attack while the RTZ had less attack and was rounder and (by comparison) muddy sounding.

Later I tried an AKG D112 in the exact same position and reduced the gain for both preamps because of the higher-output microphone. For the mid-tempo track, the AKG was a better choice on this particular kick drum. I got more subsonic energy and midrange “cut,” but again, it was a close call between the two, with the Red 1 offering a clarity that was missing from the RTZ. My temptation was to clean up the RTZ’s sound with EQ, whereas the Red 1 was good to go. With the same preamps and splitter, I used a Sennheiser MD 421-II close in to record rack and floor toms. In this case, there was no difference in the sound—both preamps sounded great. But the floor tom through the RTZ had less attack and was thicker, while the Red 1 500 was slightly thin. Gain was set to 25 to 30 dB for both.

For recording the drummer’s Ludwig Black Beauty snare, I used the same splitter rig but switched from the RTZ over to the studio’s API 1608 console mic pre. I placed a Shure SM57 in my usual starting mic position—inches away and aimed directly at the center of the head.

The API 1608 mic pre was set at minimum gain and without the 20dB pad. It sounded fine, although the console fader’s position was down closer to the bottom of its range and a bit touchy to adjust and work with. Switching in the pad allowed for more fader travel and adjustability but didn’t improve the sound. To obtain the same recording level, I used 24 to 30 dB of gain on the Red 1, and the sound was fat, full and noticeably thicker than the API. I found the 6dB stepped-gain increments worked great to get any recording level. Later, I put a Neumann KM184 in the same position on the snare, and it sounded like it should with the Red 1 dialed down to only 6dB of gain. The API pre required the pad and sounded somewhat compressed by comparison.

I found it a big plus to not use an attenuator pad and be able to dial mic gain on the Red 1 500 down to (essentially) line level to handle modern, high-output condenser microphones placed close to loud sound sources.

Vocals, Guitar

Next was a male lead vocal recording session, and I chose a Neumann M 149 condenser set to cardioid. With the singer about a foot away from the pop screen, the high output of this mic only required about 18dB gain on the Red 1. For louder singing, I clicked one notch down to 12 dB. Whatever gain was required, the sound was superb, with good detail in my singer’s voice, the effect of the room’s sound, and his positioning in and around the mic—changes that were all easily heard.

For quieter vocals, I switched to 30 dB of gain. I found it convenient to quickly return to the lower gain setting if needed and at the same time maintain the “ballpark” amount of compression from the following UA 1176LN Peak Limiter. I also found the 1176LN’s grit nicely complemented the generally smooth and clean tone of the Red 1 500 and M 149 combination.

Next I recorded an Alvarez AJ60S acoustic guitar with a Gauge Precision ECM-84 small-diaphragm cardioid condenser without using the pad or roll-off. For rhythm strumming, 24dB of gain was all I needed when about six inches over the 12-fret or about 36 dB when I pulled the mic back two feet from over the sound hole. Subtle changes in mic positioning are easy to hear using this preamp and mic combination, and I found the sound to be honest—realistic and lush sounding with excellent dynamic range, not overly bright or excessively boomy. Mix-ready.

If you missed the Red Range Red 1 the first time around, the Red 1 500—with its high build quality, classy looks, and clarity of sound—will provide a great introduction to the Focusrite sound. For me it’s an ’80s flashback in a good way and I highly recommend it as a great addition to any 500 rack!

Barry Rudolph is an L.A.-based recording engineer. Visit him at www.barryrudolphcom.

Try This

An old trick is to connect line level sources to mic preamps and purposely distort with excessive gain. I fed a line level signal from my HD interface into an inline XLR -15dB T-pad and connected that to the input XLR on the Red 1 500 mic pre. I experimented with reducing the Red 1’s output with another pad but found it was easier to put the Trim plug-in on the aux input fader back in Pro Tools that received the pre’s output signal. I would “juggle” preamp gain setting with the Trim plug-in fader and found this adds “hair” to drum loops, DI guitar and bass, and also super-clean guitar solos.

Product Summary

COMPANY: Focusrite Novation

PRODUCT: Red 1 500 Mic Pre

WEB:focusrite.com

PRICE: $999

PROS: Super-clean gain. Easily recallable. Built like a Bentley GT Speed.

CONS: Could use a peak LED.

Close