APPLICATIONS
A Designs Audio
Owners Manual MP -A Series
Edition 3.0
January, 2005
A good, quality microphone preamp will add a full, warm sound to any type of recording or live
performance.
Generally, we begin by setting our input signal to unity, then concentrate on other devices such as
compressors or effects for modifying the sound. But, this does not always have to be the case.
You will notice this unit is not cluttered with bells and whistles.
Less is more.
The MP Series was
designed for simplicity. This has not restricted the sound, but enhanced it. This unit was designed to
free your imagination to create music with unencumbered tonal qualities.
Mic-pre settings, as a rule, begin with gain structure, unity or 0db. Although this seems a great place
to start, this may not always have the best application for your particular project. Try, what we call,
"driving the tubes" on the MP Series, instead of introducing effects into a chain. Simply stated,
try
sending the input signal well into the red
. Many producers and engineers use this technique for
bass guitars in rock/pop songs, and more recently, vocals in chorus.
Another technique audio engineers use, when recording an instrument in stereo, is to run one side in-
phase and the other side out-of-phase. This trick tends to deceive the stereo image and also defuses
bass boom
by canceling out frequencies
. It may sound unusual, but surprisingly, there are large
numbers of published Audio CD's where this technique has been employed to improve the overall
sound.
Apart from creating special effects, the MP Series can be used to fix problematic recordings. An
example of this would be a drum track that has gone out-of-phase.
Try the following:
(1) Send the individual tracks to the MP Series.
(2) Change the phase switch on one of the tracks.
(3) Compare this with the bass response.
You will then be able to determine which tracks are in-phase and out-of-phase. This allows you to
hear how much of the sound you are missing.
Above all, it is important to
experiment
. Do not to leave the controls "set in stone." Most professional
audio engineers and producers modify the mic-pre controls first, before moving on to a secondary
unit.
Note: If you have a trick or tip that you would like to share with us, contact A Designs through our
website or mail us at: Attention: Applications, P.O. Box 4255, West Hills, CA 91304. We will publish it
on our website with your name, if you choose.
