True to the Music
®
Radial Engineering Ltd.
PowerPre 500 Module
3
In either case you are not actually controlling the gain, only the input sensitivity. Herein
lies the problem: Preamps that employ an input attenuator are basically running ‘full’ all the
time. In other words, their signal-to-noise ratio is fi xed. So when the ‘volume control’ (read
attenuator) is turned all the way up, you enjoy maximum performance. But as you reduce
the input sensitivity by ‘turning down the volume’ you are actually increasing the amount of
noise in the recording.
WIDE SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
NOISE FLOOR
SIGNAL
NOISE
NARROW SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
NOISE FLOOR
SIGNAL - ATTENUATED
The circuit designer will ‘justify’ the design by saying that the noise the preamp introduces will
be masked by the instrument sound. But what happens when the instrument stops playing in
between notes? Back in the days of analogue tape, the preamp noise was either masked by
the tape hiss or gated out during production. But today, with such amazing digital recording
technology, the noise that was once masked by tape hiss is all of a sudden very noticeable.
When we began developing the PowerPre we were immediately confronted with the problem.
Instead of simply accepting the status quo, our engineering team got to work. Potentiometers
were taken apart, tests were done and eureka! We found a solution. We call it Accustate™.
The design employs two potentiometers whereby one controls the gain while the other
controls the input sensitivity.
This means that when you lower the
volume you’re actually lowering both
the input sensitivity and the gain
proportionately, accurately tracking the
input while reducing the background
noise.
With Accustate, you are no longer limited
to 12 giants steps or a limited range
potentiometer. You get precise control over
the input stage and full control from zero
to extreme with over 55dB of true gain.
And because Accustate is so effective
at controlling the signal path, you do not
actually need an input PAD
(we put one in
anyway just in case you need to record an
atomic blast).
ACCUSTATE CONTROL
CONSISTENTLY WIDE SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
NOISE FLOOR