A Designs- Mic Pres, DIs and EQs

Tube Mic Preamps	Solid State Preamps	DI
500 Format cards	Attenuators	Dealers

A Designs Audio manufactures and develops high-quality equipment for the audio contractor, professional audio industry and desk-top musicians. Included in our product lines are tube microphone pre-amplifiers (mic-pre) mono, stereo, and stereo with a high gain structure, tube direct box, tube equalizer, programmable audio routers, passive audio level controllers, and low-profile, solderless audio/video/data adapters. Perfect solutions for the transitional audio world.

A-Designs REDDI

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The reviews are in! Digital Pro Sound, Studio Reviews

Reggie Hamilton and Tony Shepperd Review the Reddi

With the prevalence of digital technology, engineers are constantly looking for tools to “warm up” their sound. The REDDI is a tube direct box with an unquestionable quality of sound. Great for basses, guitars, synths and electronic instruments that need that touch of warmth that a tube provides, but don’t need distortion added in the wrong places. The REDDI is clear and clean with a wide bandwidth and just the right amount of gain to add a little magic to your recordings.
Sporting a fire-engine red paint job, the main features for the REDDI include a combo XLR/1/4-inch input, balanced XLR output, ON/OFF power switch, LED power indicator, level control knob, ground lift, EIN power connector, metal vented casing, Toroid power transformer, custom output transformer, and the 6N1P tube.

The REDDI is a perfect fit for A Designs Audio's "all tube" line-up of high-end microphone pre-amplifiers and equalizers. A Designs Audio, as always, field tests their products before releasing them to the public with such notable recording engineers, as Dylan Dresdow (TEC Award Nominee and Grammy Award nominee for the Black Eyed Peas) Ross Hogarth (Grammy Award winner) Viktor Krauss (bassist for Lyle Lovett and renowned studio musician).

What are people saying about the REDDI?

"Wow! How did you get that sound?" --Ted Perlman, Producer, Engineer, Musician

" The REDDI is not only the largest and brightest colored DI that I've encountered, it's the best sounding." -- Russ Long, Pro Audio Review, 11/1/2005

" Now, the REDDI is my favorite DI and definitely my go-to on bass.” -- Dylan Dresdow, Grammy Award Nominee, Tech Award Nominee, Engineer

" The New REDDI DI from A Designs kicks ass..." -- Ross Hogarth, Grammy Award Winner

" If it needs to be really clean, then I'll just use the REDDI" -- Viktor Krauss, Bassist for Lyle Levitt

" I've used a number of DIs on electric pianos over the years, active, passive, tube, solid state, whatever was around. But, I don't remember that any of them worked as well or sounded as good as the REDDI." -- Dave Martin, Recording Magazine

" REDDI's first outing was on an active bass. The bass player's head turned as soon as he heard his instrument in the phones. It was an instant hit both in and out of the control room." -- Kevin Becka, Mix Magazine

The REDDI is only the second product I've had in for review [this year] that I sent back and then realized how much I missed it when it was gone." -- Dan Richards, Studio Review

" The best way I can describe what REDDI adds is dimension. It reveals a wide range of harmonics in a source, with an excellent translation of an instrument's character. It doesn't have to be blended with an amp signal to sound good. I tried it with electric guitar and bass as well as a synthesizer, and found the REDDI to perform impressively on every source." -- Frank Moldstad, Digital Pro Sound

" I didn't use an amp at all. I used only the REDDI and it sounded really, really nice." -- Justin Meldan-Johnsen, Bassist with Beck

"YUM!!! Big and round... Now I have to scrape together the cash to get the Pacifica. See what you have done?" Terri Winston, professor of Sound Recording and Arts, City College, San Francisco

MSRP: $795.00

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Pacifica

Throughout the1970s, the American professional music recording industry was in its heyday. Popular artists like The Who, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, The Jackson 5, The Rolling Stones, and Steely Dan were all at the top of the charts and on every record player and eight track tape deck. Underground bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin were not on the radio but had ardent followers. The diversity and quantity of new music was astounding.

The seventies was also a time of great change in pro audio. The introduction of “solid state” electronics led to an explosion in development and a very different sound than tube gear of yesteryear. The Recording Console in a high end 1970s studio was likely a Neve®, an API®, or a Quad Eight. These were the companies that were setting the standards for audio qualitywith a unique sound firmly imprinted on the popular recordings of the era. While much has been made in our era with Neve and API reissues, interpretations and clones, the Quad Eight curiously faded from view. The irony is that many engineers firmly believe the Quad Eight Ventura, Pacifica and Coronado consoles to sonically be the very best of their day!

Peter of A Designs Audio in West Hills California and pro audio designer Jon Erickson teamed up to recover and restore this lost “sound” to the recording community. Significant effort over the past 2 years has gone into research and speaking with Quad Eight owners while chasing down the origins of what was “The Quad Eight Sound”. Closely examining the design and composition of these were both a nightmare and a joy. The original QE staff was hard to locate, design/parts and documentation was impossible to come by and key parts were obsolete and not readily replaceable. After thousands of hours, endless listening sessions and time at the bench with test circuits, a target emerged. QE mic pres, such as those used in the Quad Eight Ventura, Coronado and Pacifica consoles emerged as one of the best examples of the unique Quad Eight tonal character. Thanks to critical efforts by Tom Reichenbach of Cinemag (whose father designed the original Quad Eight transformers), Jon and Peter developed a prototype dubbed the “Pacifica” as a clear indicator of its Quad Eight inspiration.

The prototype was sent to a handful of devoted Quad Eight Console owners and mic pre fans along with some of today’s talented recording engineers. The results were gratifying: nearly all agreed the new A Designs prototype was very close to the original Quad Eight sound but with a tad more top end (exactly the target sound).

A Designs Audio is very proud to introduce the “PACIFICA”, a single rack space, dual (mono/mono) channel microphone pre amplifier that comes amazingly close to the original in looks and sound. There are few but valuable improvements, such as a front panel active hi-z 1ž4 inch input that places the input transformer directly in the signal path for a huge direct sound. The PACIFICA possesses a uniquely “Made in California” feel with a significant heft from the huge transformers contained within. The original cream colored panel and red knob scheme has been retained. We think the A Designs PACIFICA will achieve an instant classic status, becoming an important part of your “must haves” for years to come.

What are the engineers saying about the A Designs Pacifica?

“The Pacifica has the depth of the Neve, the top end of a GML and the punch of the API-all rolled into one great mic pre.”
Tony Shepperd-Producer/Engineer/Mix/ Studio Owner: Back Street Boys, Lionel Richie, Kenny Loggins, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Indie

“ In a room filled with a very wide selection of pres such as 550's, 1073's and many more, the Pacifica instantly became the most frequently used preamp.”
Yoni Gileadi-films and music: IMAX Mysteries of Egypt, IMAX Texas: The Big Picture, IMAX Mystic India; Recordings/Remix: Kaskade, Backside, David Bowie mash-up remix, Love Digit, Sunfall, Sofina.

" Finally a mic pre and D.I. for those of us tired of squinting with our ears. Its the past-but the way I WANT to remember it."
Dylan Dresdow-Engineer/Grammy Award Nominee/ Tec Award Nominee/ Studio Owner: Black Eyed Peas, Ricky Martin, Tweet, Christina Aguilera, Indie

“ If I had to start over, the Pacifica would be the first preamp I would buy. I've never heard a preamp with a 70's character that has such an open top end. It’s the most versatile preamp in our collection of 11 types of preamps.”
Jason Buntz-Engineer/ Studio Owner/ Indie

" My overall impression is that it sits in there like a nice cross between Neve-ish and API-ish tones but with better transient response and more high end detail...overall very musical. I swear it went another octave above the API and Great River.”

" I can see it being an extremely versatile preamp that would get a lot of use on everything. Perfect for a small studio like mine that can't afford to have 20 different specialty preamps."
Brad McGowan-Little Red Wagon Studios/ Engineer/ Indie

“ Definitely a color that I could ‘paint’ the whole album with. I thought I was done buying preamps until this one arrived… it was like the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle that made the picture complete. [Now, what am I going to tell my wife?]”
Barrett Nichols-Engineer/ Producer: Alpha Jerk Recording Studio, Indie

“ With thousands of dollars in vintage microphones at hand, only the Pacifica makes them sound the way I expect every time, now that I have heard it, no other mic pre will do.”
Jeff Sheridan-Engineer/ Producer/ Studio Owner: Disney Voice Over, Disney’s 50th Anniversary Edition, Soundworks Studio, Indie

“ If you are thinking something along the lines of an API pre, you really owe it to yourself to play around with the new A Designs Pacifica preamp. It has a similar feel/sound in the lows and mids (huge low end with slightly forward, but not obnoxious mids) but a top end that is extended and beautiful. On orchestral recording, it makes you sit up and take notice of the orchestra on the loud stuff, but yet has the subtlety needed for chamber music.”
Benjamin Mass-Engineer/Mix/Studio Owner: Fifth Circle Audio, Mancini Institute, Billy Childs, Bill Cunliffe, Randy Brecker, Bill Watrous, John Clayton, Christian McBride, Elmer Bernstein, Dave Grusin, Jerry Goldsmith, Eddie Daniels, Richard Stoltzman, Ernie Watts and Mark O'Connor, Indie

“ A Designs Audio’s Pacifica is a perfect “10” with Brains and Beauty!”
Ted Perlman-Producer/Engineer/Composer/Musician/Studio Owner: Burt Bacharach, Bob Dylan, Neil Sedaka, Elton John, Carole King, Dolly Parton, Indie

“ Now, my dilemma is that I want to keep the Pacifica even though I already own enough damn preamps. Should I sell one of the other ones? Damn.”
Larry Crane, Engineer/Producer/Studio Owner/Tape Op Magazine: Indie

MSRP $2195

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A-Designs Audio P-1 and EM Series Modules
Peter Montessi discussing the P-1 and EM series modules on Gearwire.com

New! EM-PEQ

A-Designs Audio is proud to present the EM-PEQ for the 500 series format.

Modeled after the classic Pultec “PEQ” the EM-PEQ is the perfect companion for all the A-Designs Audio 500 Series compatible Pre-amplifiers (such as the P-1 and EM-Red, EM-Blue, EM-Gold, and EM-Silver).
After much research and development A-Designs was able to “shrink” this much sought after filter design into the now red-hot 500 series format, without compromise in either build quality or sonics. The filter section design and control layout of the classic PEQ has been maintained. Smooth and musical. Makeup amplification is achieved through the use of A-Designs discrete class AB amplifier as used in the A-Designs Pacifica mic pre.
Fully balanced, noise free operation with modern impedance specs make for dummy proof operation and fast studio integration.
Features include Nickel core output transformer, discrete class AB amplifier (as used in the Pacifica), gold Grayhill rotary switches, Wima caps and a true hard bypass. Instead of using common off the shelf chokes, A-designs uses a custom wound tapped inductor wound to the original values.
The EM-PEQ is an approved API VPR alliance product and may also be used in Brent Averill, and A Designs Audio R52 manufactured by Avedis Audio.
A-Designs is fast becoming the leader in all things 500 series. The EM-PEQ blend of classic sound and modern function is further proof of a company on the rise, putting quality and creative design above all else.

(Photo by J Rice)

A Designs Audio is proud to introduce a new line of microphone pre-amplifiers. These Pre-amplifiers are original designs stemming from our inspiration of the “Quad Eight Sound”. Each has its own unique character. Depending on which microphone you use, you will be able to open a world of color and sound to inspire you and your recordings.

The P-1 is based on our highly successful Pacifica.

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(Photo by J Rice)

The A Designs “EM Series” is a twist on the P-1. Each color has its own sound. This was accomplished by using different custom wound output and input transformers.

The EM-Silver has a custom wound steel output transformer which will translate into a darker sound than the P-1, EM-Red, and EM-Blue. We find the EM-Silver to be a very good match with “Ribbon Microphones”. This is a good combination due to the fact that steel transformers were widely used in the early days of recording and broadcast along with ribbon microphones.
It depends on which ribbon you have or use which will determine the sound/color/flavor you will receive. With today’s influx of ribbon microphones there is a wide choice of character range available for you to determine which tone you are looking for or need.
Another feature of the EM-Silver is a “DI” (direct inject) for use with electric instruments. We find that this is a great pre for Bass Guitar and Keyboards. Also, you may like to try the EM-Silver (depending on microphone) for your “kick” when recording drums! This is a very versatile tool for any recording situation.

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The EM-Blue is equipped with a “Nickel” custom wound output transformer. This translates into “Highs” which will produce a much more airy top-end-ish tone. Used with a “dark” sounding microphone or a alto vocalist it can produce a “heavenly” sound.

You will also find this pre useful for recording a snare drum for a “crisp crack” sound. And if you use the DI Feature you just might want to hear what an electric guitar sounds like going thru the nickel transformers.

As with all the A Designs Audio modules, there is a -20dB PAD Switch. So, to get down and dirty with an electric guitar you will want to pad your input and crank the gain for a slight growl.

(Photo by J Rice)

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The EM-Red comes with a 50/50 output transformer. A Designs Audio added a little kick to this one by changing the “Input Transformer,” as well. The results translates into more “Up Front Mids”! You may find this very useful when recording acoustic guitar with a condenser microphone.

As with all the A Designs Audio modules, there is a 48v Phantom Power Switch. With all the new condenser microphones on the market in a very wide price range, the engineer or musician now has limitless possibilities to choose from in their endless search for their “perfect sound.” You may also like to use the EM-Red for recording Toms, both rack and floor.

(Photo by J Rice)

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Designed to bring more 'mids' to the lower end of the sonic spectrum, the EM-Gold combines the output transformer of the EM-Silver (custom all-steel winding) and the input transformer of the EM-Red (custom winding with different ratio input/output). Particularly well-suited for drum recording--especially capturing floor toms--the new preamp also excels on various guitar, bass and vocal tracks.

According to A-Designs Audio's Peter Montessi, "The EM-Gold was not designed to replace the EM-Red or EM-Silver but to complement the other modules and further expand the sonic palette with its own unique frequencies. In fact, the whole range of these new modules is particularly nice for recording drums--the P-1 is excellent for overhead duties, EM-Blue for snare, EM-Silver for kick, EM-Red for rack-mounted toms, and, now, EM-Gold for capturing that perfect floor tom sound."

Montessi is quick to point out, however, that the EM-Gold and other new mic pres are not exclusively for drums. "The EM-Gold might be the perfect sound for a screaming electric guitar solo or solid bass track," he says, "or perhaps the right tool for a great vocal recording. By applying different microphones to the equation, each preamplifier will obviously produce different tonal characteristics. And by exploring various mics with these pres, engineers will no doubt have a veritable cornucopia of 'colors' to pick from."

All of the A Designs Audio module pres have the following features:

1.      -20dB Pad
2.      Phase
3.      48v Phantom
4.      Cast aluminum knob
5.      Thumb Screws (for easy install and un-install)
6.      Solid construction
7.      Custom Wound Transformers (input and output)
8.      Original Design (no CLONES)
9.      Red LED indicator for Phantom power

When developing our product(s) A Designs Audio feels the need to place units into the hands of both the professional and the average end user. In doing so, we have learned from their experiences and they have passed valuable information on to us. This helps us to produce a product with pride of craftsmanship and knowing we helped, in some way, to continue to inspire the art of creating and recording. So, no matter what your needs are for recording the perfect sound, A Designs Audio can help you by providing a solid tool to contribute to the job.

MSRP: $895

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Need a rack? We have that too!

500HR dual rack

MSRP $335
A-Designs Audio announces the availability of its 500HR, a single-rack-space, dual-slot power supply designed to accommodate two processing modules conforming to the API™ 500 Series format, including A-Designs Audio’s own popular P-1 and EM-Series microphone preamps and new EM-PEQ equalizer.

"With more and more engineers tracking and mixing in smaller home and project studios, as well as taking ‘their sound’ from one studio to another, the demand for gear that is compact, easily portable, flexible and economically priced is higher than ever,” says Peter Montessi. “Our 500HR, which weighs only six pounds when empty and features a street price of less than $300, nicely fits the bill by allowing engineers to create a very portable yet versatile channel strip (mic preamp plus EQ) or stereo mic preamp by simply swapping out modules for different recording situations.”

Sporting a cream-colored faceplate, the 500HR is housed in an all-metal chassis for maximum durability. Both a rocker-style on/off switch and 48V phantom power LED can be found on the right side of the front panel, while the rear panel features two sets of XLR ins and outs in addition to a standard IEC power connector for the unit’s robust power supply.

Montessi further points out that the potential applications for the product are practically limitless. “While the 500HR was under development, all sorts of other uses for it came to mind,” he adds. “For example, when combined with an A/D converter, the device can make an excellent choice for mobile recordings for broadcast. Also, with so many people doing voiceovers for TV and film, plus vocal production work for audio books and radio, the 500HR combined with the right modules and a laptop is again a perfect solution for those markets as well. And, of course, many discerning live sound engineers will be pleased to see that they can now put a pair of studio-grade processing modules into a 1U rack.”

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A Designs MP-1A MIC PRE

A Designs brings you a true tube in, tube out, mono version of the MP-2A stereo mic-pre.

Features include a world-class Jensen input transformer coupled with a custom wound output transformer, delivering the lowest noise and top quality sound that you would demand from a high-end, high-priced mic-pre.

Additional features in the new MPA line include two "tone" switches, giving you four unique tone signatures. It also includes a balanced XLR connector with a 1/4 inch input, and a true VU meter, along with phantom and phase switches.

Experience the rich, full spectrum of sound that the MP-1A delivers to live performances and recordings.

The MP-1A is the perfect match for today’s demanding artists on a budget.

MSRP $1825

Click here for a Review of the A Designs MP-1

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A Designs MP-2A MIC PRE

The MP-2A is a true tube-in, tube-out stereo microphone pre-amplifier.

Utilizing world class input transformers by Jensen and custom designed output transformers for the lowest noise level and highest quality sound, the MP-2A will bring the warmth and richness of analog to your recordings while maintaining a crystal clear spectrum of sound.
Additional features of the MP-2A include two "tone" switches on each channel-- giving you a pallette of four unique sonic flavors per channel-- as well as phase and phantom switches, balanced XLR or 1/4" inputs, and true VU meters.The MP-2A is a true Pro Audio Mic-pre available at a very affordable price.

MSRP $2695

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A-Designs ATTY

Cut sheet

The ATTY is one of the most useful tools you didn’t know you needed. It is a no-noise, passive, compact device that can be connected to any audio system requiring output gain control. It is a stereo attenuator for any +4 line level sources and has ¼”/XLR combo jack inputs and ¼”TRS/XLR outputs. It has a rotary level control and a mute switch. Hook it up to your powered monitors for quick and easy level control or muting!

Some other uses include:
Line level control for your guitar, bass or keyboard via the amp’s extension speaker without clipping your A/D converter,
Line level control for a Mic-pre to your A/D converter,
Line level control from a power amp to any speaker in a series,
Line level control for your powered monitors.
Use multiple units for independent stereo control to powered speakers.

MSRP $125

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