Using the same circuit topology as the original ISA microphone pre-amplifier designs, the Red 1 offers four channels of ultra-high quality Focusrite microphone amplification. Used with high quality ribbon, valve and condensor mics, the Red 1 obtains outstanding results with any sound source, but especially voice, piano and string instruments. With four mic pre-amps in a single unit, the Red 1 is ideal for those looking for improved audio performance, as a compact ‘way in’ to digital recording systems, or for location multi-mic recordings. Each channel offers custom-wound Focusrite input transformers, switchable phantom power, phase reverse, an easily-read illuminated VU meter, and a handy scribble disc for denoting channels. Mic gain is switched in 6dB steps over a 66dB range, for accurate, precise channel matching and recall.
The many benefits of the unique Focusrite mic amp topology include superb common-mode rejection, a good overload margin and, with its shared gain structure, (20dB from transformer and up to 40dB from the amplifier) a very low noise floor with the signature wide bandwidth (10Hz to 150kHz). It also maintains this level of performance with a very wide range of impedance across the inputs. In practice, this makes it what one reviewer called, “perhaps the most revealing yet forgiving mic pre-amp in history.” The output stages of both the Red 1, with its custom transformer, will easily drive very long cable runs – up to several kilometers – without significant loss of quality, making them ideal for remote recordings.