The Ocean Audio 500 Mic Pre 500-Series Microphone Preamp is a microphone preamp module designed for the 500-series by Malcolm Toft. It features phantom power, phase reverse, and 60dB of gain (with the ability to go to -10 without a PAD). It also has a switchable, swept high pass filter is provided which can be very useful for reducing or eliminating low frequency rumble which can be transmitted from the floor through to the microphone, and well as a Hi-Z/Line input with 36dB of gain.
Ocean Audio products are designed by the distinguished pro-audio designer, Malcolm Toft.Malcolm joined Trident Studios in 1968 as it's first recording engineer. At that time it was the only studio in Europe to have 8 track recording facilities. It soon gained a worldwide reputation for the quality of it's equipment and engineers.Malcolm worked with Tony Visconti on three Tyrannosaurus Rex albums (the band later became T-Rex). He also engineered David Bowie's "Space Oddity" album and James Taylor's first album. He was also a mixing engineer on the Beatles biggest selling single "Hey Jude" which was recorded at Trident.
In 1971 Malcolm became manager of the studios and was tasked with finding a new 24 track console for the studios. It soon became apparent to him that they could not get a console to the specifications and facilities that they required from any of the manufacturers around at that time. So Malcolm convinced the studio owners that they could build their own console. Consequently, In conjunction with the studio's maintenance engineer Barry Porter, he designed the Trident A Range console as it became known.
This led to the birth of Trident Audio Developments which Malcolm ran until 1988 when he sold it to a public company. In 1992 he was asked to design a replacement for the Trident Series 80 console which the new owners were no longer manufacturing. This Malcolm did and he started a new company Malcolm Toft Associates Ltd (MTA). Clients for MTA consoles include Radiohead and The Liverpool Institute of performing arts. Latterly he has designed the highly successful Toft ATB console range for PMI Audio.
Ocean Audio 500 Mic Pre 500-Series Microphone Preamp Features- Mic / Line Preamp module for the 500 Series
- Transformer In & Out
- Gain Range from -10 dB to 60 dB
- Separate Hi-Z input with gain control (on front panel)
- 30 to 300 Hz sweep hi-pass filter
- Phantom Power switch
- Phase Reverse switch
Ocean Audio 500 Mic Pre 500-Series Microphone Preamp Specifications- Mic Input Impedance: 1.2Kohms transformer balanced.
- Hi-Z/Line input impedance: 1M ohm unbalanced
- Output Impedance: 600 ohms transformer balanced.
- Maximum output: > +21dbm.
- Distortion (mic): < 0.1% at +20dbm 1kHz.
- Frequency response: ± 1db 20Hz to 20kHz.
- Noise (mic): > -126dbm E.I.N. 20Hz to 20kHz
- Power requirements: ± 16V D.C. 30mA approx.
