Sound-Weavers welcomes Focusrite pro audio equipment family with the arrival of our very own Platinum Voicemaster Pro tube recording preamp/channel specifically for vocals but also applicable to instruments such as bass guitars. 😀 This Voicemaster  has the Analog-to-digital A/D card which allows direct 24-bit/96 Khz connection to Pro Tools (that’s as pristine as a connection can get). Focusrite’s Voicemaster is a complete recording channel with a mic and instrument inputs on the front panel, a compressor, de-esser, equalizer and a few more features that allow the recording engineer to fine tune the capture of the sound being recorded. This preamp is not only great for vocals, but also for bass guitar, electric guitar and even synthesizers – warm and fat? yeah baby!

Focusrite VoiceMaster Pro with A/D card

It ain’t no ISA 430 nor the Red series but the pedigree… and that VU meter. Sweet! 😀

Voicemaster Pro Specifications

Mic Input Response

• Gain range = 0dB to 60dB continuously variable
• Input Impedance = 1k4 Ohms from 10Hz to 200kHz
• EIN = 128dB measured at 60dB of gain with 150 Ohm terminating impedance and 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• THD at minimum gain (0dB) = .0004% measured with +16dBu input signal and with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• THD at maximum gain (60dB) = .003% measured with a –36dBu input signal and with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• THD at maximum Input level (26.5dBu) = .005% measured with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• Frequency response at minimum gain (0dB) = flat at 10Hz and –2dB down at 200kHz
• Frequency response at maximum gain (60dB) = –2dB down at 10Hz and 200kHz
• CMRR at full gain (60dB) = 80dB

Line Input Response

• Gain range = -10dB to +10dB continuously variable
• Input Impedance = 10k Ohms from 10Hz to 200kHz
• Noise at main output with gain and fader set to unity (0dB) = -94dBu measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• Signal to noise ratio relative to max headroom (27dBu) = 121dB
• Signal to noise ratio relative to 0dBfs (+22dBu) = 116dB
• THD at unity gain (0dB) = .0006% measured with 0dBFS (+22dBu)
• Input signal with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• Frequency Response at unity gain (0dB) = 0.25dB down at 10Hz and –3dB down at 200kHz

Instrument Input Response

• Gain range = 0dB to 40dB continuously variable
• Input Impedance >1MOhm
• Noise at minimum gain (0dB) = -90dBu measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• Noise at maximum gain (40dB) = -78dBu measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• THD at minimum gain (0dB) = .006% measured with –10dBu input signal and with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• Frequency Response at unity gain (0dB) = 0.5dB down at 10Hz and –1dB down at 200kHz
• Frequency Response at maximum gain (60dB) = 6dB down at 10Hz and –1dB down at 200kHz

Input Meter

6 LED meter is calibrated relative to 0dBfs where 0dBfs = +22dBu (the maximum level which can be correctly converted by the optional internal A/D converter before overload occurs). The meter calibration points are as follows:
• O/L dBFS (converter overload) = +22.4dBu (equivalent value)
• 0dBFS = +22dBu
• -3dBFS = +19dBu
• -6dBFS = +16dBu
• -10dBFS = +12dBu
• -20dBFS = +2dBu (average level to allow 20dB of headroom for EQ and Dynamics

High Pass Filter

• Roll off = 18dB per octave 3 pole filter
• Frequency Range = continuously variable from 30Hz to 400Hz measured at the 3dB down point

Optical Expander

• Threshold hold range = -20dBFS (0dBu) to –60dBFS (-40dBu)
• Expander ratio = 2:1
• Attack time = 750us
• Release time = 0.25s to 4s
• Noise with maximum expansion = -96dBu measured with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• Signal to noise ratio relative to max headroom (27dBu) = 123dB
• Signal to noise ratio relative to 0dBfs (+22dBu) = 118dB
• 6 LED meter shows downward expansion calibrated in dB increments

Vintage Harmonics

• Threshold range = -10dBFS (+12dBu) to –40dBFS (-18dBu)
• Compression ratio Depth switch out = 1:1.5
• Compression ratio Depth switch in = 1:3
• Mid band centre frequency = 3.5kHz
• High band centre frequency = 20kHz
• Band Q = 0.2
• 6 LED meters show the amount of boost at the centre frequency of the band, meter calibrated in dB increments

Optical Compressor

• Threshold hold range = -15dBFS (7dBu) to –40dBFS (-18dBu)
• Compressor ratio Hard Ratio switch out = 2.5:1
• Compressor ratio Hard Ratio switch in = 6:1
• Attack time Slow Attack switch out = 0.5ms
• Attack time Slow Attack switch in = 5ms
• Release time = 100ms to 1s and then auto release mode when the release knob is turned fully clockwise. Auto release creates a release time dependent upon the average level of the incoming signal
• Noise = -94dBu measured with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter
• Makeup gain = 0 to +18dB

Tube Sound

• Harmonic generation = 2nd, 3rd and 5th harmonics generated from fundamental frequency of the incoming signal relative to position of the Drive knob
• THD with Drive knob at cool = 0.6% with a –10dBFS (+12dBu) 1kHz input signal measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• THD with Drive knob at warm = 6% with a –10dBFS (+12dBu) 1kHz input signal measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter
• The effect can be monitored visually using the drive led as follows: Blue to Green = Mostly 2nd with some 3rd, Yellow to Orange = More 3rd and 5th, Orange to Red = Large amounts of all harmonics above the fundamental frequency
• Tone = 6dB per octave roll off low pass filter
• Tone frequency Range = continuously variable from 4.5kHz to 30kHz measured at the 3dB down point

Voice Optimised EQ

Breath

• EQ shape = Shelving
• Peak frequency Shift switch out = 10kHz
• Peak frequency Shift switch in = 16kHz
• Gain range = +/-8dB

Mid

• EQ shape = Peak
• Centre frequency = 1.3kHz
• Q in boost mode = 0.5
• Q in cut mode = 2
• Gain range = +8 to -12dB

Absence

• EQ shape = Peak
• Centre frequency = 3.9kHz
• Q = 3.5
• Gain range = 0dB to -10dB

Warmth

• EQ shape = Peak
• Centre frequency range = 120Hz to 600Hz
• Q in boost mode = 0.5
• Q in cut mode = 2
• Gain range = +8 to -12dB

De-esser

• Threshold hold range = -10dBFS (+12dBu) to –40dBFS (-18dBu)
• De-esser ratio at centre frequency = 2:1
• Centre frequency range = 2.2kHz to 10kHz
• Q of cut = 3.5
• Attack time = 0.5ms
• Release time = 100ms
• Noise = -94dBu measured with a 20Hz/22KHz bandpass filter

Output Meter

• Calibrated for 0dBFS = +22dBu and indicates the level after the output fader being sent to both the internal AD converter and the VoiceMaster Pro XLR output
• O/L LED = is lit when any section of the unit (including the cans output) reaches a level greater than 0dBFS (actual level is +22.4dBu)

Tags: Focusrite Voicemaster, Mic Preamp, tube recording channel