Appendix 3 - Air Information - Focusrite Red 16Line User Manual

appendix 3 – air information
Air is the name we give to the sonic signature of the classic transformer ISA Preamp. Our customers
first coined this name as a simple description of the effect the ISA preamp added to their sound
recordings. The three most significant attributes of the transformer design that create the "Air"
effect are:
• Microphone interaction, created by the unique input impedance of the transformer coupling with
the microphone output impedance.
• Clarity, created by the low distortion and high linearity of the transformer and preamp design.
• Frequency response tilt created by the transformer resonance resulting in an emphasis in the
higher frequency content of the sound.
Engaging the Air switches the impedance of the preamp, and enables the "transformer resonance
effect", giving your microphone recordings the air and clarity of an ISA transformer-based mic pre
recording.
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