Audio Engineering Associates RP48Q Operating Manual

Ribbon preamp with curve shaping

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AEA RP

Introduction

The AEA RP

Q Ribbon Preamp with Curve Shaping provides two channels of high-quality, high-gain,

low-noise microphone preampliﬁcation. Particularly well suited for use with ribbon microphones, it

delivers the speed, precision, quietness, and headroom needed for today's high resolution recordings.

The JFET circuitry design generates up to 80 dB of clean and quiet gain, with extended bandwidth

from below 1 Hz to beyond 200 kHz, for dynamic range and transient response that complements all of

your microphones.

Unique to the RP

Q, the separate microphone inputs offer you the choice of either DC coupling, for

microphones that neither want nor need phantom power (such as ribbon, moving-coil, or self-powered

condenser microphones) or AC coupling with switchable full-spec P48 phantom power, for phantom

powered condenser or ribbon microphones.

Bypassable Curve-Shapers—low frequency trim and high frequency boost circuits, both with variable

break frequency selection—provide full and intuitive control. These ﬁlters enable you to minimize

proximity effect or low-frequency environmental noise without compromising the bass content of the

program and/or add just the right amount of high-frequency presence boost or "air" at the top.

To complete the system in this rugged 1 RU package, the RP

LED level indicators for each channel as well as balanced outputs capable of driving +28 dBu into

600Ω and unbalanced outputs capable of driving +22 dBu into 100 kΩ loads. The recommended load

for the unbalanced output is > 10 kΩ. All outputs may be used simultaneously. The unit is factory-

wired for either 120 VAC or 240 VAC operation.

The Front Panel

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• STUDIO RIBBON MICS

• MIC POSITIONERS

• TALL STANDS

• ACCESSORIES

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Fax: (626) 798-2378

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Summary of Contents for Audio Engineering Associates RP48Q

Page 1: The Front Panel
udio ngineering • STUDIO RIBBON MICS • MIC POSITIONERS • TALL STANDS Associates • ACCESSORIES AEA RP Q Ribbon Preamp with Curve Shaping Operating Manual © February 2009 Introduction The AEA RP Q Ribbon Preamp with Curve Shaping provides two channels of high-quality, high-gain, low-noise microphone preampliﬁcation.
Page 2: The Back Panel
1 – Phantom Power switch: OUT is off; IN applies full-spec P48 phantom power to the AC-coupled input (see #17 on Back Panel): 48 VDC / 10 mA per channel under any load condition. 2 – Polarity Invert switch: OUT is normal; IN is inverted. 3 –...
Page 3: Initial Setup
13 – Operating Voltage Checkmark: indicates the internal factory wiring for the operating voltage, 120 VAC or 240 VAC. 14 – ¼” TRS jack Unbalanced Output: provides maximum output of +22 dBu; 100 kΩ load. The recommended load is > 10 kΩ. 15 –...
Page 4: Input Connections
Input Gain Output Gain Curve Shaper �� Peak Level LEDs +8 dB � � �� Red snaps on at +20 dBu Boost +7 dB Yellow brightens from 0 to +20 dBu Phantom Green snaps on at -5 dBu High Boost Balanced XLR Out (Pin 2 High)
Page 5: Output Connections
signals at line-level back to the control room. To prevent damaging the equipment in your system, it is a good idea to test your microphone cables regularly to determine whether they have any open, shorted, reversed, or intermittent connections. fective cables can cause absence of signal which, as Richard Heyser once commented, is 100% distor- tion.
Page 6: Setting The Gain
Setting the Gain As with any piece of audio equipment, setting and maintaining proper signal levels are critical to obtaining optimum performance: if the level is too low, you sacriﬁce noise performance; if too high, you risk overload distortion. The AEA RP Q provides an easy method for setting and monitoring the system gain.
Page 7 Figure 4: Response of LF Filter LF ﬁlters tame proximity effect and reduce other unwanted low-frequency noise, such as air-condition- ing rumble, trafﬁc noise, “P-pops” and breath-noise noise. However, a ﬁxed-frequency, constant slope low-cut ﬁlter cannot handle all situations effectively. The RP Q offers a ﬂexible LF ﬁlter that can be tailored to satisfy the varying and critical demands of both speech and music.
Page 8: Specifications
Figure 5: Response of Curve-Shaper . Red curves show HF Gain at half-boost, blue curves HF Gain at full-boost. gain setting you achieve satisfactory results. Be careful when you add HF gain because this also affects the overall gain structure of the preampliﬁer and could introduce overload distortion.
Page 9: Warranty
Speciﬁcations and details subject to change without notice. WARRANTY Audio Engineering Associates warrants the AEA RP Q against defects in materials or workmanship for one (1) year from the date of purchase. For repairs to units exhibiting abnormal physical damage or that are out-of-warranty, AEA will provide a repair estimate and will not proceed with service without the customer’s authorization.
Page 10 Other Products by Audio Engineering Associates: A440 The ﬁrst active 44-style microphone. Finally, the warm sound you love combined with the sig- nal strength of a powered mic. TRP High-Gain 2-channel half rack unit optimized for passive ribbon microphones RCA Working Reproduction Microphones and replacement parts...