A-Designs MP-2A - Manual (Page 8)

8 | Stereo Tube Mic Pre, MP-2A ™ Owner’s Manual
Applications
ALWAYS USE GOOD COMMON SENSE WHEN OPERATING ANY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE
DOING ANYTHING!!!!!
A good, quality microphone preamp will add a full, warm sound to any type of recording or live performance.
Generally, we begin by setting our input signal to unity, then concentrate on other devices such as compressors or effects
for modifying the sound. But, this does not always have to be the case.
You will notice this unit is not cluttered with bells and whistles. Less is more. The MP-2A was designed for simplicity.
This has not restricted the sound, but enhanced it. This unit was designed to free your imagination to create music with
unencumbered tonal qualities.
Mic-pre settings, as a rule, begin with gain structure, unity or 0db. Although this seems a great place to start, this may not
always have the best application for your particular project. Try, what we call, “driving the tubes” on the MP-2A, instead
of introducing effects into a chain. Simply stated, try sending the input signal well into the red. Many producers and
engineers use this technique for bass guitars in rock/pop songs, and more recently, vocals in chorus.
Another technique audio engineers use, when recording an instrument in stereo, is to run one side in-phase and the other
side out-of-phase. This trick tends to deceive the stereo image and also defuses bass boom by canceling out frequencies.
It may sound unusual, but surprisingly, there are large numbers of published Audio CD’s where this technique has been
employed to improve the overall sound.
Apart from creating special effects, the MP-2A can be used to fix problematic recordings. An example of this would be
a drum track that has gone out-of-phase.
Try the following:
(1) Send the individual tracks to the MP-2A.
(2) Change the phase switch on one of the tracks. (3) Compare this with the bass response.
You will then be able to determine which tracks are in-phase and out-of-phase. This allows you to hear how much of the
sound you are missing.
Above all, it is important to experiment. Do not to leave the controls “set in stone.” Most professional audio engineers and
producers modify the mic-pre controls first, before moving on to a secondary unit.
NOTE: If you have a trick or tip that you would like to share with us, contact A Designs Audio, Inc. through our website or
mail us at:
A Designs Audio, Inc.
Attention: Applications
P.O. Box 4255
West Hills, CA 91304.
We will publish it on our website with your name, if you choose.