Remote Controlled Preamps

Remote Controlled Preamps

Ok, so what's so special about a remote controlled preamp, over a normal one?

There are 2 benefits - sonic improvements and ease of use. This article goes through each, so you can see where the benefits lie, and why it's worth thinking about a remote controlled preamp.

Sonic Improvements

These come from 3 main sources, some obviously, others less so.

Long cables

Microphines are either powered by phantom power, an external power supply, or in the case of dynamic mics, your voice! Because mics don't have a lot of power, long lengths of cable present problems to them.  To get a fast transient, or a high frequency signal down a cable takes more power because of the cable capacitance. Cables vary in their capacitance, but the total capacitance is proportional to the length of cable used.  The effect of this capacitance is to dull the transients and high frequencies.

By placing the preamp close to the mics, you can reduce the length of cable to a mimumum, then let the high powered preamp output drive the long length of cable from it's output to the recorder.

RFI

Another factor is that any RFI in the air (and there is lots) will couple onto a cable. The longer the cable, the more it couples. Obviously if it couples onto a mic level signal, it will corrupt that signal more than a line level signal. This corruption can be an obvious breakthrough, or a less obvious hash.

Becuase a remote preamp uses shorts microphone cables, they greatly reduces the effects of this RFI noise.

Circuit layout

Less obvious is the effect of how a remote controlled preamp needs to be designed differently from a traditional preamp. 

Normally all the audio will be connected from the circuit board to the front panel controls by wire.  The front panel will be laid out for use convenience, not necessarily optimum circuit flow. This increases the length of the signal path, and also means that as the atmosphere starts to corode the switch and pot contacts, the sound will change.

With a properly designed remote controlled preamp, all of the switches are actualy on the circuit board, in exactly the right place for the audio. Being gas sealed, the switches will work for a long, long time, without any degradation.

Its a win-win situation!

Ease of use

Obviously, you could just place a normal preamp next to the mics to get 2 out of 3 of the improvements mentioned above, however the remote control bit gives you extra advantagaes when you come to using the preamps in a real situation.

Presets

Because every switch and level is remote controlled, you can save a setting and recall it instantly. Across 32 preamps, this saves masses of time and also stops mistakes. It's ideal for live recording of multiple bands, or just to be able to start a session at a known place.

Trims

You know that after the soundcheck, the performers will play slightly louder for the real performance. With the remote controller, you can just trim all the levels down by a few dB, or selectively, just on one or two channels. Without having to run up to the stage to do it.

Compact form

Our remote controllers are compact, much smaller than the front panels of 32 preamps, becuase they control one channel at a time.  This makes things much easier to setup as you never have too much space on a remote recording gig.

Safety

Because the controller is in your hands, nobody else can fiddle or accidentally adjust the settings of the preamps during the record process. You're in control!

Conclusions

All these benefits add up to make a really good case for using remote controlled preamps. Crookwood are the master of the remote preamp, having been selling them for 17 years, and with our preamps, you don't have to pay a huge excess for the remote control features.

Read the other article, to see what you're missing!