Drawmer 1962 Digital Vacuum Tube Pre-Amplifier - Manual (Page 7)

1962 OPERATORS’ MANUAL 3
APPLICATIONS
Standalone microphone preamplifiers are generally associated with direct-to-stereo
recording or with the purist recording approach by which the traditional console is bypassed
wherever possible. Though ideally suited to these applications, and to applications where
instrument level signals require to be DI'd, the 1962 is much more flexible than traditional
preamplifiers, because of its variable Tube Drive control and its versatile equaliser/enhancer
section. Because of its ability to modify and enhance the tonal quality of a signal, the 1962
is perfectly suited to stereo mix processing, subgroup processing, or to discerning mastering
operations where the digital output may be used directly to feed a digital tape or disk-based
editing machine. The subtle tube colourations add warmth, depth and transparency to a mix
while emphasising mid-range and high-frequency detail.
For high quality location recording, the 1962 makes the perfect partner for a DAT machine,
combining the functions of stereo mic preamp with the capability to output high resolution
digital data with up to 24-bit word length. The mic inputs provide up to +60dB of gain while
closely approaching the theoretical minimum noise level; the performance of the 1962 is
invariably determined by the quality of the microphones plugged into it rather than by any
inherent limitations.
As an instrument amplifier, the 1962 provides a warm-sounding tube input, making it ideal
for DI'ing guitars, basses and even keyboards. The tube gain stages are versatile enough
to provide a clean, punchy sound or the gain may be increased to provide the type of
overdrive sound associated with tube guitar amplifiers. Although the EQ facilities offered on
the 1962 are designed mainly for sweetening, they have sufficient range to be used in a
creative context when creating instrument sounds.
The limiter may be used to prevent the output level from clipping when the maximum level
of the input signal cannot be established with certainty.