Details about  Focusrite Red 3 Red3 Dual Compressor / Limiter *Rare*

Overview

Key Features

 

• Hand-made in the UK
  Crafted to the highest standards, all the Red Processors are manufactured solely in the UK using machine-tooled, half-inch thick claret red anodised aluminium.
• Classic VCA-based Dynamics
  Fully discrete and balanced, offering superb low noise and distortion, and excellent common-mode rejection.
• Stereo switch
  For true stereo operation from a single set of controls
• Precision VU metering
  An easily-read illuminated porthole window VU shows signal level or gain change (switched)
• Key inputs
  Available independently on each channel via firm-response Illuminated push-button switches

Weight
 7.3kg
 16.1Ibs

Dimensions
484mm (W) x 85mm (H) x 266mm (D)
19" (W) x 3.5" (H) x 10.5" (D)
2U rackmount

The Red range was launched in 1992. The modules are all hand-built and use the same circuit topology as the console and the ISA modules but with improved electronic performance, mechanical integrity and control layout. With the growing trend towards project studios and the explosion in modular digital multitracks, the emphasis of Focusrite's business turned towards the growing demand for analogue direct recording modules and in 1994 and 1995 the Red range expanded to 8 modules:

- Red 1 Quad Mic Pre
- Red 2 Dual Equalizer
- Red 3 Dual Compressor/Limiter
- Red 4 Preamplifier (no longer in production)
- Red 5 Power Amplifier (no longer in production)
- Red 6 Mono Mic-pre & Equalizer
- Red 7 Mono Mic-pre & Dynamics
- Red 8 Stereo Mic Pre

The success of the range was confirmed at the 99th AES convention when the Red 3 Compressor won a TEC award for outstanding signal processing. This was reconfirmed at the 101st convention when the Red 7 won a TEC award in a new category for outstanding Mic Preamplifier technology.

The Focusrite Red Range is hand-made, crafted to the highest standards. All the Red Processors are manufactured solely in the UK using machine-tooled, half-inch thick claret red anodised aluminium. The chassis features recessed section grooves and styling motifs, (sculpted with diamond-tip cutters,) porthole windows, anoprinted silver control text, and firm-response illuminated switches.

All potentiometers are manufactured to Focusrite's own specification by French company (Sfernice), and are made from conductive plastic which gives more sensitivity and no mechanical resistance (easy to make very fine adjustments).

All Red products feature sealed relays, (gold-plated silver in an inert gas), situated in the middle of the circuits in which they switch. The precious metals mean that all contacts are low resistance, and the gas prevents any kind of corrosion of the surface of the contacts, meaning the most perfect audio switching device ever designed - utterly passive, zero distortion caused and no FETs required.

Red Range processors with mic pre's feature solid-state-amplified audio transformers, which help to give the characteristic "warm, organic sound" loved by studios world-wide. Transformers are the only way of giving a truly floating and earth-free system, because there's no galvanic connection between the input and output circuitry.

Transformers are not new in audio; they were there at the outset, but whilst others were trying to design them out to cut costs, Focusrite went after the best transformer possible, a philosophy which resulted in the transformers you find in the Red series today. Low frequency second order distortion created by transformer saturation provides the character that many perceive as "warmth". Meanwhile, a high frequency emphasis generated by the reactance of the coil resonance with the terminating impedance of the microphone or receiving device, provides the engineer with open, spacious high frequencies. The Red Range mic transformer in particular gets its legendary "transparent yet warm" label from this process, an apparent contradiction in terms, yet a genuine characteristic  audition a unit and hear for yourself.