Get that classic A-Range preamp sound, in your lunchbox!
 
The input section of theTrident A-Range 500 Mic Pre consists of a very high-quality transformer-coupled discrete microphone amplifier and discrete line amplifier designed specifically for professional audio applications. The microphone transformer is custom designed to the exact original Trident A-Range specifications. All outputs of the 500 Mic Preamp run through the output transformer.

The microphone amplifier is designed to handle signal levels from –60dBu to as high as +6dBu without needing a separate pad switch. The 15-position combined mic/line gain switch is calibrated in accurate 6dB steps to provide precise matching of either microphone or line level signals. In conjunction with the ‘Output’ level control, very fine adjustment of signal level is achievable.

The preamplifier exhibits very low noise while maintaining extremely fast transient response and a frequency response that extends beyond 40kHz. Naturally, best results are achieved when using a high-quality condenser microphone. The microphone amplifier will also bring out the best in dynamic and ribbon microphones.

The front panel XLR is paralleled to the rear connector XLR input, providing the option of either microphone input through a lunchbox power supply such as a Trident Decadent or directly via the mic pre front panel.

When connecting a microphone to the Mic Preamp, set the ‘Input Level’ rotary switch to its minimum (‘+6’) position and the ‘Output’ level control to its ‘0’ position. The ‘Mic / Line’ switch should not be depressed. If required, engage the ‘+48V’ phantom power switch while the ‘Input Level’ control is at minimum. The associated LED will show that phantom power is present. Allow up to 30 seconds for the microphone to reach normal operating level and advance the ‘Input Level’ control until a suitable level is achieved at the output of the unit. The ‘Sig’ LED signal indicator at the output stage of the circuit is designed to illuminate red when a signal level of +17dBu occurs at either the input or output stage (4dB before actual internal signal clipping), this will otherwise illuminate a varying intensity green when a signal is present. This provides plenty of overload margin as the A-Range® is capable of very high output levels (up to +22dBu) into a balanced load. However, by setting the level as described above, adequate headroom is maintained and there should be no danger of overloading following equipment.
 
The History Of The A-Range
Trident Recording Studio’s started operations back in the 1960’s as a recording studio. Many things came out of the Recording Studio that led to what Trident Audio Developments is today.

Trident Recording Studios recorded legendary bands like David Bowie, The Beatles, James Taylor, Queen, Supertramp, Mott The Hoople, Bad Company, Free, Rush, Elton John, Manfred Mann, T-Rex and so many more. These recordings were done by incredible recording engineers like Roy Thomas Baker, Ken Scott, Tony Platt, Tony Visconti, Adam Moseley, Dave Hentschel, and many others. Trident Studios was the place known by the most famous bands as the place to record in London.

Trident studios were the first studio to acquire the first ever 8 Track from Ampex. No one in London had an 8 Track…not even EMI. When Trident got its first 16 track recorder, they decided to buy a new recording console but simply could not find any commercially available console to do 16 track recording with the feature set they needed. It was decided by the powers to be at Trident that between the recording engineers, and the technical staff under the direction of Barry Porter, Trident would attempt to build their own custom console.

The first console was designed purely for Trident Studios and was designated the ‘A’ Series. It was hand built to the need of the facilities and designed to be ergonomic. In those days, the integrated circuit (I.C.) had not been invented, so all the circuits used individual transistors (known as discrete design). This and the use of inductors in the lower and upper mid equaliser sections are said to account for much of the unique sound of the ‘A’ Series. From this first successful design was borne Trident Audio Developments Ltd, which went on to become a leading manufacturer of music recording consoles. One of the company’s earliest advertising slogans was ‘designed by recording engineers for recording engineers’.

The “A” Series eventually led to the development of the “A“ Range Console, which became the console everyone wanted to work and record on. The “A“ Range was quickly labelled as the best sounding console ever. It should be noted, a large part of this sound, along with the legendary sounding EQ was the unique warm sound of the A-Range’s all discreate microphone preamplifiers.

There were only thirteen A Range consoles ever built back in the 1970’s, and almost all of them have been rebuilt and are still in use today, despite being nearly forty years old. This says a lot about the heritage of these iconic items of recording equipment and the artists that have used them.