Safe Sound Audio Releasing "Channel Strip" 500 Series Preamp / Compressor / Limiter

[warhead]

Safe Sound Audio (UK) first gained respect with the Model P1 channel strip, a "do all" recording channel that does many things well, but with a key focus on vocals. In my experience, you just can't mess up a vocal take with a P1. It holds things in place very nicely with a 'finished' sound that delivers the original tone and bandwidth of the source, just in a reduced dynamic range. In other words, it's remarkably clean but effective and doesn't make things sound small after even heavy amounts of compression and limiting. It is equally as wow while tracking bass for the same reasons, great control but doesn't squash the tone. 90% of the time the two things I compress while tracking a band are bass and vocals, hence my love for the P1.

Introducing the P501 / 500 series Channel Strip!

Visit Safe Sound Audio's Website for Details

The first production run is nearing completion on the 500 format series version, aptly named the "P501" (P1 + 500). The P501 is designed and built in the UK by Robert Campbell (former designer for Neve and Calrec).

The P501 features the same clean sound and control of the P1, and features never before included on a single 500 series format device. It is not just a phantom powered pre, or DI, or line level device, it's also a compressor and limiter with full metering on board for input and gain reduction. The P501 still only takes up a single space and is logically laid out.

Features

• Mic Preamp (with phantom and +72dB of clean gain)
• DI (jack and select switch on face of unit)
• Line Level (balanced, uses same 1/4" jack on face)
• Hi Pass Filter (80hZ @ 18dB per octave slope)
• 'Peakride' Compression (same as P1, multi side chain and smooth)
• Ratio = 1:1 to Infinity:1
• Attack = 1ms to 60ms
• Release = variable from 90ms to 500ms (tracks the natural audio decay)
• Limiter (set at 0dB and placed before the makeup gain)
• Auto Makeup Gain (when adjusting comp threshold, same as P1)
• + / - 15dB additional makeup gain

Benefits

• Mic pre / DI / Line Level all in one
• Extremely easy setup, not a tweaky compressor
• Vocal and bass guitar tracking are controlled, clean and big
• Limiter can be selected separately for more control options
• Prevent digital overload of your a/d converters
• Patch it in during mixdown with available 1/4" balanced input select
• Ready to fill an empty 500 slot near you

P501 User Maual Online

Safe Sound Audio is imported by ZenPro Audio in the North American market, and enjoys distribution worldwide. See -= Safe Sound Audio =- for ordering information. ZenPro Audio is taking pre-orders, pricing is $699 in North America and will ship soon. For more information email me via my signature link. - Warren

[chickencoop]

awesome! i'd love to see a cheaper version w/o the pre/di.

[Koed]

I second that. Looks great, but I'd love one without the preamp.

[futur2]

wow, great and inovative stuff for the 500 series!

[Coyoteous]

Can I get one of these without the DI, pre or comp... maybe just the HP filter?

Seriously, this is very cool... I like it!

[warhead]

It's a channel strip, always has been.

To my knowledge, it's the first full channel strip for the 500 series.

Deleting the preamp would be very little savings actually, considering it really is a very decent preamp, just call it a bonus...or just run it line level...!

Everything the P1 (and now the P501) does is clean, from the pre / DI to the compressor / limiter.

War

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

The expander is the best thing abt the P1.. seriously great for keeping leakage out of snares!

Wiggy

[Tom H]

Nice one!

Dig the fact that you can go line in on the trs on the front, makes sense in my setup. I am in the UK this July, very tempted to pick one up...

[Koed]

Originally Posted by warhead

It's a channel strip, always has been.

To my knowledge, it's the first full channel strip for the 500 series.

Deleting the preamp would be very little savings actually, considering it really is a very decent preamp, just call it a bonus...or just run it line level...!

War

Good point Warren. I guess you can never have too many preamps.
Any chance the P1 will be updated to the new look soon?

[Stepwise Sound]

wow warren,

very very cool -- IMHO this will really shake up the whole 500 format game -- man a channel strip for $700!

I recently convinced one of my clients to buy a P1 from you -- think he snagged one of the last two units before the dollars / pounds price hike

He loves it by the way -- I mean what a step up from the Digi preamps! Of course you get the headphone monitoring on P1 -- goodbye software monitoring latency

[Trp]

I don´t get this 500 series hype!

So now you can get the P1 minus the expander minus the power supply minus the headphone monitoring for about the same price? What are you raving about?

Same thing about API: Buying 4 API 512c in a free lunch box and adding two API 550b will be more expensive than buying a 3124+ and a 5500 - at least over here in Europe. And the 5500 is much more versatile than two 550bs.

I can see the the diversity argument pro 500 series (if having only one of each is your goal), but the P1 is a single channel unit already.

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by Trp

So now you can get the P1 minus the expander minus the power supply minus the headphone monitoring for about the same price?

True, the 500 version also misses the insert point. But all these things missing are really not an isue for me since they are all broadly covered in my place.

What I do have is empty spots in my lunchbox. So the P501 is actually a really good deal for me, cheaper than the P1 and I love the way it's layed out compared to the original!

But yeah, it certainly shows what a great product the original P1 is.

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by Trp

I don´t get this 500 series hype!

So now you can get the P1 minus the expander minus the power supply minus the headphone monitoring for about the same price? What are you raving about?

Same thing about API: Buying 4 API 512c in a free lunch box and adding two API 550b will be more expensive than buying a 3124+ and a 5500 - at least over here in Europe. And the 5500 is much more versatile than two 550bs.

I can see the the diversity argument pro 500 series (if having only one of each is your goal), but the P1 is a single channel unit already.

limited space, remote... you can fill up to 10 preamps, comps into a 500 API rack.

[Trp]

Originally Posted by George Necola

limited space, remote... you can fill up to 10 preamps, comps into a 500 API rack.

I am totally into saving space (the only fact I don´t like about my CL1b is that it´s 3U for a mono comp), but two 3124+ and a 1073 dpa would end up being 1000 euros cheaper than a API 500 rack with ten 512s and two MA 5s... same form factor (3U) and probably lighter to carry around for remote.

8 channels API in two 3124+ and four channels of portico 5043 compression would also make up a 3U rack etc.etc.

Having six different pres and 4 different channels of comps is not my thing. Maybe 500 series is just not for me...

[warhead]

For remote recording, the clean preamp + the clean compression and limiting = great for your 500 rack. Location guys will be very happy at least having the choice to access a pre (or line level from another pre) while on the road.

Voice over guys with 500 power supplies, another huge group of users that would absolutely dig both options but if anything, for the clean dynamics control.

The P1 is a different product, the P501 borrows the essential and most used features of the P1 and fits it nicely into a 500 rack.

Koed, I don't know if the P1 will enter into the cream colored arena anytime real soon but it's certainly not out of the question.

Stepwise Sound, thanks for the referral!

War

[Mr Funk]

I hope Safe Sound makes some Eq units. I have suggested it to them and they say it's on the list, but not top of it!

I'm hoping they could make the first 'affordable' EQ's that sound good.

[lozion]

Originally Posted by Mr Funk

I hope Safe Sound makes some Eq units. I have suggested it to them and they say it's on the list, but not top of it!

I'm hoping they could make the first 'affordable' EQ's that sound good.

Dig ya sig, ya dig?

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Mr Funk

I hope Safe Sound makes some Eq units. I have suggested it to them and they say it's on the list, but not top of it!

I'm hoping they could make the first 'affordable' EQ's that sound good.

I think eventually Robert will work on an EQ.

War

[warhead]

***Units begin shipping from ZenPro Audio end of this week***

They are on the water.

War

[warhead]

The P501 is now in stock and shipping.

War

[warhead]

The Safe Sound Audio P501 is now "VPR Alliance" approved and will be listed on the official API VPR web page shortly...!!!

War

[pan60]

Originally Posted by warhead

The Safe Sound Audio P501 is now "VPR Alliance" approved and will be listed on the official API VPR web page shortly...!!!

War

[frontierfran]

Hi Warren,

what would you think about using a pair of these for makeup gain/comping after summing from a Folcrom? Do you sell in matched pairs?

[warhead]

Originally Posted by frontierfran

Hi Warren,

what would you think about using a pair of these for makeup gain/comping after summing from a Folcrom? Do you sell in matched pairs?

They are not anything that needs to be matched, I have sequential # pairs in stock! Overall for makeup gain it would provide a cleaner sort of sound, this isn't a "mojo" unit if that's what you want.

War

[frontierfran]

good info, since I AM looking for a bit of mojo. Just not sure how MUCH mojo I want because I do not want to end up with a 1-trick pony. My price range is wide--as I have been looking into $500-1000 500-series amps as well as $2000+ dual systems like the TG2 and TLA Ivory stuff. I should probably focus on something...but yea, I want mojo. I'd probably fare well with the Vintech 273, but am intrigued with the color of the TG2 for the mix buss, or even the Ivory (although real world reviews have not been too kind to the TLA stuff...)

[warhead]

The Safe Sound Audio Dynamics Toolbox with Sowter transformer deserves a serious listen then...

War

[Ernest Buckley]

bumping this thread...

does anyone one have any clips of this unit besides VO.

How does it sound on singing? Guitars? Drums? etc...

Thanks,
E

[warhead]

Ernest, the P501 is basically the 500 version of the P1 model. I do have that one fully tested with audio and video in the Clipalator gear test page on my site.

When I get time I will add the P501, but since they are essentially the same I have not made specific clips yet. Sorry for that, it's a "busy one man show" thing!

I know the most significant change Robert made to the P501 is he improved the DI instrument section, with a cleaner and more robust sound vs the P1.

War