AEA RPQ500

A 500 Series Preamp Optimized for Ribbons

Do you use a ribbon microphone? Plug it into AEA's RPQ500 microphone preamp module and get the most out of it! This 500 Series module provides 81dB of clean gain for ribbon mics, while a variable low-cut filter tames proximity effect. Dial in the exact amount of air you want with AEA's CurveShaper EQ for the detailed sonic edge you've been missing on your vocals. The RPQ500 gives you the tools to do all that, and more. You can even switch to line-level input mode and turn the RPQ500 into a very useful processor during mixdown! With its high-grade JFET circuitry, wide dynamic range, and rugged build quality, the AEA RPQ500 is quite an impressive mic preamp.

AEA RPQ500 Preamp Module at a Glance:

• Ribbon mics love it
• The control you need
• Incredible mic preamp and studio processor

Ribbon mics love it

You need plenty of gain to make that ribbon mic perform. Plenty of headroom too. That's what AEA's RPQ500 brings to the table - and much more. This beautifully simple 500 Series module gives you 81dB of gain, and its NoLoad input impedance means the RPQ500 won't change your mic's sound. When you're capturing vocals or instruments in the studio with a ribbon mic, you're looking for the most natural-sounding results you can get. This preamp module will help you get there.

The control you need

Here at Sweetwater, we love AEA products - not just because they're so well built and sound great. We also love the way the folks at AEA build their products with real-world studio users in mind. The RPQ500 preamp module is a perfect example. In addition to its gain and level controls, this easy-to-use 500 Series module features low- and high-frequency contour controls, so you can tame that low-end proximity effect or add a touch of air to the high end. Buttons make it easy to engage and disengage these controls, so you're in complete command. AEA's CurveShaper function is invaluable to ribbon mic users (and condenser users too).

Incredible mic preamp and studio processor

After hearing that several users were implementing their RPQ preamps into the signal chain during mixdown (those EQ controls certainly are amazing), AEA added a very handy line-level input mode to the RPQ500 module. This functionality lets you switch to line level and use the preamp's EQ controls for signal processing during mixdowns and even mastering.

AEA RPQ500 Preamp Module Features:

• Plenty of headroom and gain
• Perfect preamp for ribbon microphones
• Switchable phantom power, polarity, and mic/line mode, each with LED indicators
• High-impedance circuitry brings out your mic's full clarity
• CurveShaper EQ adds presence and air to your signal
• Highpass filter lets you control proximity effect
• Use it as a post-processing tool in line mode for running mixes and masters through