Focusrite RED 3

The Red 3 employs an unusual and original single-VCA design to achieve high quality and truly independent compression and limiting, without the compromise and unnecessary processing involved in traditional designs. The success of the design is attested to by the Red 3’s TEC award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Signal Processing Technology category.

The VCA used is a proprietary Focusrite design, fully discrete and balanced, offering superb low noise and distortion, and excellent common-mode rejection. In order to separate compression and limiting, the side-chain electronics contain three VCAs in series to generate compression and limiting control voltages which drive the main VCA. The result is true compression followed by limiting, rather than the more common characteristic of compression that turns into limiting. The side-chain electronics are class A, ensuring superb transient response. Both compression and limiting therefore, offer true peak response, not averaging RMS response.

The use of such a high quality audio VCA as the only element between input and output means a very short signal path, and an ability to retain a natural, unobtrusive sound even when significant compression is being applied.

Each channel has clear and identical controls, for compressor ratio, threshold, make-up gain, attack and release, and limiter threshold. A program-dependent auto-release mode is available, and the VU meters can be switched to show levels in two ranges, or gain change. In stereo mode the lower set takes control of both channels.

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

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