Product
Description
Tired
of the flat, narrow sound of your Digital Audio Workstation? Do
individual tracks sound full and deep while whole mixes sound
lifeless and thin? Can you go analog without sacrificing the recall
ability of the DAW or parting with the space and money required
for a large automated console? Break out of the box and let your
mixes breathe again.
The RMS216
FOLCROM is a high quality passive mixer intended for analog summing
of multichannel digital mixes. The sound is up to you and your
preamps.
Each of the
Folcrom's sixteen input channels features a balanced analog connection
on standard 8-channel DB25 connectors and a pair of pushbutton
switches to assign that channel to the Left or Right output, neither,
or both. It uses no active circuitry and provides no gain or level
controls. By controlling all aspects of the mix from within the
DAW, automation and recallability are perfectly preserved. Up
to 16 different tracks or submixes can then be routed to the Folcrom
for summing in the analog domain.
The absence
of faders, EQ, aux sends, pan knobs, or any other superfluous
features not only preserves your software automation, it also
allows for an elegant passive circuit using no amplifiers, ICs,
transistors, capacitors, or transformers whatsoever. The simplicity
of the fully balanced, symmetrical signal path allows the use
of no-compromise passive components for an absolutely transparent
signal path. The unit passes signals "from DC to daylight"
without coloration.
The output
of the Folcrom is a stereo pair of balanced, 150-ohm signals on
XLR connectors and requires approximately 30-40dB of make-up gain
(program dependent). This signal is ideally suited for feeding
into an outboard microphone preamplifier of your choosing. The
mixbus is therefore able to assume the tonal character of the
amplifier, providing a wide range of sonic flavors. Chances are
your mike preamps just sit there unused at mixdown time anyway.
Plug into your Great River MP-2 when you need pristine clarity;
or put those old Telefunken or RCA tube preamps to work when you
want super thick warmth.
By excluding
the make-up gain amplifier from the Folcrom, we are able to provide
a unique opportunity for wide tonal control by allowing you to
choose your flavor of make-up gain. At the same time, it enables
us to produce an ultimate quality summing buss without compromise
for well under a thousand dollars. What other analog console can
give you so many options, in a single rack space, and at such
a reasonable price?
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