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A Designs P-1 500 Series Microphone Preamp

500 Series Preamp Module with Phantom Power, Pad, Phase Switch, and Gain Control
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$900.00

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A Designs P-1 500 Series Microphone Preamp
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A Preamp Module with Classic Tone!

A Designs P-1 preamp module is based on the company's popular Pacifica preamp, and gives you exceptional sound quality with the classic vibe of some of the great vintage preamps. Featuring a DI, 48V phantom power, 20db pad, and phase buttons, and a gain control, the P-1 excels at adding just the right tonal "color" to the input signal, and flatters any microphone. If you want to add a touch of vintage tone to your console, or just want to improve the range of your studio's tonal capability, plug in the A Designs P-1 preamp module.

Related Videos: P-1 500 Series Microphone Preamp

A Designs P-1 Preamp Module Features:
  • 48-volt phantom power
  • 20dB pad
  • Phase switch
  • Custom-wound transformers
  • Thumb screws for easy install and un-install
  • Cast aluminum rotary gain control knob
The P-1 preamp module is a great way to add some vintage color to your console!

Additional Media

500 Series Buying Guide
Signal Processing Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Manufacturer Part Number: P1 Mic Pre

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Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5

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Amazing on Everything

If you have to own one pre it should be this. When I had no pres a top recording engineer in LA told me if I could only afford one this should be it. I bought it and recorded everything on this. It is so smooth and forgiving on vocals and bass especially. Crank the gain and it sounds better and does not get hash. Since then I have purchased API, 73's and Focusrites and the Pacifica still outshines them in overall sound.
by Lars on

AMAZING PRE

I own many high end preamps (Neve 1073, CAPI VP28, CAPI VP312, Pendulum MDP1a, UA6176, Avalon 737, Purple Audio BIZ MK, and Focusrite ISA828 and de P-1 became one of my all time favourites in a matter of a few sessions, it now lives on OH's, female vocalists, some electric guitars, and acoustic guitars, is really one of the best 500 series preamps out there, A-Designs really hit a homerun with this one!
by Ricardo Wheelock on
Music background: Music producer, sound engineer

Smooth, clean and great high end

Big upgrade from the focusrite 428. I have 4 of the P1s now and am considering 3 more.

I use them for tom toms and guitar. I am sure they would be very good for anything.

I have vintage neumann pres v476b very colored, millenia as you know clean with attitude, a neve 517 which doesn't like to be slammed but great sound. Have a stereo tube pre eq which has a nice round sound digitech vtp with Telefunken tubes I put in and my yamaha o1v97i board that is very very clean sounding also.

P1 handles the drum transients the best to my ear. Musical, dimensional and clear. Although I am surprised how well my yamaha does. I record drums almost every day and I am picky. Went with p1s over api 512 because they are less. The pad engaged is nice floor tom I might add. You will dig it.
by Wesley, Worship Music Studio from Burton on

Clarity and Warmth

Talking about sound is like dancing about architecture, according to the late Kurt Vonnegut. So we resort to these buzzwords like "clear," "warm," "musical," and any manufacturer of cheap Chinese gear with light-up tubes can lay claim to these properties. Reading enough reviews loaded with this drivel will drive a musician and potential purchaser mad.

I am here to tell you that if you are experiencing flat, digital signal coming into your computer, uninspiring and cold, this is the preamp that will add that extra harmonic content that is required when not going to tape. the P-1 is loaded with custom Cinemag transformers, which are so much more forgiving than your DC-coupled interface preamps. Plug your SM57 into it and you'll immediately understand the difference a high-quality preamp makes, especially on dynamic mics. Microphones were designed to pass through circuitry like this. I treat the P-1 like my console preamp and golden channel - everything is tracked through it, one at a time, as is the workflow at my overdub and mix room. It stacks up to a three-dimensional space that is simply not there otherwise. I won't ever sell this preamp, regardless of what other pre's I purchase. My voice through this was a revelation, as was the bass and synth DI. Guitars, backing vocals, every single source develops a glow and pleasant, slight high frequency rolloff that I can nearly guarantee will add all of those obnoxious qualifiers that gear slingers attach to their reviews. I am in no way associated with this brand or product, just a musician recording himself for a decade now, and I have used dozens of preamps - this one is my favorite. When something is not sounding right, 10 out of 10 times it is not the fault of the P-1. I don't think twice about the quality my preamp, as I know I have that of the highest caliber. This device is of such high build quality, I bet you could throw it off a building and it would be fine. If I had to make a record on a desert island, this would be my preamp. Make sure to get a good power supply for it - I am powering it with a Rupert Neve Designs R6, and could not be happier with the depth of my sounds.
by Peter Mulcahy on
Music background: Professional Film Composer and Producer

Electric

This pre is amazing.....Fat and rich but not as heavy as my Neves, plus the high end has this electric feeling to it that makes everything sound really alive. Kick the pad in and crank the gain for some extra girth. The DI is nice and punchy as well. So glad I have this in my arsenal!
by Nick from NJ on

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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Carson McClain

A mini Pacifica.... sigh... there is a God! If you love the sound of the Pacifica and only need one channel for your 500 rack, this is the module to get. Great sound all the same features and it fits in your A Designs 500 rack. What a great pre.
See also: 500 Series Pre, A Designs, A Designs 500 Series Preamps
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