Eureka - Mono Channel Strip - Mic preamp / comp / EQ

The name “Eureka” derives from a Greek word meaning “I have found it!” It was made famous by the ancient Greek scholar Archimedes, indicating exultation at a great discovery. Try the sweet-sounding, super-versatile Eureka preamp and signal processor, and you’ll discover the answer to a variety of sonic needs.

One of our best-selling products, the Eureka is equally at home in the studio or at the gig. With separate mic, line, and instrument inputs, you can employ it on almost any sound source.

Sweetening starts with our high-headroom Class A solid-state mic preamplifier, with variable input impedance to match any type of microphone. A Saturate control simulates the effects of tape saturation and tube warmth so you can go from crystal-clear to warm and rich.

The Eureka’s versatility stems in part from its malleable signal flow. The EQ can be pre- or post-compressor, and you can bypass each independently. Balanced send and return jacks enable you to insert your favorite outboard processor before the compressor and EQ. The backlit VU meter can display gain reduction or output gain.

The fast, fully variable compressor includes an internal sidechain with variable (10 Hz to 10 kHz) high-pass filter, so it can achieve anything from hard pumping to transparent compression. Its three-band, fully parametric EQ has overlapping frequency selection on each band.

With both XLR and ¼” line outputs, you can connect the Eureka to almost any recording interface, amp, or P.A. system. You can even transfer the signal digitally using the optional AD192 digital-output card, which provides word-clock I/O and two 24-bit, 192 kHz, stereo A/D converters that simultaneously feed the S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital outputs. A ¼” line input lets you use the card to provide digital output for a second Eureka.

• 1 input channel with high-headroom Class A mic preamplifier
  • Gain control with +52 dB of gain for the mic input and +44 dB of gain for the instrument input
  • 48V phantom power
  • 80 Hz high-pass filter
  • -20 dB pad
  • Polarity-reverse switch
  • Variable microphone input impedance (50, 150, 600, 1,500, 2,500 Hz)
  • Variable preamp Saturate control (simulates tape saturation and tube warmth)
  • Line-input select button
  • Input clip indicator (LED)
• Fast, fully variable compressor
  • Attack, Release, Ratio, Threshold, and (makeup) Gain
  • Soft/Hard Knee switch
  • Bypass switch
  • Internal sidechain with variable (10 Hz to 10 kHz) high-pass filter
• 3-band parametric equalizer
  • Gain, Frequency, and Q controls
  • Switchable pre-/post-compressor
  • Bypass switch
• Master level control
• Backlit VU meter
  • Gain Reduction to Meter switch (selects gain reduction or output gain)
• Optional AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital-output expansion card

• Input/Output
  • 1 unbalanced ¼” instrument input (front panel)
  • 1 balanced ¼” line input
  • 1 balanced XLR mic input
  • 1 balanced ¼” line output
  • 1 balanced XLR line output
  • 1 balanced ¼” insert send (output)
  • 1 balanced ¼” insert return (input)

• Digitalia
  • 1 digital expansion-card slot for optional AD192 24-bit/192 kHz AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital output card

• Physical
  • 1U 19” rack-mountable, rugged steel chassis
  • Sealed, detented, metal rotary controls
  • Internal power supply with standard IEC connector