• Pro-Audio Gear: Preamps, Compressors, Equalizers, DI Boxes, 500 Series, Summing

Ventura SE

At home as a microphone preamp, instrument preamp and EQ - all with individual inputs and outputs, it's like having three different high-end units in one small, affordable package.

The Ventura SE is no longer in production!



World-Class Mic Preamp, Instrument Preamp and 3-band EQ

A versatile 3-input / 3-output design.  Step up your game with the Ventura SE!  

 

The New Ventura SE allows the user to route and/or patch effects into the signal path in variety of ways. Use it simply or - patch in external devices as desired or - use each section individually while maintaining very high audio fidelity.

 

Some of the new SE features:

Three separate discrete Inputs for each section

Three separate discrete Outputs for each section

Hi/Low Gain Switch for the Instrument section

Black texture coat finish Faceplate

 

General Features:

1. Independent Microphone Preamp/Equalizer/Instrument Preamp

2. Specially Designed Discrete Operational Amplifiers

3. Jensen Microphone Input Transformer

4. Insert Points Between Mic Preamp, Instrument Preamp and Equalizer

5. Metal Film Resistors, Polypropylene, C0G and Bipolar Capacitors

6. Silver Contact Toggle Switches (No Relays)

7. Cinemag Transformer Balanced Outputs – Main and Direct/Mult

8. External Switchable Line Power from 110VAC to 220VAC

9. Neutrik XLR Connectors

10. 1RU Steel Chassis

11. Aluminum Knobs

12. Made In The USA

 

Microphone Preamplifier

 

The microphone preamp is a balanced single-stage discrete opamp, transformer coupled design. It includes switches for: phase reverse, -20 dB pad, +48V phantom power with LED indicator and a gain control knob.

With the "Source Switch" set to Mic – the signal is fed to both the input of the EQ section/main output and the transformer output mult simultaneously. This gives two separate outputs at one time and is useful in feeding signal to FOH and/or external FX, power amps, etc.

Running at normal levels – a very clear and transparent signal with all the detail, air and extended bass you’d expect from a very high quality discrete analog design. Push it a little harder and the output transformers will saturate giving a more colored character while still retaining clarity.

 

Three Band Parametric EQ

 

The Ventura SE features a 3-band modified Quad Eight style Parametric Equalizer featuring 33 frequencies. There are three bands of overlapping ranges from 50Hz to 15 KHz. Both the frequency selection and the boost/cut controls are stepped for precise recallable settings. Each band has its own Q switch with three fixed positions of Sharp, Wide and Narrow. The low and high bands are a peak/dip type with switches to change their characteristic to a shelf type. The shelving switches disable the Q feature on high and low bands only.

EQ Input - Insert Return Jack - provides a direct balanced input to the EQ. This bypasses both the mic-preamp and instrument preamp and allows for independent access to the EQ making the Ventura very flexible. (See Flow Chart)

 

Instrument Input Preamplifier

 

No need for a Direct Box/DI. This is a high-impedance unbalanced preamplifier designed for guitar/bass pickups and keyboards such as vintage synthesizers. Independent from the mic-pre, the instrument preamplifier section uses a single-stage discrete opamp.  It includes a front-panel 1/4″ TS Switchcraft input jack with a gain pot and on the back panel a Hi/Low gain switch. Also featured is the addition of a separate unbalanced instrument direct output jack that breaks the signal feed to the Output Mult and EQ sections. This allows the Instrument section to be truly independent. The Source Switch has no effect when using this output jack.

 

With the “Source Switch “set to Instrument - this also feeds both the input to the EQ section/main output and the transformer output mult simultaneously giving two separate outputs at one time. This is very useful in feeding FOH and/or external FX, power amps, etc.

High and Low Pass filters- The high and low pass filters are a fixed second order 12dB per octave type with the knees at 9 kHz and 150 Hz. Both filter switches work whether the EQ switch is in or out and are post the EQ which affects the Main/EQ Output only.

Direct Out Mult- The Output Mult gives you a 600 ohm, +4dbm transformer balanced output that does not disturb the signal being feed to the EQ section. This allows the Instrument or Microphone signal to be sent to two different places at once. Send a pre-EQ signal to FOH or an effect, i.e. compressor, delay, power amp, digital I/O etc and also through the EQ to the Main Output simultaneously.

Insert Return/EQ Input - allows for the use of external Compressors and/or Effects to be directly added back into the signal path through the EQ to the main output. (See Flow Chart)

 

In the studio or on the stage, the Ventura SE is of a “no frills, no compromise” audio philosophy for pure sonic capture and reproduction.

Designed by Carl Johnson.

Videos

Specifications

Single 1U Rack Space Steel Chassis
Cinemag Output Transformers
Jensen Input Transformer
Three Specially Designed Discrete Operational Amplifiers
Solid State Design
Neutrik XLR Input and Output Connectors
NEW - Individual Input and Output for Each Section: Mic, Instrument and EQ
Separate Gain Controls for Mic and Instrument Input Sections
NEW - Output Gain Switch for the Instrument Section
-20dB Mic Pad Switch
+48Vdc Phantom Mic Power
Phase Switch for the Mic
Blue LED Power Indicator
ON/OFF Switch
Toroidal Power Transformer
Discrete Mic Preamplifier with 72dB of Gain
Discrete Instrument Input Preamplifier
Red LED Phantom Indicator
True Three Band Parametric Equalizer
2 Filters - High Pass / Low Pass
TRS Balanced Insert Return / EQ Input
Silver Contact High Durability Toggle Switches
Input Impedances: Microphone - 1.4k ohms; Instrument - 20Meg ohms nominal; Insert / EQ Input - 15K ohm
Gain Input Ranges: Microphone -62dbv to +30dbv; Instrument - 70db; Insert / EQ - 0dbv to +26dbv
Noise (EIN): -120dbm
Phantom Power: +48VDC
Balanced XLR Outputs: 600 ohms nominal
Frequency Responses - better than 20Hz to 20KHz
Distortion: 0.01%
Power Requirements: 120 / 230 VAC - 23 Watts
Dimensions: 19" x 1.75" x 10"
Weight: 14lbs - 16.5 lbs shipping weight