Harrison Audio was founded in 1975. Based in Nashville, Tennessee - a legendary location for musicians, its placed close to the heart of the music industry in the U.S.A. Harrison was one the first console manufacturers to introduce in-line recording, and their first console – The 3232 – featured this design. They have a rich history of artists recorded on their consoles, including Michael Jackson, ABBA, Led Zeppelin, Queen and more. They have a strong foundation in analogue hardware, but also build digitally integrated systems and develop software plugins.
The 500 series modules from Harrsion take technologies from their analogue consoles to bring you aspects of their sound characteristics and performance.
500 Series Preamp Module
This preamp module is inspired by the inputs of the 3232 console – as menitioned, the first console from Harrison Audio built in the 70s. It embodies the rich, warm tone characteristic that the original mixing desk imparted.
This microphone preamp is transformed coupled – using a Jensen JT-MB-CPCA. The 1:1 ratio causes gentle roll-off of frequencies and a subtle phase shift. Full lows, open mids and smooth highs – this preamp is great for a wide variety of musical material.
It has a gain range of +20dB - +70dB with a 20dB pad in case your input signal is getting too hot. It also features phase inversion, Hi-Z input, and characterful 12dB/oct high pass and low pass filters. Their 3dB resonant peak gives a bump around the set frequency. It also features a XLR-Combi Jack directly on the front for immediate access with any input device.
500 Series EQ Module
This EQ design originally featured on the MR-3 Studio Console, developed in 1981. It proved to be popular tool with artists and engineers alike, and now it’s available in the 500 series format. It’s a versatile 3-band EQ, capable of broad strokes to surgical precision.
Both High & Low shelves have a +/- 10dB range. The frequency bands for the high & low shelf is 800Hz – 15kHz and 40Hz – 800Hz respectively, giving both these bands alone quite a broad frequency range to work in. Both can be switched individually from Shelf to Bell Curve depending on what you need.
The Mid band is 400Hz – 8kHz, with a continuously variable, proportional Q design which shifts depending on the level of boost or cut. There is also a separate High Pass Filter, with a gentle 6dB/oct slope and a 2dB resonant peak to bump the foundation frequency of the filter. It’s frequency range is from 25Hz – 3.5kHz.
Combine these bands together, and you can see how this EQ has some wide-ranging applications. The Mid band Q is what gives this EQ the ability to make precise changes too.
500 Series Compressor Module
The Comp has ironically come from the attitude that Dave Harrison held: that music should be captured authentically, without interference – meaning no compression! However, dynamic processes as we know are vital tool for audio. Especially when it comes to controlling levels during broadcast. So Harrison developed a compressor that could offer transparent levelling, which also happened to add a lot of character when pushed harder.
Comp is a classic Feedforward VCA design, based around the THAT 2180 VCA chip which provides exceptional performance. The attack section of the compressor is program dependant, meaning it responds to the input source for optimal timing. The release is controllable, with a continuous knob that goes from slow to fast.
The Threshold and Ratio controls are also continuous. Threshold is set between +20dB to -10dB, and Ratio going from 1:2 to 1:10. There is also a Make-Up Gain control to compensate for signal reduction.
That’s pretty much it for controls. The Comp is simple to dial in. At less extreme settings, it offers transparent levelling. At its more extreme settings, it can add saturation, character, and vibe to your recordings. Something that its Harrison was sceptical about has become one of its key characteristics that made it popular amongst engineers.
The 32Cpre+, MR3eq and Comp 500 Series modules are 3 vital elements of the Harrison sound that you can place in a studio, without the need to dive straight in with a larger console, such as the new 32Classic. They’re now available in the UK at your Pro Audio dealership of choice.
This new blog is presented by the team at Sound Technology Ltd, a leading distributor of musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the UK and ROI.
