Ridge Farm Gas Cooker Valve Mic Preamp
The Ridge Farm Industries “Gas Cooker” is a high performance all-valve, twin channel Microphone Amplifier and DI box.
It excels in direct injection of high impedance instruments such as electric guitar, bass, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer. It may also be used to add a variable degree of valve warmth and presence to any sampler or hard disk recording system for any mono or stereo audio source.
In order to meet professional standards, the Gas Cooker includes a switchable 20dB input pad, a buffered, unbalanced line output (pre-gain control), and both balanced and unbalanced post gain control outputs. The balanced output features transformer isolation with a maximum gain of 3, and switchable ground lift, while the unbalanced output has a maximum gain of 30x, enabling instruments such as guitars, keyboards etc to be matched to the line input of a mixing console.
Carefully designed, high voltage valve circuitry enables the user to vary the drive level to the output tube stage, making it possible to control the amount of harmonics and coloration added to the signal.
Applications
Guitars & basses
Use it on instruments with active or passive pickup systems. You can also connect it between guitar and effects pedals. High gain settings give exceptionally warm valve colouration. Use both Cooker channels to provide a balanced split to two amps.
Electronic keyboards
Treat in the same way as electric guitar signals. High gain settings will introduce significant colouration. If the source signal is relatively strong, you can produce a classic ‘rock organ’ sound. More subtle setting of the Gain control will affect mainly high frequency sounds, enhancing both transient detail and presence.
Consoles
The Gas Cooker will subtly enhance any signal when connected to the console’s insert points. The best results are usually achieved by setting the Cooker to unity gain. If this produces too high a level of colouration, switching in the pad and taking the signal from the unbalanced output will compensate for lost gain.
Mixing
To enhance the complete mix, connect both channels of the unit via the console’s master stereo insert points. For a more pronounced effect, use higher gain. High levels of colouration work best on individual instrumental sounds.
Microphones
To re-create that classic ‘valve mic’ sound, connect one channel of the Gas Cooker to the insert point of a mic channel using, the unbalanced jack output. For subtle coloration,set the Pad switch to on and adjust the gain control to provide approximately unity gain. Higher degrees of coloration can be achieved on higher gain settings or by switching off the Pad.
Specifications
Front panel controls
- Output gain controls with unity gain markingsEarth lift switches-20dB pad switches
Front panel in/outs
- Unbalanced jack outputs (pre gain control)Balanced XLR outputs
Rear panel controls
- Illuminated power on/off switchIEC mains inputVoltage selector 120v/240vUnbalanced line outputs (post gain control)
Max gain
- 30x to unbalanced output3x to balanced output
Frequency response
- 28Hz to 25kHz (-3dB)
Input impedance
- 1 M ohm
Output impedance
- 500 ohms balanced1.5 k ohms unbalanced
Noise at max gain
- Better than -65 dB
Dimensions
- 305 mm (w)190 mm (d)72mm (h)