Notes on the Focusrite Liquid 4PRE tests

The original recording was made at Abbey Road Studio 3 with a Neumann U87Ai microphone and Avalon M5 preamplifier. This recording was attenuated by 40 decibels and connected to Input 3 of the 4PRE. The same source file is used for all of the tests. You may find the differences between emulations very subtle. This is because they ARE subtle! However, with practice you will be able to hear many of the differences clearly. It is suggested that you start with the 'full harmonics' versions as the differences are most clear there. You will notice from the waveform display on your DAW that the waveform heights of the emulations differ. This is a product of the emulations. The gain setting was identical in every case. Waveforms that are asymmetrical in their positive-going and negative-going half-cycles demonstrate evenorder distortion. To hear the differences between the emulations and the original file more clearly, load up the original and an emulation of your choice into your DAW on separate tracks. Time align them as closely as possible, then invert one of them. Adjust the fader of one track carefully so that you get minimum output. Although you may not be able to get the original signal to cancel completely, the 'warmth' produced by the emulation will be very much more clearly audible. It is worth spending quite some time with this as it is very instructive in the differences between preamps. In the videos, the commentary is muted completely when the emulation plays. In a very small number of cases the commentary may overlap the emulation slightly. In one case in the 'harmonics full' video, two emulations are played out of order. This was an error, but what you hear corresponds to the emulation you see on the display. The names of the audio-only files are correct. Although these tests are very good at demonstrating the differences in the quality of warmth produced by the various preamps emulated, there is one limitation. This is that a microphone reacts to the impedance setting of the preamp to which it is connected. This element of the emulation is not captured in this test. To do so would require individual performances for each and every emulation, making meaningful comparison which is the purpose of this test very difficult. End of notes