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If you've been craving a boost in the front end, but are a bit short in the pocketbook, Focusrite would like to be your hero. Trak Master, is a Platinum- range class-A preamp - with mic and instrument inputs, plus compression, EQ, and tube emulation - and is streamlined enough feature-wise to hit a budget-friendly price point (a mere $450 MSRP).
Trak Master has been around for a while, actually, but it recently popped back into the headlines thanks to a special bundle offer called the Trak Master Pak. For $1,335 ($899 end-user net), you can score not only a Trak Master, but a BLUE Bluebird condenser mic and accessories. Check the Focusrite website for details.
Since we reviewed the Bluebird mic last month, and since this month's cover feature is about preamps, we thought it would be appropriate to fire up the Trak Master and put it through its paces for a proper review. File this one in the Better Late Than Never drawer.
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Those who want instant gratification will surely appreciate Trak Master's ease of use. Focusrite has eliminated much of the guesswork, with simplified controls that are named for the musical results they're intended to impart: Punch, Tight, Presence, Tube Sound, etc. They've also built response curves into the EQ section for vocal and instrument applications. In other words, this isn't what you'd call a "tweakhead's dream...