Once I had conceived the idea for the USB 500 RACK product, I started working on new 500 series module concepts.

We had recently released the Project Channel product that I had come up with and I thought it would be really great if we could fit a complete channel strip in one module. We already had multiple 500 series preamps, a great optical compressor and a great EQ, but buying all three of those modules would cost the user $1500!

Worth every penny, but I thought it would be a good idea to make a full channel strip that was an entry level 500 series module. I also thought it would help sell more USB 500 Racks to users that were new to the 500 series world. These two products combined would be the best audio interface for the money on the market!

However, fitting a complete channel strip in to a single 500 series module does present its challenges. I knew I wanted to use the new Class A preamp and optical compressor from our new Project Channel product. But we already had an Aural Exciter/Big Bottom 500 series module and I thought that two overlapping bands of EQ might appeal to more 500 series users. One feature that I really wanted was a PRE/POST button for the compressor. This allows the user to put the compressor before or after the EQ. But that meant that I didn't have room for a PAD button. So I took a Project Channel in to the studio, miked a snare drum with an SM-57, turned the input gain all the way down and had a drummer beat the crap out of that snare drum! The input signal was completely under control with the gain all the way down so I knew I could get away without having a PAD function on the module. This product was shown at NAMM 2014 and is now shipping.