A-Designs Audio has re-released its JM-3001 Mic Preamp/EQ/D.I. under a new name, Ventura, a nod to the classic Quad Eight console after which the unit’s three-band parametric EQ is inspired. And, classic it is — it looks just like it stepped out of InfoComm 1988.

In addition to its new moniker, the A-Designs Ventura features a cream-colored (oh, that’s what that color is?) faceplate with black nomenclature for improved visibility in low-light environments.

The heart of the device is a discrete transistor operational amplifier designed by Carl Johnson for the Ventura. Operating on high voltage rails, this op-amp is a high-gain, fast-slew, stable audio block with virtually no DC offset over the audio spectrum. It is used in the microphone pre-amp, instrument input amp and main output/EQ stages. The mic pr-eamp itself is a single-stage, transformer-coupled design with balanced I/O and is equipped with phase reverse, a -20 dB pad, +48V phantom power with LED indicator and a conductive plastic gain control pot. The pre-amp section feeds both the EQ section and a pre-amp output mult simultaneously.

The Ventura’s three-band parametric equalizer is a unique design featuring 33 frequencies with three bands of overlapping ranges from 50Hz to 15 KHz. Both the frequency selection and the +/-12 dB boost/cut controls are stepped for precise, repeatable settings. Each band has a Q switch with three fixed positions — sharp, wide and narrow. The low and high bands are peak/dip, but flipping the shelf switch changes their characteristic to shelf type. The shelving switch disables the Q feature on high and low bands only. When in the up position, the high/low filters insert the fixed 12dB/octave high- and low-cut filters, which work whether the EQ is in or out. And, finally, the equalizer’s input/insert return provides direct input to the EQ, bypassing both the mic pre and instrument input.

It lists for $2,095.00. For a complete list of Ventura’s features and specifications, go here: http://www.adesignsaudio.com