More and more the computer is becoming a part of the studio. In many studios it has even replaced the tape machine. Because of this many companies are putting a lot of effort in to creating tools for getting good sound in and out of the computer. This is a challenging job because there are things that we like about the way a tape recording sounds. We like how the tape can be hit hard and will harmonically distort the sound in a pleasing fashion. This is something many people aren't willing to give up, even if the computer provides them with powerful editing tools.
Enters DBX with their 386 dual vacuum tube preamp. They have combined tubes with some cleaver algorithms to create a box that acts like the front end of the tape machine for the computer. By means of their Tape Saturation Emulation (TSE) and the DBX Type IV conversion system, the 386 aims towards these ends.
As a mic preamp the 386 covers all the basics. It provides 60 dB of mic gain, +/- 15 dB of output gain, 48 volt phantom power, phase reverse, 20 dB pad, 75 Hz low cut filter, an insert jack, and a line input. It even has an analog output if all you want to use it for is a mic pre.
Where the 386 shines is getting the sound into a digital recorder. Engineers that record to digital devices know that once you hit 0 dB ugly things happen. As such most of us do all manner of things to avoid hitting 0 dB. Things such as use a lower signal, creating the problem of not using all of our allotted bits, or compressing/limiting the signal which changes the sound as well. To deal with this DBX has come up with DBX Type IV conversion system.
