ProD8

The ProD8 packs eight passive direct box channels into one rack unit. Each channel takes two 1/4" inputs that sum together, so a backup keyboard or a second source such as a backing-track machine can be patched in alongside the main one. Every channel also has a 1/4" TRS effects insert and a thru-put jack that sends a direct feed to the artist's own playback system.

A custom-wound Eclipse ET-DB2 transformer handles impedance matching and balancing on each channel. It is linear from 20Hz to 20kHz and is intended to cope with the high dynamics of digital keyboards. When driven hard the transformer saturates and rounds off the tone instead of clipping. The passive design needs no power and gives full galvanic isolation between source and destination, which removes hum and buzz from ground loops.

Balanced outputs are on isolated XLR connectors on the front panel, each with a ground lift and a 180° polarity reverse switch. The rack ears are reversible, so the 1/4" inputs can face the front for patching external instruments, or sit inside the rack when it is filled mainly with rack modules and the XLR outputs face front.