Trident 78 32 Channel 8 Buss Console is a 32-channel analog recording console in a split/inline architecture with eight subgroups — a semi-modular platform positioned below the fully modular Series 88, designed for recording studios, educational facilities, houses of worship, and live sound applications where the full per-channel modularity of the 88 is not required. It shares the 88's discrete Class A preamp and meter bridge design; the cost reduction comes from grouping channels into four-way panels rather than individual modules, which lowers manufacturing cost while maintaining serviceability at the panel level.
80B EQ and In-Line Architecture as the Recording Workflow Foundation
The equalizer section is taken directly from the Series 80B console — four bands consisting of two selectable shelving filters (high and low) and two swept parametric mid bands (low-mid and high-mid), with a switchable 50 Hz high-pass filter at 12 dB/octave operating independently. The EQ section has its own dedicated insert, allowing external processors to be patched directly into the EQ loop without disturbing any other part of the signal path. A selectable EQ path switch moves the full four-band EQ from the input path to the monitor path, doubling its utility at mixdown without additional cabling. In split/inline operation, each of the 32 channels runs two independent signal paths, yielding effectively 64 separately processed inputs feeding the stereo bus at mixdown.
Aux Routing and Bus Architecture
Six auxiliary sends per channel — four mono and one stereo (5/6) — each switchable pre or post fader independently. Stereo Aux 5/6 can additionally be routed to the monitor section, extending its utility for headphone or cue mix management. The eight subgroups are arranged in two panels of four, each group strip controlling its associated bus outputs; groups function as audio subgroups for bus compression or as additional summing outputs. All signal connections across the console use DB-25 connectors, with the exception of mic inputs (XLR) and main/speaker outputs (XLR) — a topology that eliminates individual cable management at the patch point and accelerates initial setup. The master section is built as a fully independent module, allowing it to be serviced or replaced without touching any input channel.
KEY FEATURES
- 32-channel split/inline, 8-bus — in-line architecture yields 64 inputs to the stereo bus at mixdown
- Discrete Class A mic preamp, 60 dB gain — same preamp as the Series 88, capable of driving ribbon microphones
- 80B EQ: 4 bands — selectable HF/LF shelving + 2 swept mids (LM/HM) + switchable HP filter 50 Hz, 12 dB/oct
- Selectable EQ path switch (input or monitor path)
- Independent insert in the EQ loop
- 6 Aux sends per channel (4 mono + stereo 5/6), pre/post fader switchable
- 8 subgroups in two panels of four
- DB-25 connections throughout (mic inputs and main outputs on XLR)
- Semi-modular layout: channels in 4-way panels, groups in 4-way panels, master section independent
- Integrated talkback, high-quality onboard headphone amplifier
- Option: LED or VU meter bridge; 2U rackmount power supply included
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Channels: 32, split/inline
- Subgroups: 8
- Mic preamp: discrete Class A, 60 dB gain
- Input impedance, mic: above 2 kΩ, electronically balanced
- Input impedance, line: above 10 kΩ, electronically balanced
- Output impedance, L/R / monitor / groups / auxes: below 60 Ω
- Output impedance, all other outputs: below 100 Ω
- Frequency response, mic in to mix out: +0 / -0.3 dB, 20 Hz–80 kHz (at 6–40 dB gain)
- Frequency response, line in to mix out: +0 / -0.3 dB, 20 Hz–60 kHz (at 0 dB gain)
- THD+noise at +15 dBu output (mic/line/monitor in): below 0.003%
- Mic EIN (20–20 kHz, 150 Ω source, 60 dB gain): below -128.5 dBu
- Residual bus noise (output fader at minimum): below -96 dBu
- Bus noise (40 inputs continuously assigned): below -83 dBu
- Connectors: DB-25 (channel and group I/O), XLR (mic inputs, main and monitor outputs)
- Power: 2U rackmount power supply included
