The Cartec Audio Compère 500 is 19” rack mounting as standard with a total of 8 slots. The internal heavy duty power supply providing up to a massive 3 amps per rail giving users total peace of mind about running combinations of modules from Cartec Audio's own Pre-Q5 pre-amp, Fe-Q5 EQ, or from other manufacturers without fear of failure or sonic degradation.

What also sets the Compère 500 apart from other 500 enclosures is the assignable front panel input XLR. This is in addition to the 8 input and output XLR's for each module slot. Users will be able to act as a 'Compère' and introduce the front panel input signal to any one of the 8 modules via the front panel 'Aux to input module' rotatory switch and associated +48v phantom power switch. This is intended to provide uninterrupted phantom power when switching to different pre-amp modules. The 'Aux to output module' rotatory switch selects which module carries the output and the audio appears on the dedicated rear mounted 'routing section output' XLR socket.

This enables users to easily and quickly plug something into the front of the rack ( or dedicated rear mounted 'routing section input' XLR for neat patch bay installations ) and make comparisons with different pre-amps, compressors, or EQ's. The regular modules XLR I/O audio path is defeated while the Aux Compère function is activated for that module. In addition, at the rear of the rack each module slot has a 'link' switch which routes the output of a module into the input of the next module slot to the right.