BAE 1073MPF Dual-Channel Mic Preamp with PSU

Product Description

The BAE 1073MPF is the high-pass filter version of the 1073MP, a dual-channel mic preamp that delivers the timeless sound of the legendary 1073 circuit in a single 19" rack space. Each channel pairs a transformer-coupled input with a hand-wired Class A gain stage and an inductor-based high-pass filter, plus versatile features like an input impedance selector switch, 48V phantom power, a rear line input, and a front-panel DI input. Professional engineers reach for the BAE 1073MPF because of its classic sonic signature, giving you the harmonically rich low-end, focused mids, and slightly resonant highs of the original with the reliability of modern build quality. Read on to find out why the BAE 1073MPF is ideal for adding vintage Neve character to your tracks. Ships with a BAE 24V external power supply.

CLASSIC 1073-STYLE CIRCUIT FOR ICONIC SOUND

The BAE 1073 MPF is essentially the mic preamp version of the Neve 1073 module without the EQ. A Carnhill transformer-coupled input feeds a hand-wired Class A gain stage that supplies up to 71 dB of gain: more than enough for low-sensitivity dynamic and ribbon microphones. The BAE 1073 MPF mic pre's transformer-coupled design delivers the classic 1073 sonic signature and allows you to drive the gain harder to add musical even-order harmonic distortion.

NEW FEATURES FOR ADDED VERSATILITY

Newly added I/O gives the BAE 1073MPF more flexibility than ever. On the front panel, two high-impedance DI inputs allow you to record both passive and active instruments directly. The DI input impedance is ≈150k ohms, and the signal runs through the same Class A path as the microphone inputs, so your guitars, basses, and synths will sound just as warm and colorful as your mics. Additionally, new rear-panel XLR line inputs turn each channel into a line preamp—ideal for giving your mix bus a little analog flavor, printing stems through, or "re-amping" stereo and mono tracks through the transformers. Between the mic pre itself and the new DI and line inputs, the BAE 1073MPF becomes a Swiss Army knife of tone for tracking, overdubbing, and mixing.

ELMA SWITCHES FOR PRECISE CONTROL

The BAE 1073MPF's stepped controls are built around sealed Elma rotary switches, the same components found in vintage Neve modules. A red Marconi knob sets mic and line level gain in repeatable steps, so dialing in a matched stereo pair or recalling settings takes seconds. The blue knob selects the inductor-based high-pass filter, which has a fixed 18 dB-per-octave slope and is switchable between 50, 80, 160, and 300 Hz. An input impedance selector switch offers two selectable impedances (1200 or 300 ohms) for matching the transformer-coupled input to ribbon, dynamic, and condenser microphones.

EASY-TO-USE FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS

Every control you need while tracking sits on the front panel of each channel for easy access. Four pushbuttons handle DI/Line-level switching, 48V phantom power, and phase reverse, with the latter two illuminated so you can easily see their status at a glance. A grey knob sets output level after the gain stage, letting you fine-tune your levels regardless of how much color you dial in with the gain knob. BAE suggests setting the gain around 20 on the dial and leaving the output fully clockwise for the cleanest, highest-headroom path through the output stage—or push the gain further and trim the output level to hear bottom-end thicken as the BAE 1073MPF starts to saturate

MORE BAE 1073 PREAMPS

The BAE 1073MPF belongs to a family of BAE pres that share one modular design. The 1073MPF is the high-pass filter version of the 1073MP, and both come in single-channel and dual-channel formats, with or without a power supply so you can start small and expand later. Step up to the BAE 1073 or 1084 modules, and you get the same preamp section plus the classic equalizer. Because BAE uses identical Class A components throughout the line, mixing these units keeps one consistent sound across your rack.

ABOUT BAE

BAE Audio builds its equipment by hand in Southern California using a modular design with point-to-point wiring, Elma switches, and Carnhill audio transformers. The included 24V PSU is a regulated linear power supply housed outside the audio chassis, which keeps magnetic fields and heat away from the signal path. That external power supply delivers far more current than a single preamp needs, and one power supply will run up to four channels, so a second BAE unit can share it. If you want classic analog tone with hand-built quality and the reliability of modern components, BAE is the way to go.