BAE 1073MPL 500 Series Mic Preamp

Product Description

The BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic preamp puts the legendary sonic signature of the original 1073 module into a convenient 500 Series unit with added features like selectable input impedance and DI functionality. Its Class A, transformer-coupled design includes Carnhill St Ives transformers, subtly coloring anything that goes through it with harmonically rich low end, maintained focused mids, and slightly resonant highs. Between the input impedance selector switch, a high-impedance DI input, and line-level capability, the 1073MPL is a versatile mic pre for professional and home studios alike. Read on to learn why the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre is the best way to bring 1073-style character to your 500 Series rack.

CLASSIC 1073-STYLE SOUND IN A CONVENIENT 500 SERIES FORMAT

The BAE 1073MPL is the 500 Series version of the BAE 1073MP, and both are based on the mic pre section of the classic 1073 without the EQ. Finished in BAE's iconic RAF blue-gray livery, the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre runs the same circuit as the original and drops into any compatible 500 Series chassis. Original Marconi knobs with incremental detents allow you to easily recall settings, while sturdy push-button controls toggle DI/line input, phase reverse, and 48 V phantom power. In just one 500 Series slot, the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre delivers the classic British sound of a full-size 1073.

ALL-CLASS A, TRANSFORMER-COUPLED DESIGN

Inside, the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre is fully Class A and transformer-coupled, just like the BAE 1073 and 1084. That Class A transformer-coupled design supplies up to 71 dB of gain for powering even the least sensitive dynamic and ribbon microphones. Crank the gain on the original Marconi knob and the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre delivers musical even-order harmonics that add instant grit to guitars, drums, and vocals. The 1073MPL 500 Series preamp's specs are just as impressive as the sound: maximum output level is +27.4 dBu into 600 ohms, output impedance is 65 ohms, and common mode rejection ratio is 100 dB minimum at 60 Hz. This high maximum output level and low output impedance allow the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre to stay clean across a wide bandwidth for vocal sessions but still get a little dirty on drums, guitars, and bass when you need it to.

CARNHILL ST IVES TRANSFORMERS

The BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre uses the same Carnhill St Ives transformers as the full-size BAE 1073 and 1084 modules. These transformers give the 500 Series version of the 1073 its sonic signature: "big iron" saturation that rounds transients and adds weight in the low-end without muddying the sound. Because Carnhill St Ives transformers sit at the input and the output, this 500 Series mic pre keeps its sonic signature across a wide bandwidth instead of coloring one part of the spectrum. Drums, guitar, and vocals all gain the density that the transformer-coupled design provides. Plus, those Carnhill St Ives transformers are a big part of the reason that the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic preamp sounds like the original, rather than just another imitation.

VERSATILE INPUT IMPEDANCE SELECTOR SWITCH

An input impedance selector switch gives the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre two selectable impedances: 1200 and 300 ohms. Loading a microphone differently changes how its transformer behaves, so the input impedance selector acts almost like a tone control. The 1200 ohm setting suits condenser microphones and keeps the top end open on vocals, while the 300 ohm setting adds thickness and tames the slight resonant highs on dynamic and ribbon microphones. Two selectable impedances make this a versatile mic pre instead of a one-trick pony, and line-level capability turns it into a 500 Series line preamp for adding color to your mixes as well. If you're searching for a versatile mic pre and line preamp in one 500 Series slot, look no further than the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre.

HIGH-IMPEDANCE DI INPUT FOR GUITAR AND SYNTH

A front-panel high-impedance DI input lets you plug electric guitars, basses, and certain synths straight into the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre. The signal runs through the same Class A, transformer-coupled design as the microphone input, so any instrument you plug into the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre comes through with the same harmonically rich low-end you hear on drums and vocals. Line-level capability adds a second job: as a line preamp, the module prints stems or re-amps finished mixes through the transformers. Between the mic preamp, the high-impedance DI, and the line preamp mode, the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre covers tracking, overdubs, and mixing in one 500 Series slot.

MORE BAE 1073 PREAMPS

The BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre, the 500 Series version of the 1073MP, belongs to a family of BAE pres built on one modular design. If you need more channels or a rack-mount box, the BAE 1073MP and 1073MPF cover single-channel and dual-channel formats, and the MPF adds an inductor-based high-pass filter and a line preamp input. Step up to the BAE 1073 or the BAE 1084 modules, and you get the same mic pre plus the classic EQ. Because they all share identical Class A components and Carnhill St Ives transformers, mixing these 500 Series preamps with rack-mount BAE 1073 preamps gives you consistent sound across your rack. Start with one BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre, then expand into other BAE pres, the B15 EQ, or a larger 500 Series rack as your studio grows.

ABOUT BAE

BAE Audio hand-builds its preamps in Southern California with point-to-point Canford wire, Elma switches, and Carnhill audio transformers. That modular design is why a BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre bought today matches one bought years ago, and why servicing various BAE pres is straightforward. The 500 Series format carries the BAE 1073 circuit into a home studio rack at a lower cost of entry: buy one 500 Series mic pre now, then add more 500 Series modules later using a BAE 3LB, six-space, or 11-space 500 Series rack. If you want classic analog tone from a mic pre and line preamp built the way the BAE 1073 was, the BAE 1073MPL 500 Series mic pre is a short path to it.