Midas XL48 Microphone Preamplifier

Full Description

Award-Winning Preamplification

The Midas XL48 delivers the industry-renowned Midas sound thanks to the use of premium-grade components that result in that signature warmth and depth. Midas' years of knowledge and experience in creating some of the most famous microphone preamps available have resulted in a design that ensures exceptional spatial positioning, with incredibly precise audio capture. The preamp design in the XL48 is taken straight from the legendary XL4 analogue mixing desk, capable of faithfully reproducing every sonic detail in your sound. With low-noise performance and a high CMRR, the XL48 delivers crystal-clear audiophile sound quality. Audible on countless live albums and in an endless list of concerts, the Midas preamp is an award-winning solution with unsurpassed flexibility.

Classic XL4 Low/High-Pass Filters

Midas are renowned for their legendary XL4 mixers. The XL4 was equipped with highly regarded low-pass and high-pass filters that aided the mixer's incredible sonic characteristics and flexibility. The Midas XL48 delivers those same characteristics, providing you with legendary XL4 low-pass and high-pass filter characteristics. The filters utilise a 12dB/Oct slope, with -3dB points.

Flexible & Intuitive Operation

The XL48 can be operated using a wide range of sample rates. The unit supports 34-bit audio operation at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, and 96kHz. This is done through the high-performance and precise internal AES Grade 1 reference temperature-compensated clock oscillator, with 1 part-per-million stability, which can be used as a reference clock for digital audio systems. The wide sample rate range is also supported when using an external word clock, with the clock I/Os utilising 75 Ohm BNC connectors. The XL48 also features parallel-connected analogue inputs over both XLR and 25-way D-type connectors. The unit also provides you with an electronically-balanced 25-way D-type analogue output, whilst AES3 (AES/EBU) dual 25-way D-type connectors, as well as dual TOSLINK optical connectors, provide you with high-performance digital outputs.

Intelligent Front-Panel Design

The front panel of the XL48 features an intelligent control set. Each channel features a dedicated gain control knob for adjusting the mic gain within a +10dB to +60dB range. Low-pass and high-pass control knobs allow you to adjust the corresponding filter's frequency range, with sweepable high-pass from 1kHz to 40kHz, and sweepable low-pass from 10Hz to 400Hz. Each channel is also equipped with a PAD button for reducing the microphone signal by 20dB when engaged, a 48V button for supplying phantom power to the mic connected to that channel, and a polarity button. The polarity button reverses the phase by 180 degrees. A convenient 8-segment LED meter allows you to accurately monitor the signal level for that channel. On top of dedicated channel controls and metering, the XL48 also features LEDs to indicate the sample frequency being used on the unit, as well as sync source LEDs to display the current sync source, and a selection switch for choosing the sample frequency and clock sync. The XL48 can be mounted in a rack using the four cut-outs for rack fixings.

Features

• 8-channel DIGI-LOG microphone preamplifier
• Award-winning Midas XLR microphone preamplifiers with switchable +48V phantom power
• Low-latency 24-bit 96kHz ADC converters with overload protection
• All-analogue Midas XL4 swept low and high-pass filters, per input
• 2 x ADAT optical output ports with 75 Ohm BNC connector for external word clock
• Selectable 96kHz/88.2kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz sample rate oepration
• Internal AES Grade 1 temperature-compensated word clock (1ppm)
• 8 inputs with Neutrik XLR connectors and parallel 25-way D-type connector
• Electronically-balanced analogue outptus on a 25-way D-type connector
• Digital AES3 (AES/EBU) outptus on dual 25-way D-type connectors
• Rugged 1U rackmount chassis for durability in portable applications
• Auto-ranging universal switch-mode power supply
• Designed and engineered in the UK

Specifications

• Inputs: Parallel Connected
  • 8 x XLR Connectors
  • 1 x 25-Way D-Type Connector
• Maximum Input Level:
  • Mic/Line: +11dBu
  • Mic/Line + Pad: +31dBu
  • Preamplifier Gain: +10dB to +60dB
• CMRR at 1kHz (Typical):
  • Mic (Gain +40dB): Greater than 80dB
  • Mic + Pad (Gain +40dB): Greater than 70dB
• Noise:
  • Mic EIN at +60dB Gain: -128dBu
  • Mic EIN at +40dB Gain: -125dBu
  • Output Noise at Minimum Gain: -95dBu
  • Frequency Response: +0dB to -1dB (20Hz to 20kHz)
  • THD+N at 1kHz: 0.03 Percent (Input to output with unity gain)
  • Crosstalk at 1kHz: Less than -90dB
• Filters:
  • High-Pass Filter Slope: 12dB/Oct
  • Low-Pass Filter Slope: 12dB/Oct
  • High-Pass Filter Range: 10Hz to 400Hz
  • Low-Pass Filter Range: 1kHz to 40kHz
• Maximum Output Level:
  • Line Outputs (Into 600 R): +21dBu
• Digital Output:
  • Sampling Frequency: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, or 96kHz
  • Bit-Rate: 24-Bit
  • Dynamic Range: Greater than 110dB (20Hz to 20kHz)
• Terminations:
  • Analogue Audio Inputs: Parallel Conencted
    • 3-Pin XLR
    • 25-Way D-Type Connector
  • Analog Audio Outputs: 25-Way D-Type Connector
  • AES3 Digital Outputs: 2 x 25-Way D-Type Connector
  • ADAT Digital Outputs: 2 x TOSLINK Optical Connector
  • Word Clock Input: 75 Ohm BNC Connector
  • Word Clock Output: 75 Ohm BNC Connector
  • Power: IEC
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 483mm / 19''
  • Depth: 301mm / 11.8''
  • Height: 44mm 1.7''
• Weight: 4.3kg / 9.5lbs