Datasheet
Empirical Labs - Mike-E
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Mike-E Product Description
The Mike-E™ from Empirical Labs is a modern digitally controlled
Microphone Preamplifier chocked with unusual features to warm
and soften the source, along with an excellent compressor/limiter.
Mike-E offers an incredible performance transformer-coupled mic
preamp, whose noise floor is far below any microphone’s self
noise.
The one-of-a-kind ‘CompSat’ section is an uncompromising
compressor and saturator circuit that offers versatile ‘coloring’, and
classic knee compression.
Mic Preamp Section – This is a super low noise transformer input
amplifier section, with the gain digitally controlled. This section comes
standard with a shielded Lundahl transformer, but provides for a Jensen
transformer also.
The signal to noise far exceeds any microphone in existence, typically
over 130 dB with the input shorted and 40dB of gain. Having used many
mic preamps over the years, we have implemented a unique stepped gain
control that should be impervious to the normal flakiness that age causes
to pots and detented switches.
Counting the output gain of 14 dB, a total 74 dB of gain is available to the
user with the CompSat section bypassed.
A 48 Volt Phantom power is provided for condenser mikes.
Exclusive CompSat™ Section - This unique circuitry sets the Mike-E
apart from all other mic preamplifiers. It has four sections:
1) Saturator – This is a multi-stage soft clipping circuit. At lower levels, a
triode type saturation affects the signal. As the level increases, a second
unique clip circuit that includes Germanium semiconductors starts to more
severely flatten out the peaks. An LED named “BAD!” indicates harder un-
musical clipping.
2) Compressor – This is an uncompromising compressor/limiter circuit
that allows detented control of attack and release for easy repeatability.
You adjust the amount of compression with the DRIVE knob, which
adjusts the level going into the compressor. In ways it is Distressor-like,
but has other differing characteristics including a much longer available
attack time, and additional circuitry. Four ratios are provided, 2:1 being the
gentlest with a long 20dB knee, good for subtle compression such as
while tracking or on the Buss. Ratios 4:1 and 8:1 are steeper but still very
smooth with long knees. Nuke is very steep (limiter like) and has a
different attack & release shape.
3) Emphasis - The Emphasis is actually two circuits that surround the
compressor and saturator, as shown in the block diagram. The Pre-
emphasis boosts the high frequencies before the compressor and
saturator (CompSat), soft clipping them sooner than normal, while a de-
emphasis cuts the frequencies complementary after the CompSat.
Emphasis has the added perk of improving signal to noise, and is the
reason analog tape decks used emphasis to begin with.
Mike-E's Seven circuts
1. Mic Preamplifier with super low noise & stepped gain
switching.
2. Built in ‘Direct Box’, called the ‘Inst In’, offers
unparalleled
distortion, noise, and frequency response when pre-amping
instruments.
3. ‘Colored’ 80Hz High pass filter emulates the warm low
frequency cut of our favorite vintage equalizers.
4. Phase Switch to invert the audio signal 180 degrees.
5. CompSat offers both a musical Compressor/Limiter and
a unique
tape-like saturation circuit.
6. Emphasis high-frequency emphasis system softens high
frequency ‘pile-ups’ and further the creamy color of the
Mike-E.
7. Mix Control allows the blending of the
Compressed/Saturated
signal with the clean unprocessed “Dry” signal.
Specifications
• Freq. Response is 3 Hz to 200 kHz on (No CompSat).
CompSat is 3Hz – 150Khz. Optional Transformer output is
6Hz–80kHz.
• Signal to Noise - 130 dB signal to Noise.at 40dB gain.
Maximum output is +28dBu.
• Distortion Ranges between .0006% and 15% depending
on mode and settings.
• Transformer coupled Input, Active and Transformer
Outputs available. High quality audio caps used internally.
• Input Impedance is 600 Ohms. Output impedance is less
