The Iconic Motown Input Box
Want to infuse your music with the Motown sound? Sweetwater has a box for that. In 1966, the chief engineer at Motown Records designed a tube DI that could accommodate multiple guitar and bass instruments. This is the backbone of the Motown sound that drove the hits from 1966 to 1972. It’s the sound of James Jamerson, Dennis Coffey, Bob Babbitt, Robert White, Joe Messina, and the other largely unsung (and uncredited) musicians collectively known as the Funk Brothers, Motown’s legendary in-house rhythm section. With their MTP-66, Acme Audio has faithfully re-created the Motown “Input Box” from the original schematics in a single-channel, all-tube device — and added a killer mic preamp section. Clad in a rugged lunchbox chassis with a snazzy retro blue paint job, the MTP-66 serves up fat, harmonically rich bottom end, authoritative upper-midrange presence, and exciting tube sheen on the high end. If you’re looking for vibey vintage tube color and punch, the Acme Audio MTP-66 delivers.
Note: The MTP-66 does not provide phantom power. An external phantom power supply will be needed if used with condenser mics or other mics requiring 48-volt phantom power.
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Full-featured boutique preamp/DI
Acme Audio Manufacturing created quite a stir with their faithful re-creations of iconic Motown equipment. Featuring an all-tube signal path with hand-selected tubes that drive a CineMag output transformer, the MTP-66 adds to — and expands — that rich legacy. In addition to being an instrument-to-line-level tube preamp, Acme has enhanced the functionality of the unit with a microphone preamp section that is also based on an original Motown engineering design, featuring a fixed-gain pentode with an Acme Audio/Triad input transformer. Other notable features include adjustable input and output controls (the original didn’t have these), which give you the ability to tweak your sound with the perfect amount of drive and compression.
Vibey vintage tube color and punch
The MTP-66 doesn’t offer phantom power. Before you protest, zoom out and consider what this means in the overall context of the unit’s raison d’etre. Precluding the use of solid-state condenser microphones (unless you use another source of 48-volt power), this purposeful omission forces you to use tube, passive ribbon, and dynamic microphones. Now, think about what you’re going for, sonically. The MTP-66 ensures a funkier-sounding signal than if you’d used your pristine FET condenser mic. After all, you don’t plug into the MTP-66 to play it safe. The Funk Brothers would definitely approve.
Breathe new life into your dynamic and ribbon mics
The MTP-66 breathes new life into dynamic and ribbon microphones while adding an exhilarating tube sheen on the high end, slightly scooping the lower mids, and beefing up the bottom. You’ll find new uses for passive ribbons that once seemed too dark for certain sources. Your brighter mics will also take on new life, as the MTP-66 coaxes out the gloss on acoustic guitars, beautiful stick presence on cymbals, and the captivating crispness only tube saturation can bring to your party.
What a difference a DI makes
You think you know what a DI’d bass sounds like. Think again. The MTP-66’s DI section is very impressive, with fat, harmonically rich bottom end and punchy upper-midrange presence that makes a bass guitar stand up and authoritatively drive a track. When driven hard, it imparts the presence and sustain of a bass amp, while adding body and interest to lackluster, dull-sounding instruments. And it’s nothing short of transformative on an analog monosynth. Bottom line: if you’re ready to commit to serious vintage tube vibe, the Acme Audio MTP-66 is a must-have.
Acme Audio MTP-66 Motown Tube Preamp Features:
- 1-channel tube DI/mic preamp inspired by the Motown Input Box
- Instrument-to-line-level tube preamp with microphone amp section
- Mic pre with fixed-gain pentode; Acme Audio/Triad input transformer
- Designed from the original Motown engineering schematics
- Hand-selected tubes and CineMag output transformer
- Rugged lunchbox chassis with retro blue finish
