Classic Midas Preamp in a 500 Series Module
Heard by millions of concert goers and on countless live recordings, the Midas preamp has developed a devoted following among front-of-house engineers for its audiophile-grade sonics, forgiving overload tolerance, and characterful sound when pushed hard. The Midas 502 V2 mic/line preamp gives you grab-and-go access to this indispensable tool in a convenient 500 Series module. At Sweetwater, we particularly appreciate the sonic flexibility afforded by the inclusion of highpass and lowpass filters derived from the acclaimed Midas XL4 live performance mixing console and a switchable transformer-balanced output. And with 80dB of gain on tap, the Midas 502 V2 will effortlessly handle your lowest output mics.
Related Videos: 502 V2 500 Series Microphone Preamp
The essence of the Midas sound
Top live sound engineers consider the Midas mic pre to be the essence of the Midas sound. The warmth, depth, spatial and ambient detail, and organic nature of that sound is the result of decades of circuit design experience and the use of top-drawer componentry. For instance, four discrete input transistors deliver top-notch transparency and ultra-low-noise performance.
Go ahead: hit it hard
The Midas 502 V2 thrives on abuse. In fact, this preamp takes on a whole new personality when driven hard. Its input stage handles up to +24dBu without a pad and features the well-loved soft clipping that adds just the right amount of harmonics to its crystal-clear sonic signature. Midas takes the 502 V2's impressive versatility even further with the inclusion of highpass and lowpass filters ported from their legendary XL4 console. The highpass filter control adjusts the hinge frequency from 10Hz to 400Hz, while the lowpass is adjustable from 1kHz to 40kHz. And if you've always wanted to be able to use your low-output ribbon mics on quieter sources, now you can — the 502 V2 features a truly impressive gain range of -20dB to +80dB!
Selectable balanced output
The 502 V2 uses the same electronically balanced output found on most Midas consoles. This delivers an extremely clean signal at very high signal levels. But for sonic versatility, the 502 V2 also gives you the option of selecting a discrete transistor-driven, transformer-balanced output stage. Engaging the TX switch gives you a more vintage sound that becomes saturated at lower frequencies when driven hard. Electronic and transformer output levels are matched to allow for easy on-the-fly A/B comparisons.
Midas 502 V2 500 Series Mic/Line Preamp Features:
- Award-winning Midas preamp, enhanced with quad discrete ultra-low-noise input transistors
- Input allows up to +24dBu levels with no pad
- Features the much-loved Midas pre soft-clipping characteristic
- Classic Midas XL4 swept lowpass and highpass filters with independent actuation switches
- Switchable electronic or discrete transistor-driven, transformer-balanced output for sonic flexibility
- Dual precision 11-segment LED circular input and output level metering
- High-accuracy rotary switch gain control with 60dB range in 5dB steps
- Output gain trim (+/-20dB range) controls input and output stage coloration
- Impressive gain range (-20dB to +80dB) easily accommodates low-output mics
- Large gain trim knobs for precise control of input/output gain
- Illuminated switches for filters, +48V phantom power, polarity reverse, and electronic/transformer output select
- Power-up mute relays prevent switch-on thumps
- Premium-quality components throughout for audiophile-grade signal path
- Designed and engineered in the U.K.
- Midas 3-year warranty
