Mercury MSC-72 Mono Tube Channel Strip – M72s + EQH1

M72s Studio Microphone Amplifier with EQ-H1 Studio Program Equalizer

The MSC-72 Mic Amp

The M72s is based on the most sought after vintage “V series” module, the ‘Telefunken/Siemens V72s,’ which is most famous for being used in REDD.37 consoles used on the early Beatles recordings by George Martin at Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

Unlike those vintage modules that had a fixed 34dB gain, The gain of the Mercury M72s is variable from 28dB to 58dB, in 3dB increments. Also, there is an option of a selectable Input Pad of -16dB or -28dB for even more control. When the -28dB pad is engaged and it is set at the lowest gain setting (28dB) you can run line level signal through the M72s to add warmth and tonality to any tracks, mixes, keyboards, drum machines, samples etc… There are also all the modern features we expect on a new piece of equipment: Phantom Power (on/off) , Phase (Polarity) Reversal, and our amazing sounding F.D.I. (FET Direct Input) Circuit.

The Mercury FDI (FET Direct Input), a proprietary J-Fet circuit, based on a class-A tube topology. The Mercury FDI is designed to reproduce every nuance of a direct recording, while the circuit lets the tube or solid-state character of the amplifier determine the overall tone. The instrument DI signal is sent through the entire microphone preamp circuitry, including Mercury’s custom, massive input transformers, so that the individual character of each preamp comes through.

The Mercury M72s has the rich lows and punchy mids giving you a instant vocal tone, or assisting with a realistic acoustic guitar tone, punch to bass guitar. The same reaction to instruments or source as the vintage module but with slightly more open high end and openness. The Mercury M72s Studio Microphone Amplifier has that “vintage” tone and “break up” like the original circuit but it is a bit more musical over all (not cleaner, more musical, there is a huge difference).

Tubes: The Mercury M72s amplifier in the Mercury Studio Channel 72 uses two EF806s tubes.

 

The MSC-72 EQ

The Mercury EQ-H1 features a passive EQ circuit with a single ended gain make up amplifier topology, based on the vintage ‘Pultec EQH’ circuit. The Mercury EQH2 circuit provides a musically satisfying result unobtainable with active and parametric EQs, since the EQH2 does not rely upon negative feed back (and all it’s associated phase and dynamic distortions) to achieve equalization. The EQH2, like all Mercury products, has transformer balanced (XLR) input and outputs. The only additions or changes to the original are a much more powerful and stable power supply and running DC on the heaters, rather than AC.

EQH2 vs EQP2: Simply, the key to the tone of these two circuits is it’s amplifier, and Mercury EQ-H2 and EQ-P2 have different amplifiers to make up the gain lost by the passive equalizer circuit, thus it has a different tone. Meaning the EQH2 and EQP2 sound different on the same application, and have a different reaction to the same instrumentation or voice. The EQH2, like the mono version EQ-H1, is more punchy and robust and has a slight push in the low end and lower midrange. The EQP2, like the mono version EQ-P1, is more open and silky, and equally adds warm to highs, mids and lows of your source. Although both sound amazing on any application and are both multi-purpose tools (equalizers) in the studio, if you had both you could then choose between applications. The Mercury EQH2 is warm and fluid but a bit “thicker” than the EQP2, thus shines on thickening (and pushing forward in the mix) your Vocals, Bass, Kick, Snare, and Acoustic Guitar etc… The Mercury EQP2 is great for Shaping and adding ‘air’ to your vocals, Acoustic instruments, Guitar, Piano etc… and is magical strapped across your two buss to add musicality to you mix.

Tubes: The Mercury EQ-H1 amplifier uses a 1x 12AX7 and 1x 12BH7, per channel.

Frequencies:

• Low Frequency Select (CPS; Cycles per second): 20, 30, 60, 100, 200 Hz
• Low Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +13dB
• Low Frequency Attenuate Control: Shelf Atten. 0dB to -17dB
• High Frequency Select (KCS; kilocycles per second ): 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16 kHz
• High Frequency Boost Control: Shelf Boost, 0dB to +16dB
• High Frequency Attenuate Control: 10k Shelf Attenuate, 0dB to -16dB

The Mercury EQ-H1 and EQ-P1 are based on the original Pultec equalizers which were tools developed to deal with the limitations of recorded music. Limitations that most often manifest themselves in the highest and lowest frequencies of the program material. The family of Pultec EQs were originally designed to bring back the life and musicality lost in the recording. Whether by accident or genius, nothing has been able to do it better. The interaction of the passive boosting and attenuating shelving EQs (not relying on negative feed back), as well as the transformers, tubes and other amplification circuitry all add to the incredibly musical character of the product. Working engineers try other types of equalizers, but always end up coming back to the Pultec style as the equalizer of choice for those final touches while tracking or mixing and even mastering.

	Mic Input Impedance:		Approx. 2k
	Suggested Source Impedance:		Approx. 200 ohms
	Input Impedance with -28dB Pad:		Approx. 4k
	DI Input Impedance:		2M ohms
	Internal Output Impedance:		30-50 ohms (depends on gain setting)
	Suggested Minimum Load:		500 ohms
	Max. Mic Signal Input Level (@ 20 Hz):		+34dBu with -28dB Pad engaged / +6dBu with Pad not engaged
	Max. Output Level:		+22dBu
	Frequency Response:		20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.5dB
	Harmonic Distortion:		All musically related low orders of harmonics, with no significant order above 5th. More info
	Rack Size:		3U
	Weight:		30 lbs.
	Shipping Size:		25″ x 19″ x 10″