Summit MPE-200

The Summit MPE-200 is a high end microphone dual channel preamplifier and equalizer. It was designed by Rupert Neve in tandem with Summit Audio. It's got analog circuity, but works with LED screens and a digital interface. I don't know all of the connections that it has, as the one that I have used was already hooked into the patch bay and there wasn't a need for me to do anything with the connections. It is rack mountable and will take up two spaces.

UTILIZATION

Using the Summit MPE-200 definitely takes a bit of getting used to, but if you're familiar with preamps and general equalization, it shouldn't be too hard for your to figure this out. The main thing is adjusting to the LED screens. However, on the EQ you've got your standard parameters for gain and frequency, as well as bandwidth shape. There's an input gain knob for the preamp and also a master output volume. I haven't looked at the manual, but it might be helpful if you're buying one and want to learn everything there is to know about it.

SOUND QUALITY

The Summit MPE-200 is an all around amazing sounding channel strip. The preamps on this are some of the best of their kind, as everything comes in with a great amount of detail and fullness, depending on the microphone of course. It always seems to paint a very accurate and realistic sound of whatever you're capturing. The EQ is also outstanding and there is an almost endless amount of control as you can get super fine with it. Basically, if you're looking to boost or cut in small amount at specific frequencies, this is possible with the MPE-200. You won't be able to say that about most channel strips, and when paired with the killer preamps, it's hard to beat the MPE-200.

OVERALL OPINION

Summit Audio has an outstanding line of gear to offer, with the MPE-200 being one of their finest products. Of course it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to get one, and to be honest I'm not really sure that it's worth the price. Having said this, I use one at the studio where I work, so I don't have to pay at all for it. It's basically the front end in one of our smaller rooms, and it certainly sees a lot of action. If you're interested in dropping a ton of money on a dual channel preamp/EQ combo for your front end, whether it be in a professional or home studio, the Summit MPE-200 should definitely be in the discussion.

Double microphone preamp with 2 channels 4-band parametric equalizer,
4 physical inputs and 4 outputs (2 for the pre amp and 2 for the EQ) which allows a compressor to put between each channel, for example, or use the pre amp regardless of the EQ!
the schematic was created by Rupert Neve and released in 1998 manufactured by Summit Audio.
its particularity and be the first fully analog, and in the classroom, but in digital control, which makes it possible to Store and Recall any setting on the machine.
He has six multi-function display, simply push quil to edit and 10 endless rotary function with a push and equipped for the VCA's incrémantation values.
it weighs heavy, very heavy, the power supply is oversized, the rack is ventilated in a very efficient and unobtrusive (which is rare!)
there is a version of MPE 200 slave, because the front of a classic MPE200 can be used to edit up to 32 channels or MPE200 200slave MPE. (Well you still have the means, it means 16 machines to 5500 euros each (more than half a milion francs!)

UTILIZATION

Intuitive, clear, even if having two channels on a single physical interface can sometimes cause some delays! it has 25 memories that can save your settings and are recalled on any of the two channels (not 25 memories per channel) can be linker both channels for stereo, all functions are recall (ie : 48V, phase, gain, HPF / LPF, 4-band EQ and output level)
* Rigolotte one more thing, you can even mettren the two filters in series, if you do not want to use the LPF can be used when two HPF of -12 dB / octave range, which can put one at 50 Hz for example, and another at 125 Hz, which will make you a Soft filter between 50Hz and 125 and summation effect (12 +12 = -24dB/octave) dives much more violent from 50Hz! is a specific tips to MPE 200!
for the rest, even without the doc no problem, we now store in the output screen while pressing the rotary push the output, it goes fast, it can effectively and locker memories or not . it is possible to recall n'impotre quellle memory on the screen before the recall and this for both channels

SOUND QUALITY

I find the pre amp very good, tough, beautiful, clear and powerful sound.
EQ, Superb, an incredibly serious, flexible and breathable, a musical medium and sharp detail, it is a very musical EQ, even the frequencies that hurt (2.5 kHz, 3.15 kHz, 6.3 kHz for example, are superb!) machine very well calibrated in terms of level (successive stages) as well as choice of frequency and Q on EQ's (between 0.60 and 2), values ​​a little soft in contrast a PM3500, here we try to make the sound, not to manage problems of feedback!

OVERALL OPINION

I dreamed for a long time for my solo concerts in conventional sound systems, in fact I often program with excerpts from opera involving one or two soloists extract (example: tenor and soprano + flute concerto and harp, or then again another soprano) short, you understand the whole point of a telll machine, finished the pre-amp analog racks for each solo, set to the technician in me be rewired each soloist on the new songs a pair of two solo and I recall the summit proper memory! with consistent quality and remaining analog class
I would have enlisted the services of two Empirical Labs Distressor EL8X between the pre amp section and that of EQ's and I must say that I do not live today what I could get better! come and compare it with a 737!!
I'm pretty pleased with the MPE 200 and have "unfortunately" not much bad to say about this machine at the moment!