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Empirical Labs MIKE-E User Manual

Mic preamp with some new tricks
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60
INST.
Bad!
55
50
IN
45
40
(Hi-Z)
Clip
35
25 30
20
(Auto Sense)
10
GAIN (dB)
Line
Mic Preamp With Some New Tricks
Page
1
Features & Specs
2
What Is Mike-E?
2
Using for the First Time –
Setting Mic Gain! – The "Clip Test"
o
3-6 Example Settings of the EQ

7-8 Recall Sheet

9
Example Settings (Continued)
9
Mike-E Pet Tricks
10
Wiring & Cable Facts
10
Options & Upgrades
11

Block Diagram

11
Section Details
12
Section Details (Continued)
12
Mix Control
13
Stereo Operation (Using the Link Comp)
13
Fuse Replacement, and AC Voltage Select
13
Troubleshooting
14
Customer Comments
15
Warranty (Rear Cover)
Empirical Labs -
PHASE
Toasty
80Hz
Warm
48V!
PHANT
DRIVE
COMP MODE
INDEX
Item
20
16
13
10
8
HF Emphasis
2:1 4:1
8
20
8:1
1:1
.9mS
100mS
Link Comp
Ratio
mS
BYP
Nuke
RATIO
ATTACK
Technology for the Artist
OUT
6
4
5
3
1
7
3
8
.1
.25
2
.05
.5
9
1
0
10
Sec
Dry
Comp
MIX
RELEASE
Empirical
Labs

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Summary of Contents for Empirical Labs MIKE-E

  • Page 1: Recall Sheet

    Mic Preamp With Some New Tricks INDEX Page Item Features & Specs What Is Mike-E? Using for the First Time – Setting Mic Gain! – The “Clip Test” 3-6 Example Settings of the EQ 7-8 Recall Sheet Example Settings (Continued) Mike-E Pet Tricks Wiring &...
  • Page 2 Built in Instrument Preamp/Direct box – Just plug a guitar or bass etc into the front panel and the unit auto-senses it. Voila you have a high performance Empirical Labs direct box. The signal is then passed through the input transformer for some “IRON” in its sound.
  • Page 3 (sometimes two) 5dB step(s) from this CLIP TEST to allow headroom. The Mike-E has a huge “sweet” spot. Most mics operate well at 30 to 40dB of gain for voice level sources. If not using the CompSat, you can set output level to 7 or 8 for initial level.

  • Page 4: Example Settings

    Toasty LED lights on peaks. Set the Mix Control to full CW (10) and the user will gain a dB or two of “heat” and headroom. The Mike-E will be flattening the peaks out gently with its saturation circuit. Engaging the Emphasis will make the high frequencies clip earlier and soften peaky and possibly harsh “build-ups”.
  • Page 5 Smoothing out the dynamic range of plucked instruments with a fast compressor is extremely common., using a LN1176 or our own Distressor is sometimes all you will need when tracking or mixing. BUT… The Mike-E has an amazing compressor, as good as any, in our highly respected opinions… so lets use it! Start setting up the compressor by turning the mix to 10 (full CW or 100%).
  • Page 6 Because the Mic Pre part of the Mike-E is clean and accurate, the discussion below is about using the CompSat circuits to add musicality and warmth to percussives.
  • Page 7 – Getting a great bottom end on a song is incredibly important, so we will go into some extra detail here. If going direct while tracking, try the Mike-E Instrument IN jack on the front panel. It has a high impedance and goes through a transformer which will saturate some of the lowest frequencies in a musical way.
  • Page 8 BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS...
  • Page 9 Lead Vocal processor – With the CompSat Circuit, the Mike-E is so much more than a Mic Preamp. In fact, its much more than a good Mic Pre AND Compressor. Under Example Settings, see Vocal settings.
  • Page 10 “sincerity”! As long as a $1 six foot AC cable isn’t worn, and is less than 16 gauge, signal processors such as the Mike-E will perform just as superbly as with any $150 cable. Almost all musical gear has a regulated DC power supply that does an incredible job at completely isolating whatever flaky AC comes in.

  • Page 11: Section Details

    The Output – The basic Mike-E has an active output section going to two jacks in parallel, with the ¼” phone jack output being unbalanced. The output driver has 14dB of clean gain available. All of the output jacks can be used the same time.
  • Page 12 Converters would comb filter with the dry channel in the DAW. Now, you can just send the dry signal to the Mike-E and do the mixing of the processed and unprocessed signals there. Using one of the delay compensation utility programs in a DAW can still be used, if necessary.

  • Page 13: Changing The Fuse

    The user should plug in a short ¼” mono phone cable to both unit’s Link jacks, and match the controls on the two Mike-E’s for Stereo Buss use. Turn on the LINK setting on both units. Matching the front panel controls will yield highly accurate response between the two channels. You do not have to remove the cable to use them as two independent “mono”...
  • Page 14 Gods they are!” (from internet) "I finally got to hear Empirical Labs’ Lil FrEQ, a monster that will destroy the way you think about EQ. This single-channel unit has two shelving bands, tunable low cut, four parametric bands, dynamic EQ for de-essing and direct box input—all noiseless and distortion free. Best of all, its smooth processing is absolutely addictive.

  • Page 15: Warranty And Factory Service

    Should problems arise, call Empirical Labs at 973 541 9447 or visit our website below, then pack the unit up well1, with a note explaining the problem and return to Empirical Labs for repair. Include your name, address, phone number, and the date of purchase. Send the unit with freight prepaid to the address below: Empirical Labs, Attn Repairs.

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