Sometimes, you don't need a preamp that heavily colors your sound. Sometimes, you just need absolute, flawless transparency: zero noise, ultra-wide bandwidth, and no distortion. That is exactly what the MP4500 was built to deliver.

Inspired by the legendary SSL 4000G console channel strip, the MP4500 provides 70dB of pure, pristine gain. It is the perfect complement to any microphone, ensuring that what goes in is exactly what comes out, only louder and perfectly defined.

But we also know that flexibility is key in the studio. If you ever find it a bit too "clean" or clinical for a specific track, we’ve got you covered. We engineered a built-in Soft Clip function that allows you to dial in rich, musical harmonics on demand, with a switchable focus on either 2nd or 3rd order harmonics to suit your source.

With its versatility, the MP4500 is set to become the ultimate workhorse of your studio.

Highlights

• Pure Gain Range: 0 to 70dB of flawless, low-noise amplification.
• Console Lineage: Circuit design inspired by the classic SSL 4000G.
• Essential Tools: High-Pass Filter (HPF), Phase Reverse, Pad, and an output Fader for perfect gain staging.
• Dual-Character Soft Clip: Add analog warmth and saturation by prioritizing 2nd (warm, asymmetric) or 3rd (punchy, symmetric) harmonics.
• Signal/Clip LED,
• High grade components throughout,
• Easy build,
• Available assembled or as a full kit (everything included).

Controls

1. Soft clip: Controls the soft clipping threshold. Turn left for asymmetrical saturation; turn right for symmetrical saturation. The overall saturation level is interactive with the preamp gain. Set the potentiometer to its center-click position to disable clipping entirely.

2. Gain switch: Sets the gain between +15 and +70dB in combination with the High Gain switch.

3. High Gain: Sets the range of the Gain switch.

4. Level: Sets the output level of the preamp, like a fader.

5. HPF: High pass filter, continuously variable from 11Hz to 340Hz. 

6. phantom power to the microphone

7. Phase switch: Inverts the output signal phase.

8. Pad: Adds a 20dB pad on the input signal allowing line levels.

9. Clip LED: Flashes green when a signal is present and turns red before clipping

10. IN: Inserts the high pass filter.

What's in the kit?

Absolutely everything!

• Passive components (resistors, capacitors),
• Active components (diodes, transistors, ICs, LEDs, ...),
• Front panel elements (switches, potentiometers, knobs),
• Connectors, relays,
• PCB's,
• Front panel
• All hardware

You bring the solder (use good quality solder, 1mm diameter max) and the Lunchbox.

Difficulty level

The MP4500 kit is an easy build.
There is no setup needed.