Midas XL48 Microphone Preamplifier

In response to the many customer requests received over the years, the Midas XL48 DIG-LOG Microphone Preamplifier is a combination of the best of both analogue and digital worlds. XL48 features eight classic XL4 series microphone preamplifiers in a 1U 19" rackmount enclosure with the acclaimed low latency 24 bit 96 kHz ADC converters with overload protection from the Midas XL8 Live Performance System, and a precision reference clock oscillator with 1 part-per- million (ppm) stability. 

Additional features include swept high and low pass filters, 8 segment LED input meters, and individual phantom power, polarity invert, and -20 dB pad switches per channel. XL48 features both analogue outputs and digital outputs in ADAT optical and AES3 formats and all outputs can be used simultaneously, allowing the XL48 to be used as a multifunction analogue and/or digital microphone splitter. Multiple internal sample rates are supported, with the option to sync to external word clock.

XL48 is ideal for use in portable recording rigs, analogue and digital splits between consoles, or indeed augmenting the performance of other mixing consoles with its Midas XL4 microphone preamplifiers, XL8 analogue-to-digital conversion and precision reference-grade 1 ppm internal clock oscillator.

Award-Winning MIDAS XL4 Microphone Preamplifier

The Midas microphone preamplifier is considered by leading live sound and recording engineers to be the very essence of the famous Midas sound. Decades of design experience paired with the finest choice of premium-grade components lead to the acclaimed warmth and depth - bringing out subtle ambience, maintaining spatial positioning and more effectively capturing a precise sound image. The acclaimed sound of the award-winning Midas microphone preamplifier has inspired generations of live sound engineers to their best work, creating sonic panoramas that have captivated audiences worldwide.

Since pristine sound always begins with the microphone preamplifier, the first point where the signal enters the console, XL48 features the legendary Midas XL4 microphone preamplifier design, which faithfully reproduces every sonic detail so no part of a performance will ever be missed. Transparent and pristine sound, low noise and high common-mode rejection are all hallmarks of this classic design.

Over the years many mix engineers have found this robust and overload-tolerant design takes on a whole new dimension of sound when driven hard, the crystal-clear audiophile reproduction giving way to just the right combination of harmonics, a warm and organic sound heard by millions of concert goers and recorded for posterity on countless live albums over the years.

Multiple Sample Rates

XL48 supports 24 bit audio operation at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz from its internal precision “AES Grade 1” reference temperature-compensated clock oscillator with 1 part-per-million (ppm) stability. This highly accurate clock source can be used as the reference clock for digital audio systems, providing a very defined sound image free of jitter and other digital clocking error artefacts.

XL48 also supports the same sample rates when clocked from external word clock, and both word clock input and output are provided on 75 Ω BNC connectors.

Flexible connectivity

XL48 features parallel-connected analogue inputs on both XLR and 25 way D-type connectors. Electronically balanced analogue outputs are also provided on a 25 way D-type connector. In the digital domain, AES3 (AES/EBU) outputs are provided on dual 25 way D-type connectors, and dual TOSLINK optical connectors are provided for the ADAT outputs to allow for operation at both standard 44.1/48 kHz and high 88.2/96 kHz sample rates.

Built for the Road

Featuring a rugged steel 1U rackmount enclosure, the XL48 is designed for the rigours of live concert touring. Premium Neutrik connectors are used to ensure reliable audio connections, night after night.