Grace Design m103
Channel Strip – Mic Preamplifier / EQ / Compressor
The m103 starts with the tried and true m101 microphone preamplifier circuitry. For many engineers, the m101 is an introduction to what quality mic preamplification is all about, and the perfect starting point for a channel strip – musical, transparent, and pure. Headroom, detail, clarity – it’s all there. Complete with Grace Design’s exclusive ribbon mic mode, a 75Hz HPF, and 48V phantom power.
The 3-band EQ section is built around single-stage parallel tuning architecture, which minimizes circuitry and delivers natural tonal shaping from 20Hz to 20kHz. Controls include a fully parametric mid, with sweepable high and low bands which can be operated in shelving or peak modes. Because of the accuracy of this design, smaller increments of cut or boost can be heard, providing a greater level of control over tone shaping.
The compressor circuit is based on an optical attenuator – the purest, high-fidelity gain control mechanism available. It provides gentle limiting to fairly heavy compression while remaining neutral and transparent. The perfect way to zip it all up and send it downstream – clean, intact, and alive.
10 segment gain reduction and output meters make monitoring compression and output levels simple. The front panel accessed HI-Z input makes this an amazingly high-quality instrument preamp. Comprehensive I/O options allow the mic pre and EQ/COMP sections to be accessed independently of each other, and the order of the EQ/COMP is switchable.
A dual function link/sidechain input on the rear panel is provided for inserting external sidechain signals (for de-essing, ducking) or connecting two m103’s together for stereo compression applications. Predictably, the m103 is built to last, and proudly backed by Grace Design’s 5-year transferable warranty. So there it is, Grace Design has done it. The m103 – a channel strip by name, a powerful tool by design.
Check out a track that features m103’s on overheads and electric guitars.
Features
- Fast and musical transimpedance microphone preamplifier architecture
- Updated audio path with 0.5% precision metal film resistors
- New 12 position gold plated rotary gain switch
- High-performance output line driver amplifier and HPF amplifier
- Ribbon mic mode (also great for dynamic mics) – Relay bypass of phantom power decoupling capacitors, increased input impedance, and 48V lockout
- 3-band precision EQ, fully parametric mid-band, peak and shelf mode for hi and low bands
- Newly designed optical compressor
- Mic amp direct output
- EQ/COMP section line input
- Bombproof laser-etched black anodized front panel
- Sealed gold contact relay for Hi-Z input switching
- Built-in power supply
- LED indicators for +48V, Ribbon mode, and HPF
- Powerful 10 segment meters for gain reduction and output level
- Five-year transferable warranty on parts and labor
- Made in the USA
