Summit Audio ESC-410
Everest at a Glance:
- Mz2- Microphone and Instrument Preamplifier
- Dc1- Dual Mode Dynamics Control
- Fe1- Passive Three Band Equalizer
- Db2- Drive Bus Master Output and Drive Section
- Touch Patch Routing Section
- Power Supplies
- Flexibility
Mz2- Microphone and Instrument
Preamplifier
At the far left stands the Mz2 microphone and
instrument preamplifier. The culmination of Summit
Audio's many years of
experience making preamps, the Mz2 is made for tone and sweetness with
no
sacrifice in noise or distortion specs, the perfect blend of fidelity and
flavor . The design in the Mz2 starts with
a discrete, matched and hand
tested transistor stage. Next is an interstage, bypassable 12AX7A
vacuum
tube, getting full plate voltage (185V). Following is the interstage
Jensen transformer, the best location for a
transformer as feeding it with
high level is the best for the sound, for isolation, and for noise
immunity.
When you plug an instrument into the hi-Z in, it goes directly
to the tube, then to the transformer (not to an op amp), instantly lending tone
and life to your bass, guitar, or other instrument. Controls include sweepable
gain with the top-of-the line potentiometer offering 10X the rotational life of
most other pots, 10 segment LED metering, super clean +48VDC phantom power (see
power supply), -20dB pad, switchable polarity, 60Hz HPF, and tube/solid state
switch. IO includes XLR mic in, front panel 1/4" hi-Z in, balanced XLR line
level out, 1/4" Insert, plus balanced 1/4" -10dB out (great for using the
ECS-410 as the front end to your bass or guitar rig).
Dc1- Dual Mode Dynamics Control
Summit
Audio's 20+ years of compression tradition is well represented in the Dc1
compressor. Utilizing a discrete transistor attenuator design, the Dc1 has that
sweet program compensated and user directed timing that Summit Audio has been
famous for since the very beginning, making for a very musical and satisfying
compression experience. The Dc1 is VERY low noise, even under hard compression,
and is fully temperature compensated to avoid any thermal drift. Along with the
usual controls of make-up gain, threshold, attack, and release (on
top-of-the-line potentiometers), the Dc1 adds a mode switch for choosing
"Classic" or "Tight" compression modes. Classic is the smooth, signal-dependent
kind of compression you're used to hearing from Summit Audio. It is clean,
smooth, easy, and musical. Tight mode tightens the reigns, allowing for a much
higher compression ratio, clamping the signal and controlling those peaks while
still maintaining the integrity of the sound. Standing to the left is the
accurate and easy-to-read 10 segment gain reduction meter showing 1-1/2dB steps.
Includes master straightwire bypass and stereo link mode (for linking with
another ECS-410 Everest). IO includes balanced XLR in and out, 1/4" stereo link
jack, and 1/4" side chain insert.
Fe1- Passive Three Band Equalizer
Standing at the top of ECS-410 Everest is the Fe1 passive three
band EQ. We chose to design a passive EQ circuit for the distinct sound, warmth,
and great phase coherence we can get from passive LC circuits. Based around the
incredible FeQ-50 passive EQ, the Fe1 is a flavor enhancer, perfect for
sculpting your sound as you record and to add that distinctive touch when
processing. This passive EQ features a custom LF inductor with all inductors
shielded against EMI, high quality film capacitors, four transistor buffers, and
a very minimal signal path. Each of the three bands has 6 selectable frequencies
utilizing sealed, gold-flash switches with sweepable 12dB of cut or boost on the
highest end center-detent potentiometers. The low and high bands are also
switchable between shelving and peaking filters. Master straight-wire bypass
included. IO includes balanced XLR in and XLR out.
Db2- Drive Bus Master Output and Drive Section
One of the truly unique features of ECS-410 Everest is the Db2
drive bus. More than just a master output section, Db2 has multiple gain stages
for overdriving, either in vacuum tube or discrete transistor mode, each with a
totally unique and variable sound. With dual 12AX7A vacuum tubes, the Db2 use
both a triple triode, zero feedback vacuum tube and high voltage transistor
approach with real Class A power for anything from clean and linear to fully
driven and saturated and anything in between. Need very low distortion and lots
of extra gain? Turn the output up all the way and use the drive gain to get the
level you need. Want to add overdrive to a signal? Turn the output gain down and
use the drive gain to get the amount of drive you need. Tube or transistor, each
has a unique and distinct sound. Want the ultimate it quiet and low distortion?
Bypass the whole section. Also included is a calibratable analog VU meter for
true output level metering. IO includes balanced XLR in and out, plus 1/4" TRS
-10dB out (great for using the ECS-410 as the front end to your bass or guitar
rig).
Touch Patch Routing Section
Unique to
ECS-410 Everest is the TouchPatch master routing section. With the touch of a
single button you can route any section to and from any other section. These are
no MOS switches, there is no audio routed to the front panel for the switching,
it remains close to the signal path so no audio runs around the interior where
it can lose fidelity from high voltage or other noise generating fields. We use
gold flash, double contact relays, and no computer or microprocessor making
noise inside the unit. Need to route the preamp to the compressor, to the EQ, to
the drive bus? One button. Need to pull the EQ out of the chain? One button.
Want the EQ before the compressor? One button. Choose one of any 10 routing
schemes in the most intuitive and flexible routing section ever offered. And
remember, each section has it's own independent input and output, so any one not
routed is still fully operational on its own.
Power Supplies
ECS-410 Everest utilizes
two separate power supplies. For all audio, we use a discrete linear supply,
with fully regulated and double isolated B+ with discrete regulated and triple
LC filtered +48VDC phantom power for absolute purity when powering your mics. A
separate power supply supplies power for all metering and control, keeping any
possible noise generating components fully
isolated.
Flexibility
The ECS-410 Everest excels in
all regards. Since each section has it's own IO (and in some cases, multiple
IO), each can be wired into your patch bay for individual use. Each section can
also be routed internally with the TouchPatch one-touch routing section, but the
outputs of each section are still active. For example, route the ECS-410 Everest
from the Mz2 Preamp, to the Dc1 Compressor, to the Fe1 EQ, to the Db2 Drive Bus.
Plug your microphone into the preamp section, adjust gains and processing
sections so you get what you want out the main XLR output. The Mz2 preamps
output is still active, sending an unprocessed output from the mic. The Dc1's
output is still active, sending the compressed and preamped signal out. The
Fe1's output is active as well, sending the preamped, compressed, EQed signal
out it's individual output. Add to this the -10dB TRS outputs on both the Mz2
and Db2 and with one microphone you can get six outputs, all at different stages
of the processing!
Summit Audio ESC-410 Everest
Features:
Mz2- Microphone and Instrument
Preamplifier
- Max gain: +60dB (plus 20dB when routed through the Db2 drive
bus output)
- THD+N (@ +30dB): 0.008% (A weighted), 0.01%
(unweighted)
- Max Out: +25dB
- Frequency Response: Solid State 10Hz-200kHz +/- 3dB; 15Hz-120K
+/-0.5dB; Tube 15Hz-159K +/-3dB, 15Hz-65Hz +/-0.5dB
- Input impedance: 2K ohms
- Type: Switchable tube (12AX7A) or discrete
transistor
- HPF: 60Hz, 6dB/8va
- Metering: 10 segment LED
- Phantom Power +48VDC
- Pad: -20dB
- Polarity: 0 or 180 degrees
- IO: Balanced XLR mic in, front panel 1/4" hi-Z in, balanced XLR
+4dB (nominal) out,
- 1/4" TRS -10dB(nominal)
Fe1- Passive 3 Band Equalizer
- Frequency Response: 5Hz- 100kHz +/-0.5dB , 5Hz- >200kHz
+/-3dB
- Cut/Boost: +/- 12dB per band
- Low shelf: 6dB/8va, peaking bandwidth 2 octaves
- Mid peaking bandwidth: 2 octaves
- High shelf: 6dB/8va, peaking bandwidth 2 octaves
- IO: balanced XLR +4dB in and out
Dc1- Dual Mode Compressor
- Frequency Response: 5dB >200kHz +/- 3dB, 5Hz-136kHz
+/-0.5dB
- Gain: -4dB to +10dB
- Attack: variable from
- Release: variable from
- Ratio: Classic Tight
- Metering: 10 segment LED for gain reduction
- IO: Balanced XLR +4dB in and out, 1/4" side chain, 1/4" stereo
link
Db2- Drive Bus Master Output
and Overdrive
- THD+N (@+4dB, no cut or boost):
- Bypass: 0.002% (A weighted), 0.008% (unweighted)
- Tube: 0.3% to overdrive (unweighted)
- Solid State: 0.013% to overdrive (unweighted)
- Frequency Response:
- Tube
- Solid State 5Hz- > 200kHz +/- 3dB, 5Hz-130kHz +/-
0.5dB
- Gain: +20dB
- Type: Tube (12AX7A) or discrete transistor
- Metering: analog VU output level
- IO: balanced XLR +4dB in and out, -10dB 1/4" TRS
out
Physical
- Size 2RU, 19" x 3.5" x 17"
- Weight 26 lbs
- Power requirements 100VAC-240VAC (different fuse and switch
position for 100V, 115V,and 240V)
A new spin on
channel strips with Summit Audio's ECS-410 Everest!
Specification |
Detail |
Preamp Type |
Hybrid |
Number of Channels |
1 |
Frequency Response |
10Hz-200kHz (+/- 3dB) |
Phantom Power |
Yes |
EQ |
Yes |
Compressor |
Yes |
Other Processing |
No
Other Processing |
Analog Inputs |
Preamp: 1 x XLR (Mic), 1 x 1/4" (Line), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z);
Dynamics: 1 x XLR; EQ: 1 x XLR |
Analog Outputs |
Preamp: 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4"; Dynamics: 1 x XLR; EQ: 1 x
XLR |
Digital Inputs |
No Digital Inputs |
Digital Outputs |
No
Digital Outputs |
Other I/O |
2 x 1/4" (Dynamics Side Chain, Stere
Link) |
Computer Connectivity |
No
Computer Connectivity |
Rackmount Spaces |
2U |
Height |
3.5" |
Depth |
17" |
Width |
19" |
Weight |
26 lbs. |
Manufacturer Part Number |
ECS-410 | |