Mercury D Series AM16D 500 Series Microphone Preamplifier
David Marquette and the Mercury design team have created the Mercury AM16D Studio Microphone Amplifier Module, the first Mercury D Series Module for Mercury G810 Rack Systems and any 500 series rack. The AM16D is a D Series / 500 Series version of the original American, modular, transistor type preamplifier built in the 1960s. This new product is based on the classic inspired Mercury AM16, known for its musicality, open and airy top end, and unique tube-like “air” characteristic.
The Mercury AM16D features a gain control (0-50dB, 0 = Line Input), phantom power (48V), polarity (phase reverse), output control (fader), a newly designed direct input with the Mercury FDI Circuit, and a peak indicator for quickly identifying channels with “hot” signals.
The Mercury AM16D boasts transformer-coupled inputs and outputs with custom-wound transformers modelled after the originals used in the older 2U 19″ version, the Mercury AM16. The amplifier gain is set at 50dB, matching the original “AM16 R” high gain setting. In addition to staying true to the original design, Mercury have included modern features that make the AM16D even more versatile than its predecessor or other contemporary rack solutions featuring vintage modules.
The team at Marquette Audio Labs has extensive experience in working with vintage AM16 modules, having been involved in racking and modifying them since 1994. They have a particular fondness for the classic Langevin AM16, which has garnered consistent praise from clients for its musical characteristics. Unfortunately, the original modules have not been produced for over 30 years, leading to a supply shortage that cannot meet the demand. To address this issue, the team has developed the Mercury AM16D, which boasts the same fully discrete, “transistor type” circuitry and delivers the same musical quality and performance as the original modules.
According to the original AM16 Amplifier literature, the AM16 was primarily designed as a microphone pre-mixing amplifier (mic pre). However, its performance also made it suitable for use as a post-mixing (booster) and as a low-level program amplifier. The literature also highlighted the amplifier’s low noise generation figure as a noteworthy feature.
The goal of Mercury Recording Equipment has been realized with the development of the Mercury AM16D, which allows users to fully utilize the amplifier’s capabilities. The Mercury AM16D can function as both a microphone pre-amplifier (mic pre) and a line amplifier (booster) by adjusting the Input Gain and Output Fader controls. Users can set the controls to 0dB to accept Line Level inputs or increase gain and turn down Output for a “musical break up” effect. The amplifier can be used to add warmth to tracks or as a front end for the G8 Sum-It Mixer. The Direct Input on the Mercury AM16D was specifically designed for recording bass, electric guitar, keyboards, drum machines, and other instruments. It provides a full sound with more mid-range and low-end presence than most DIs, as well as the open and airy top end for which the AM16 is renowned.