Mercury 666 MKI Studio Limiting Amplifier
The Mercury 666 MKI Studio Limiting Amplifier is a new version of a mysterious classic, the Fairchild 666, less well-known than the Fairchild 660 and Fairchild 670. The goal of those who designed the Mercury 666 was to further improve the original device, making it quieter and more versatile, and adding an expanded set of functions compared to the original.
The amplifier uses a combination of a solid-state input stage and a valve output stage (12AX7 and 12BH7) with a custom transformer to ensure superior transient response and warm harmonic saturation typical of valve circuits.
The Fairchild 666 had a series of poorly accessible functions, making it too inflexible for modern recordings. Most functions didn’t even have a control knob, a trim screwdriver had to be used. Therefore, the Mercury 666 was designed to be more similar to a modern 660 hybrid, with all the functions you might need at your fingertips.
The Mercury 666 can be used in stereo mode by connecting two units with a high-quality 1/4″ TS cable.
The Meter Control includes the Zero Control that allows you to easily zero the meter with a small knob. To the right of the Zero Control is the Meter Select Switch: in the down position, gain reduction is monitored, and in the up position, the output level of the compressor can be monitored.
The Output Gain Control allows you to control the amount of make-up gain after the signal has been compressed using the Threshold Control.
In addition, the Mercury 666 offers a three-position side chain filter, which allows low frequencies below 90 Hz or 150 Hz to be filtered out before entering the limiting section of the amplifier, without affecting or equalizing the signal. The Insert On/Off switch allows you to keep connected insert connections, such as to the patch bay, and to control whether the insert is used in the sidechain or not.
The Mercury 666’s equalizer (EQ) is a two-band Baxandall EQ, with bass and treble controls, which offers excellent flexibility to achieve the desired sound quickly and intuitively. Finally, the device has a Bypass On/Off control and a Mix (wet/dry) control, which allows you to listen to the original signal and a wide range of compressed or parallel compression signals, offering a wide range of creative possibilities.
Attack and release (or Time Constant) are adjusted by a rotary switch with 11 settings. The first 6 settings are the same as a Vintage Fairchild 660 (see below). The next 5 settings (7-11) make the Mercury 666 much more flexible than the original 666 or any other similar tube limiter, expanding the control range with very useful settings.
Below are the settings in detail:
- Position 01 – Fast Attack w/ Fast Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 0.4 ], Release [ 0.1 ]
- Position 02 – Medium Attack w/ Medium Release, In Seconds. Attack [ 0.8 ], Release [ 0.6 ]
- Position 03 – Medium Attack w/ Medium Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 0.8 ], Release 1.90 ]
- Position 04 – Slow Attack w/ Slow Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 1.6 ]. Release [ 1.75 ]
- Position 05 – Medium Attack w/ Med. Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 0.8 ], Rel. 1 [ .90 ], Rel. 2 [ .75 ]
- Position 06 – Fast Attack w/ Fast Rel, In Seconds, Attack 10.4 ] Rel 1 1.45 ], Rel 2 1.75 1, Rel 3 [ 2.0 ] )
- Position 07 – Fast Attack w/ Medium Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 0.4 ] Release [ 0.45 ]
- Position 08 – Fast Attack with Slow Release, In Seconds, Attack [ 0.4 ] Release [ 2.0 ]
- Position 09 – Med. Attack w/ Med. Double Slope Rel, In Seconds, Attack [1.6], Rel 1 [.06], Rel 2 [3.13]
- Position 10 – (GATES Sta Level) single slope mode, In Seconds. Attack [ .87 ], Release [ 7.26 ]
- Position 11 – (GATES Sta Level) double slope mode, In Seconds, Att. [ .27 ], Rel. 1 [ 2.30 ], Rel. 2 [ 10.7 ] Threshold: inf to -20 dB Output: -inf to 30 dB
In conclusion, the Mercury 666 MKI Studio Limiting Amplifier is an innovative, versatile, and feature-rich device designed to meet the needs of modern recording, offering an intuitive user experience and excellent sound quality.