Behringer MIC500USB Tube Ultragain

A TUBE ULTRAGAIN Designed to Bring a True "Vintage" Color to Modern Productions

The BEHRINGER MIC500USB embodies the spirit of tube preamps appreciated for their musical response and the sense of "texture" they add to signals. Where a fully digital recording chain can sound very direct, this preamp allows you to add a more organic touch, with a slight natural compression typical of tube circuits. Its approach is clear: to offer a studio and stage tool that is both accessible and comprehensive, capable of serving as a microphone preamp, instrument preamp, and even a DI box, while integrating a USB connection to simplify recording.

Who Is It For and What Are Its Uses? From Home Studio to Stage, a Simple Solution for Better Capture

The MIC500USB is aimed at musicians, podcasters, content creators, and sound engineers who want to improve the input stage of their audio chain without complicating their setup. In the home studio, it is used to add presence to vocals, soften an acoustic guitar, thicken a bass, or provide a more flattering sound to mic'd instruments. Live, it becomes a robust ally for controlling levels before the console or for using a stable DI signal on stage.

Thanks to its balanced inputs and outputs, it easily integrates between a microphone and an audio interface, recorder, console, or sound system. And if you're looking for a minimalist setup, the built-in USB interface allows direct recording to a computer without multiplying devices.

Color, Control, and Flexibility: Key Features That Make the Difference

12AX7 Tube and UTC Technology: Definition Without Losing Precision

The heart of the MIC500USB relies on a selected 12AX7 tube combined with UTC technology to achieve a pronounced tube character while maintaining low-noise operation. The result translates into a warm sensation, a softer presence in the upper spectrum, and a more pleasant dynamic on certain sources, particularly useful for "bringing forward" a vocal in the mix or rounding off slightly harsh transients.

16 Modeling Voicings: Quickly Find the Right Sonic Foundation

Going beyond a simple preamp, the MIC500USB offers 16 preamp modelings (voicings) optimized for common applications: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and more. You can start with a Neutral setting for a more natural sound, switch to Warm to thicken and warm up, or activate variants with limiter to stabilize peaks. The idea is to save time: a coherent base immediately, then fine-tune with gain and output level.

Level Management: Limiter, Pad, and Phase Inversion

When recording, quality is often determined before conversion: the MIC500USB offers a limiter to contain peaks, a -20 dB pad to handle very strong sources, and a phase inversion switch useful in multi-mic setups or to solve certain phase compatibility issues. The 48 V phantom power supplies condenser microphones, and the 8-segment LED meter helps precisely set levels to avoid output clipping.

Connectivity and USB: From Analog Preamp to Direct Recording

With XLR and 6.35 mm jack inputs and outputs, this preamp adapts equally well to microphones, instruments, and studio equipment. The USB version's advantage is the ability to record easily to a computer, convenient for demos, streaming, voice-over, or quick idea capture, all while benefiting from tube coloration and voicings upfront.

Technical specifications

Valve

Yes