MusicRadar

Each of the two channels has a different secondary knob.

1 of 2 » View in gallery

• Review

The final switch that features on both channels is a phase invert button that lies next to the second rotary knob for each channel. The functions of this dial vary from one side to the other, however.

Channel 1 features HMX, which is a 'harmonic variation' system borrowed from Audient's own Black Pre. This clever technology progressively enhances the harmonic content of channel 1's signal to produce a sound of deliberately increasing colouration. The simulation is designed to produce something that becomes more 'classic' or analogue-sounding as the dial is turned up, and it's certainly true that a substantial amount of sonic character can be added here.

If all of this sounds like too much intervention, however, worry not – there's a toggle switch that selects whether you want to use the HMX system at all.

Channel 2 also features a toggle switch to activate its second dial but rather than providing harmonic changes, it produces phase variation. Labelled Variphase, this knob lets you shift phase position between 0 and 180 degrees, which serves two purposes. You can either use the dial to phase-align a source plugged into channel 2 to provide continuity with the signal at channel 1 (such as a microphone/DI combination), or you can get creative and shift around one side of a stereo source to produce some unusual results.

Either way, this dial serves a useful function and is more practical than having a second HMX control, even if the latter is what we'd first anticipated!

Summary

The MiCO might be a somewhat unexpected product, but it's also an extremely welcome one.

There's nothing else quite like it in its price range, and this could well be its strongest selling point – after all, who would have thought a two-channel microphone preamp from big hitters Audient would become available for less than a paltry £400?

We're not totally convinced of the merits of half-rack gear for the reasons explained above, but there's little else to fault this box, especially as it brings some high-quality, super-expensive technology into the hands of us mere mortals.

If you're looking for a truly great-sounding mic pre, offering two channels of input with a digital output to send pristine signals to your audio interface, we certainly have no hesitation in pointing you in the MiCO's direction.