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MSS-01 Overview

Overviews are brief descriptions of benefits and features. You may read the text version below or download a PDF which is identical to the glossy printed Overview in our literature rack.

The Natural Instrument Interface
As the Martech MSS-10 Micro-phone Preamplifier became popular with discerning users, requests increased for a direct box that would give them that same “high fidelity with soul” they love about their MSS-10s.

Staying true to the design of the MSS-10, the MSS-01 starts by using the same custom transformer to provide a sonically superior passive path that accommodates both balanced and unbalanced sources, and then adds a German microphone quality active input to lighten the load when required for vintage guitars.

Join the hit makers who have already discovered magic in the Martech Modular Studio Series. Experience the artistic satisfaction from using an MSS-01 and turn your dreams into legend.

"Bitchin’! It’s really nice how unadulterated everything sounds. As a matter of fact, I’m taking it with me. I’m changing my address and phone number so chances are you’re gonna have to hunt me down to get this stuff back!"-Lee Sklar, Bass Player Extraordinaire, on recording with the Barefoot Servants using the MSS-01 through an MSS-10

"Fantastic! Warm and uncolored."-Al Schmitt, Engineer and Mixer on sessions with Anita Baker, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, and others

Another Direct Box?
At Martinsound we build and offer exclusively to our studio clients, a passive direct box based on the design of our renowned Martech MSS-10 Microphone Preamplifier. Musicians, engineers, and producers who try it agree that our direct box sounds bigger, clearer and more open than the high-end boxes they bring to the sessions. With no surprise, demand grew for a commercial version.

A transformer is used in a passive direct box to match the high impedance output of an instrument to the low impedance input of a mic preamp. By lowering the impedance of the signal, it is less susceptible to interference and can drive longer distances without reacting to cable capacitance, thus preventing high frequency loss. The transformer also reflects a proportionally higher input impedance from the mic preamp, lessening the load on the instrument.

The Martech MT-1005 input transformer has a 10:1 ratio, dividing the output impedance of the instrument by 100 while multiplying the mic preamp input impedance by 100. Mic preamps have an input impedance ranging from 1.5k  to 10k ohms, which, when reflected across the transformer, will range from 150k to 1M ohms. Some vintage guitar pickups can sound dull and lifeless when driving less than 500k ohms, rendering the MT-1005 unsuitable for these instruments if the mic preamp input is below 5k ohms. Adding a FET to the front end would fix the input impedance at a high value, but at what cost to the transparent sound of the transformer?

The best of both worlds was our design decision: the ultimate passive direct box, and the finest sounding high impedance active direct box. Adding an active path meant addressing issues such as power supply, headroom, and sonic degradation, and our decisions are what sets the Martech MSS-01 apart from the pack.

Phantom power was an obvious choice for this design. We added large power reserve capacitors for maximum headroom, and optimized supply rails providing 40 volts peak to peak for clean operation. The circuit is similar to that found in high-end condenser microphones, rather than a standard FET direct box, with a little Martech design magic to minimize the characteristic ‘tzzzz’ of the FET. Martech went over the top once again to minimize components in the signal path, basing the design on how it sounds, not just test equipment measurements.

The MSS-01 is a unique choice in a vast universe of direct boxes. It provides a phenomenally transparent interface that allows instruments to bloom and sound the way they’re supposed to: natural.

Why Use the MSS-01?
The unique instrument interface provides a sonically superior passive path that accommodates both balanced and unbalanced sources, and a German microphone quality active input to lighten the load on vintage guitars.

How Does It Sound?
Actually the question should be, “How does your instrument sound?” For that is what the MSS-01 will reveal. The soul intent of the MSS-01 is to let you hear every nuance from your instrument, without adding any coloration.

Why Not Always Use the Active Input?
This is a subjective issue that only you can decide. Many purists want a minimal signal path, so they go straight for the Passive Input. It is recommended that you listen to the instrument on both inputs instead of assuming which will sound better. The unique circuit for the Active Input requires a 15 minute ‘warm up’ period, much like tube equipment. It is important that you apply phantom power and wait for the circuit to settle before comparing the two inputs. Listen to the Passive Input during warm up for a reference and then switch to the Active Input. Listen for excessive dullness or fly away in the top end, keeping in mind that brighter is not always better. Also listen for depth and imaging before determining the best loading for the instrument.

Why a Balanced Input On a Direct Box?
When a typical guitar cable is used the tip/sleeve plug will automatically unfloat the input of the transformer, making it like most other DIs, but the MSS-01 can handle the rare occasion when an instrument has a balanced output. And clever engineers will figure out all sorts of uses for the 10:1 transformer.

What is Natural Sound?
If something sounds “better” than its source, the coloration is called euphonic, whereas if it sounds worse, we have many esoteric or vulgar words to describe it. But when it sounds the same, the only word to describe it is natural. Natural is not sterile or neutral. Sterile means unable to produce or lacking vitality. If anything, natural sound is the antithesis of sterility. And natural isn’t just accuracy, for it moves one into the realm of realism.

Natural Sound is breathtaking, an aural seduction. Unconstrained dynamics that never get pinched at high levels. A highly focused image with low level ambience and room information that doesn’t mysteriously disappear. Brilliant tonal quality with lots of air. It’s top end that isn’t smeared, midrange with warmth, and extra octaves of an extended bottom that is fat and solid. And when punch is required, stand back. Natural sound is all this and more because nothing is removed.

Judge for Yourself
If you crave astonishing realism, then check out the MSS-01. Judge for yourself what Natural sounds like. The experience is so awesome, that we sell the MSS-01 with a no risk, no questions asked, 60-day buy back guarantee.

Block Diagram

Signal Interface

Active Input and Thru

Passive Input and Thru

Technical specifications

Active Input
Input Type: Unbalanced – FET input
Input Jack: TRS with Ring to ground
Input Impedance: 800k
Circuit Gain: Unity
EIN (Typical)^ą 116dBu
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (+/- 0.1dB)
Headroom: +18dBu Typical into 2.5k
THD+N @ 1kHz(Typical)^ą: 0.007%, 10dBu & 0.200%, 20dBu

Active Thru
Thru Type Unbalanced - hard wired
Thru Jack TRS with ring to ground
Insertion Loss 0dBu

Passive Input
Input Type Transformer balanced
Input Jack TRS, tip half-normalled to FET
Input Impedance 100x mic pre input impedance

Passive Thru
Thru Type Balanced - hard wired
Thru Jack TRS
Insertion Loss 0dBu

Direct Output
Output Type Transformer balanced
Output XLR Pin 2 high
Insertion Loss 0dBu

Power Requirement
Phantom + 48V

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