The Midas XL48 has quickly become the go-to, add-on microphone preamp for Wigwam Acoustics.
Wigwam, part of the SSE Audio Group and based in Lancashire, England, is the first UK rental facility to offer the Midas XL48 8-channel microphone preamp within its rental stock. Wigwam is also a long-time Midas/Klark Teknik user.
“Since we bought it, our Midas XL48 has constantly been in use,” says Alex Hadjigeorgiou, Wigwam’s resident digital specialist. “McFly, Steps and Ronan Keating have all toured with it, and it’s my favorite way of adding eight extra channels to any mixing console, partly because I don’t have to sell the idea to the engineer. They all respect Midas preamps, especially the XL4 preamps.”
“Hadj”, as he’s known to his friends, recommends and uses the XL48: “If the main console has 48 mic inputs, but the requirement is up to 56, adding an extra stage rack for just a few extra mics can be expensive and inefficient. Instead, the XL48 provides the extra inputs via any spare analog line input on the console. In addition, all five outputs can operate simultaneously – two AES, two ADAT and line level analog. There is a lot more to the XL48 than just eight mic pres in a box!”
Speaking to the XL48’s build quality, Hadj continues, “It comes in a solid, metal case; the rotaries and switches are robust and feel right – and it has a versatile, but straightforward, word clock. And since it comes from Midas, you know the XL48 is road-worthy and worry free.”
“Wigwam has a well-respected history as the professional leader in major artist and touring production equipment for hire, and offers sales and installation to their customers as well,” states Graham Rolands, Music Group VP of Professional Division. “The XL48 is based on the legendary XL4 microphone preamps and is considered the industry’s best preamp.
“We are getting incredible feedback and customers praise the XL48 for its amazingly pure and transparent sound. We are extremely proud to work with the prestigious Wigwam company and the fact that the XL48 has now become part of their standard operating equipment.”
