Behringer MIC500USB Tube Microphone Preamp

Name: Behringer MIC500USB Tube Microphone Preamp
Brand: Behringer
Rating: 3.5 (7 reviews)

Vacuum Tube Preamp with Preamp Modeling Technology and USB/Audio Interface

7 reviews Write your review Item ID: MIC500USB

.00

P6 Month Special Financing Available^‡

6 months

6 Month Special Financing Available^‡

See all payment options

Free
Shipping

Free Sweetwater
Support

Free 2-year
Warranty

In Stock!

Add to Cart

Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

(800) 222-4700

What is a Sales Engineer?

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Behringer MIC500USB Tube Microphone Preamp

In Stock!

.00

Add to Cart

Add to list

Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

High-end, Low-cost Tube Preamp and Recording Interface

You don't have to spend big bucks to get high-quality preamp tone. Designed and engineered in Germany, Behringer's MIC500USB Audiophile Vacuum Tube Preamplifier affordably delivers high-end, tube-driven pre-amplification for all microphone, instrument, and line-level sources. The MIC500USB uses a hand-selected 12AX7 vacuum tube for exceptional warmth with a very low noise floor. You get balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors, 48-volt phantom power, a phase reverse switch, and 20dB Pad for the utmost flexibility. Need more? The MIC500USB provides 16 preamp voicings through its built-in USB/audio interface and free audio recording software with 150 instrument/effect plug-ins that are downloadable directly from Behringer's site.

Modern tech with vintage tone

Developed in the 1940s by RCA engineers, the 12AX7 vacuum tube is a high-gain, ultra-low-noise tube that lends great sound to the preamplification stage. The MIC500USB pairs the 12AX7 tube with a 20dB pad and a sophisticated output limiter to prevent signal clipping upon input and output. Plus, you get a dedicated low-cut filter to eliminate unwanted low frequencies — which, as Sweetwater engineers will tell you, is a must-have to reduce ambient noise for clean recordings.

Downloadable plug-in library and digital recording software

Behringer decided to give you even more value with the incredible versatility of the MIC500USB; you can download recording, editing, and podcasting software from their site, as well as a library of 150 instrument/effect plug-ins. All the software is optimized to integrate seamlessly with the MIC500USB for user-friendly, flexible recording.

Behringer MIC500USB Audiophile Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Features:

12AX7 high-gain, ultra-low-noise vacuum tube provides warm vintage preamp tone
Versatile connectivity with balanced inputs and outputs on 1/4" TRS and XLR connectors
16 preamp voicings designed for guitars, drums, keyboards, vocals, and more
Built-in USB/audio interface to connect directly to your computer
Dedicated low-cut filter eliminates unwanted low frequencies
Downloadable recording/editing/podcasting software and plug-in library included

Additional Media

Studio Preamp Buying Guide

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Save money with FREE parts and labor
Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

$9.00

FREE!

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

$9.00

FREE!

Save money with free parts & labor!

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

Preamp Type: Tube (12AX7)
Phantom Power: Yes
EQ: 16 voicings
Analog Inputs: 1 x XLR (mic), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z), 1 x 1/4" (line in)
Analog Outputs: 1 x 1/4" (direct out), 1 x 1/4" (headphones)
USB: 1 x Type B
Computer Connectivity: USB
Power Source: 12V DC power supply (included)
Manufacturer Part Number: 000-B4N02-00010

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

(800) 222-4700

Contact Your Sales Engineer

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

3.4 out of 5

Customer Added Media

Write your review

It has a great set of features for a solo voiceover home studio, and once we found it, we've been recommending it ever since. Outside of helping people set up home studios, we've set up studios (as many as 12 each time) for 78 voice over recording events, so we've worked with a lot of engineers and producers. The gain knob over years can generate some crackle—though I've encountered in this in many heavily used preamps over the 25 years I've been doing this.

I've made a lot of purchases upgrading my writing home studio lately. I already bought a Presonus Studio Channel approximately 3 years ago. I rack mounted it new out of the box and barely used it. When I wanted to start writing again I went to record vocals and I had a static coming from my Presonus. A new condenser mic, mogami cables and new tubes later and still the static. I bought this because my budget was getting a little out of control. Brilliantly made, easy to use, and the cleanest, fattest vocals I've ever achieved in my writing studio.

Rob at Sweetwater is my sales rep and he/Sweetwater are invaluable. I appreciate not only how easy it is to purchase from them buy also the information they provide in assisting you on what to purchase. They also deserve 5 stars! All day!!!

If you need a simple, quick replacement for a downed mic pre, don't hesitate. Straight up! This thing ROCKS!!!

I bought this from Sweetwater when it was still a relatively new product. I have used this for several years to record podcast audio and it has results in very good quality audio tracks. While I can understand some of the clipping issues mentioned in other review and did take some time to dial in a setting that worked well for me, I think that this is a decent piece of equipment that doesn't deserve all the hate I see in some reviews. It is way better than the USB Mic that I tried first, and I use it purely for digital input to my computer so i have no use for an XLR out. Make sure you are buying this for the right application, but don't be scared away by the other extremely negative reviews. Especially at Sweetwater where they will help you if you have any trouble with your equipment after it arrives!!

I only got this to use as a usb guitar interface. Having said that, works as advertised. Easy to setup and use.

I was getting good sounds at first when micing acoustic or electric guitar. It sound interesting on vocals. I use several similar "voltage starved" tube preamps from ART. There are two things that bother me about the TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC500USB. One is the lack of the XLR output. You have to direct using USB or a balanced 1/4" cable.

Then I noticed that on this preamp, and only this preamp, I was getting asymmetrical clipping. I tried changing mics, channel into the interface, power strip. Then I put the best 12AX7 tube I had in, and ultimately tried 4 or 5 reissue Russian made tubes. All same clip on the bottom half of the frequencies. SM57 close mic to a amp cab and this actually sounded kind of unique and good. But it was wrong. I tested ever preamp, tube, mic combo and even with cheapest stock tube I could not reproduce the clipping on any other unit except this MIC500USB. I have a MIC100 and it works similar to the ART with full signals above and below the origin in the signal.

I didn't notice this right away. I've since changed tubes many times and would assume no one is going to send me a repaired unit. I will need another unit though. Probably try the MIC300 (pre-announced) or grab another MIC100 for now. The ART ones have worked well for me. These are all the same low-end mic pres. They don't use high voltage AC like an amp. They use 9-12V DC which is enough to create some warmth and distortion but nowhere near the way the 12AX7 was meant to be used. In fact, many engineers flat out deny that these work. But I have heard the nice warmth and seen studies by qualified circuit designers who show that the low DC volts may not light up the heater (I hear an LED next to the tube accomplishes that), but it does create some of the harmonics and warmth we all call tube goodness. If you need hundreds of volts going to the 12AX7 you will have to spend one or more thousand dollars. Any inexpensive mic preamp is either solid state or 9-12V DC starved voltage design. I am not criticizing that. I can put starved voltage to good use. But I expect the signal not to be artificially clipped unless I overdrive it on purpose and even then it would be symmetrically clipped.

First pic is the improper clipping from my MIC500USB. Other is an example of the same session SM57 that I drove into clipping but note how it is symmetrical. This was same session with the left signal Rode mic on the MIC500USB (but I've tried all mics) and the right picture an overdriven SM57 on ART StudioV3 Tube MP. I overdrove the SM57 to point of hard clip but note how it is symmetrical. Sorry this is a book but complex problem and required full details.

See also: Stu Preamp, Behringer, Behringer Preamps

Questions about this product?

Sweetwater's Sales Engineers have the experience to help!

Call (800) 222-4700 or email us below

Your question

Full Name

Phone (optional)

Zip

Thank You!

Thank you for your request. We value your feedback and want to know more about your musical interests.

Feel free to call us toll free at (800) 222-4700, Mon-Thu 9-9, Fri 9-8, and Sat 9-7 Eastern.