Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 Preamp

The Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 is the culmination of over 7 years of dreaming, designing, and building: a flagship 2RU stereo Bus/Line/Mic Tone-Amp that brings real analog mojo and streamlined workflow to the modern DAW-based studio. While maintaining the hallmark intuitive workflow of the original mk1 unit thanks to the abundance of I/O and the built-in matrix router, the Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 features expanded user-customizable MOJO, increased Tone Shaping options, and the new ASPECT RATIO stereo image enhancer—making this desert island tool even more versatile and powerful. We even leveled up the meter and added much-requested fully balanced inserts.

When the Silver Bullet originally debuted in 2014 it was revolutionary: a stereo analog “console” with cascading Mojo Amps and Tone Shaping EQ to glue and sweeten the mix bus, stems, and individual tracks of hybrid analog/digital studios. It even had Mic preamp modes and a built-in matrix I/O router. But we kept collecting ideas for making this powerful tool even more suited to our customers’ creative visions.

Answering the call for flexibility and customization, Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 delivers with its twin topology (A or N) Mojo Amps, and adds an exciting twist—a third Mojo slot accepting either new stereo Mojo Amp or Colour Modules. This feature allows integrated processing like tube saturation, compression, or EQ to be inserted into the signal path after Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2’s classic ‘A’ or ‘N’ inspired Mojo Amps for the ultimate in front and back end versatility that is unmatched by any other product in its class. An exciting evolution of the mk1 concept, the Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 is the ultimate solution for making the sounds in your head come to life.

Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet Mk2 Features

1. Tone-Amp™ analog Mix and Tracking processing modes with dedicated I/O
2. ‘A’ and ‘N’ cascading MOJO Amp™ circuit topologies inspired by classic American and British consoles from the 70’s
3. MOJO Amp ‘C’ expansion slot to add Colour analog plugin modules or stereo Mojo Amp modules
   1. Hitmaker 4000 console modules pre-installed
   2. C-Drive: -6 to +18 dB
   3. C-Mix: crossfade blend of processed and dry signal
4. Mix and Tracking Modes allows both Mix processing and Overdub / Tracking processing without any re-patching of cables or need for patch bays
   1. Mix: process the 2-bus, bounce digitally recorded tracks and stems, combine with a DAW controlled summing system, or use with a passive summing in Folcrom mode.
   2. Track: connect after your mic preamp, synth, sampler, etc.
   3. Internal jumpers to optimize signal path for 2-in/2-out audio interfaces
5. Mic Modes allow Silver Bullet to function as a fully featured stereo microphone preamplifier with Polarity Reverse and 48V phantom power
6. Stereo signal path throughout with single set of easily recallable detented controls
7. Balanced TRS inserts post-MOJO, pre-TIGHT
8. Visually stunning 20-segment stereo high resolution output meter with RMS and peak indication
9. Mojo LEDs provide visual feedback of signal level intensity
10. Tone shaping EQ suite designed specifically for mix sweetening and broad stroke tone sculpting of individual tracks
    1. Tight: 12 db/oct high pass filter with two frequency options for mixing and tracking
       1. 25 Hz high pass filter with slight resonance at 40 Hz for tightening bottom end and increasing low frequency headroom
       2. 50 Hz Butterworth response for removing rumble and tightening low end on individual tracks
    2. Baxandall Tone EQ, +/-9 dB boost/cut
       1. LF: Pultec-inspired Subsonic (30, 45 Hz) and Pultec-inspired Bass (60 Hz), and Body frequencies
       2. HF: Mid, Presence, Brite, and Sheen frequencies
       3. AIR: the original Silver Bullet air-band on a dedicated knob
    3. Vintage: softens high frequency response to emulate vintage British consoles
11. ASPECT RATIO stereo imaging circuit to enhance width, height, and clarity of mix
12. Custom wound, American made transformers
13. ROGUE FIVE discrete op amps designed by Louder Than Liftoff, conforming to standard 2520 footprint
14. Class-A biased op amps
15. All circuit components chosen by ear for maximum MOJO
16. Includes robust external universal (100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz) power supply and IEC power cord (14 AWG – U.S. only)

Modes and Mojo
Process your 2-bus, individual tracks, or microphone sources through cascading combinations of three analog Mojo Amps:

A: American console
N: British console
C: Custom Mojo / Colour Modules via internal expansion slots (Hitmaker 4000 modules come standard)

Simple GAIN and OUTPUT controls allow you to gain stage the A and N Mojo Amps into the sweet spot. C-DRV and C-MIX controls allow you to intuitively control the amount of drive for Mojo Amp C, and blend the dry and processed signals.

Tone Shaping
The 3-band Baxandall EQ has a Pultec inspired low end and a smooth and expensive sounding top end that stands in a class with the most renowned mastering EQs. The beloved AIR circuit from the original Silver Bullet now has its own dedicated control. The original LF and HF frequency settings have been expanded to a total of 4 frequencies per band.

Tighten up the extreme bottom end with the TIGHT filter. The slightly resonant and tape-like 25 Hz setting excels on mixes, while the new 50 Hz filter is optimized for tracking individual instruments. Smooth out digital top end with the silky VINTAGE mode inspired by legendary 1970’s British consoles.

Stereo Image Enhancement
ASPECT RATIO is a new analog processor that musically enhances the stereo width, height, and clarity of your mix. This isn’t one of those cheap sounding, phasey widening effects that leaves you wondering if you are messing up your soundstage or balance. ASPECT RATIO delivers masterful results at the touch of a single button. No fussy tweaking or second guessing required. We spent the last year perfecting this circuit so you can get on with perfecting your mix.