Metric Halo – MBSI

🎚️ Metric Halo – MBSI

Legendary Miami Console, Reimagined for Your DAW

The MBSI is a meticulous, faithful reproduction of one of the most iconic custom-built consoles in the United States. Originally crafted by MCI technicians for Studio C at Criteria Studios, Miami, this console helped create dozens of million-selling records, favored by artists like The Eagles, Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees, and Grand Funk Railroad, and engineered by legends including Tom Dowd and Bill Szymczyk.

*Now, in collaboration with Make Believe and Bill Szymczyk, this legendary console is available for the first time digitally, giving your DAW the authentic sound of 1970s Miami.

✨ World-Class Analog Tone, Digitally Delivered

The sound of a classic console, recreated with precision

The MBSI channel strip models the original Criteria Studio C MCI console, including its mic/line section, dynamics processing, EQ, fader, and a stereo output model.

Experience the signature “boxy” warmth and musical character of the original console, with all subtle imperfections and originality intact, giving your tracks unique tonal depth and authenticity.

🎯 Precision EQ & Musical Control

Interact with tone the way engineers did in the ’70s

The 3-band EQ module mirrors the console’s original design with low- and high-pass bell filters, a variable mid-range filter, and high-pass/low-pass controls. All filters are highly interactive, meaning frequency, gain, and Q vary naturally, encouraging critical listening and musical decision-making.

• Classic Mode: faithful reproduction of the original console EQ and dynamics

• Modern Mode: updated workflow with continuous compressor control, midrange cutoff, and simultaneous high- and low-pass filtering, reflecting modern production needs

🧠 Dynamic Control Inspired by Legends

Vintage analog feel, modern flexibility

MBSI preserves the original suppressor-style dynamics while offering Modern Mode enhancements inspired by the gear and techniques of Bill Szymczyk.

• Modern Compressor Module: rich, punchy, and smooth, capturing the feel of 1176 and dbx160 compressors

• Continuous controls: while retaining the ability to snap to Classic step values

• User-adjustable Box-Tone elements and polarity inversion

🚀 Key Features

• Authentic reproduction of the Criteria Studio C MCI console

• Classic Mode for vintage workflow; Modern Mode for updated production

• World-class mic/line preamps, EQ, dynamics, and stereo output

• Interactive 3-band EQ with low- and high-pass bell filters

• Midrange filter with adjustable gain, frequency, and Q

• Simultaneous high-pass and low-pass filtering in Modern Mode

• Modern compressor inspired by 1176 and dbx160

• User-configurable oversampling up to 16x

• Numerous presets and MH Preset Manager for cross-platform workflow

• Adjustable user interface size for personal workflow comfort

🎶 Who Is MBSI For?

The MBSI is built for producers, composers, mixers, and modern music creators who want to capture the sound of one of history’s greatest analog consoles while benefiting from digital flexibility.

If you crave authentic 1970s console tone, interactive EQ and dynamics, and a workflow designed for critical listening, Metric Halo – MBSI brings the legendary sound of Miami 1976 straight into your DAW.