• Gift Certificate
  • Track Order
  • Help
  • Feedback [+]
  • Best Selection, Price & Service. Guaranteed.
    • 18 Month Financing For May

      Special 18 Month Financing For The Whole Month Of May

      Here at Musician's Friend, we know there are a lot of challenges to finding the right gear at the right price. That's why we do all we can to help make sure our customers have a variety of options at prices they can afford. It's with this in mind that we offer special financing options to help fund the gear you need to make the music you love.

      Click the link below to find out how you can take advantage of our special financing offers. It's fast, easy and secure, and once approved, you can begin shopping at MusiciansFriend.com right away.

      Apply for a Musician's Friend Credit Card Today

    • Memorial Day Sales Event

      We’re pulling out all the stops for one of our biggest events of the year! Tons of deals across all categories will be happening through Memorial Day, including 15% off a single item $199+ with coupon code MEMDAY2013, free 2-Day Shipping on orders $499+, limited-quantity doorbuster deals, free gifts, financing, package deals and much more.

      Click here for full details and start saving now!

    • All Deals & Discounts

      Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of all the incredible deals and promotions we have going on, so we've put them all in one place so you can easily choose the deal that's best for you. This is your ultimate source for gear savings!

      Shop Now

  • Need Help? Ask our Experts or call 800-449-9128

    Asistencia en Español 866-226-2919

  • Shop by Department
  • Deal Center
MF MD HG Memorial Day 05-20-13

Radial Engineering MC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control 

  • Write a Review
SKU 
#H83131000000000
Have a Question? Call Our Experts: 866-462-9472 Radial Engineering MC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control  
  • MSRP:
    $300.00
  • Your Savings:
    - $50.01
  • Free Shipping on Orders over $25
  • Your Price:
    $24999

In Stock & Ready To Ship

Gold Coverage: (What’s This?)

+ Add to Wishlist
See All Radial Engineering Studio Monitor Volume Controllers
Also consider
Radial Engineering

Compare your mix on multiple sources without any coloration or distortion.

The Radial MC3 monitor controller is a studio tool that enables you to quickly select between reference monitors, sub woofer or headphones and compare how the mix translates via various playback systems. Unique to the MC3 is the ability to quickly sum mono for AM radio compatibility

And while most monitor switchers are active the MC3 is 100% passive. This means that unlike active switchers that introduce a buffered electronic circuit in between your recording system and monitors, the MC3 delivers straight wire performance. This eliminates coloration and distortion for more accurate monitoring.

The MC3 features an easy access level control that lets you quickly set playback levels on all speakers. Each output is equipped with a top-mount 'set & forget' dial to fine tune outputs for the ideal balance. The sub is augmented with a 180 degree polarity reverse to help deal with room modes that may cause a frequency bump in the mix position. A separate Dim switch is also adjustable to enable the engineer to temporarily drop the playback level without affecting the mix level settings. To address the ever-increasing popularity of ear buds, the Radial MC3 is equipped with a built-in headphone amplifier with stereo 3.5mm (1/8" TRS) output along with two standard 1/4" headphone phone outs to share. The MC3 may be configured for either balanced or unbalanced setups.

Features

  • Passive studio monitor switcher with headphone amp
  • Control two sets of monitors and sub woofer
  • Mono sum for AM radio compatibility and phase check
  • Individual 'set & forget' controls to fine-tune levels

Passive, simple, and effective monitor control. Order the MC3 today.

Customer Reviews
Loading....

Review Snapshot®

by PowerReviews
Radial EngineeringMC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control
 
4.3

(based on 3 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (1)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (0)

Reviewed by 3 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-3

Back to top

 
3.0

Good, not great

By Mark

from FL

About Me Professional Musician

Verified Buyer

Pros

  • Clear Sound
  • Compact
  • Durable
  • Easy To Use

Cons

  • Issues At Low Volume

Best Uses

  • Amateur Recording
  • Home Studio
  • Professional Recording

Comments about Radial Engineering MC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control:

I was very excited when I found the MC3. It is exactly what I needed for my home studio. It has the signature Radial build quality and is very well laid out. My only issue is that at very low volumes, (the bottom 5% of the knob) the pots do a terrible job of maintaining the image between the two speakers. Sometimes I like to listen at very low levels and the MC3 won't give me an even stereo image. The right speaker will come on before the left, then the left comes on but is quieter, then the two sides finally match. The dim level adjustment has the same issue at the very bottom 5%. It performs perfectly at all other levels. I'm still working on how I can solve this issue but I have a feeling I'll just live with it. This still seems like the best choice for monitor control in this price range.

Comment on this review

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

The best quality affordable alternative

By ZBGB-Studio

from Atlanta, GA

About Me Professional Musician

Pros

  • Pristine Signal For
  • Radial Is Rock-solid

Cons

  • A Little Iff~~~apos~~~y At 05 Vol
  • It Needs Power
  • No Xlr Inputsouputs

Best Uses

  • For Mix Monitoring
  • Signal Attenuation

Comments about Radial Engineering MC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control:

I don't usually write product reviews, but I feel that the market has not properly addressed the issue of affordable, quality monitor control.

This is an area that I've always overlooked/neglected. I had obtained a RME Fireface 800 years ago, which had no physical master volume, so I ran across a SMPro Audio M-PATCH2. It worked for a while, but then the pots and buttons became scratchy which affected the main volume knob; not to mention, SMPro has such cheap products, who knows exactly what kind of signal path your audio is going through.

I didn't want to throw down the $$$ for DANGEROUS MUSIC; I didn't want to go down the PRESONUS road; MACKIE BIG-KNOB was an option, but it looked a bit cheap. i just wanted something that did the job with few bells-and-whistles. A-DESIGNS ATTY (2 ch.) was an option, but that looked a little to "plain". lol

Then I ran across the RADIAL MC-3. RADIAL (Canada) makes some very high quality pieces of equipment. I own a RADIAL WORKHORSE (500 series PSU) as well as a JDI Duplex, so I knew that the MC-3 was going to adhere to the same standard, period.

So, I ditched the SMPro and ordered the MC-3 so I could hook up my two sets of monitors. The build quality is excellent just like all of their DI and 19" units (reminds me of a big hostess apple pie). There is an input for a sub-woofer which is a plus as well. I do that even though this unit is passive, you have to power it because of the headphone monitoring section (which has come in handy btw) which has (2) 1/4" outs. Passive attenuation is achieved for monitor outs 1&2 as well as the SUB out (dim. also).

The buttons and knobs feel really solid.

The unit does not have XLR in/outs, so be prepared to use TRS/TRS or XLR/TRS cables.

Anyway, I was amazed when researching my monitoring delimma that there really wasn't a "common-sense", "quality", "low-cost", "no gimmick" solution. Well, there is now with the MC-3. I do wish that RADIAL would make a 19" rack unit with XLR in/outs, but hey, this thing rocks!

If you're looking for a dual monitor controller with dual headphone out and a sub capabiliity, and you're tired of googling the words "monitor controller", I'm telling you that this is the ticket right now. I can vouche for RADIAL as well - their products are quality and meant to last, unlike some other manufacturers.

I've blabbed on enough. Hopefully I've helped someone with this issue. If i could recommend anything else right now it would be to go check out the DAKING FET II compressor! ;-)

- Z

Comment on this review

 
5.0

Clean and Efficient

By 2012

from Undisclosed

Comments about Radial Engineering MC3 Passive Studio Monitor Control:

My previous monitor controller was noisy and hissy. The MC3 is quiet and clean, just what I need in a monitor controller.
Two monitor selectors

Subwoofer level
Mono level

Headphone

Comment on this review

Displaying reviews 1-3

Back to top