The flagship of the Element 78 product line, the MPE-200 is a digitally controlled Class A analog recording path designed by Rupert Neve. This stereo or two-channel unit consists of a microphone pre-amp, high and low pass filters and a full featured four-band parametric equalizer for each channel.

The front panel controls, instead of directly adjusting pots in the equalizer circuits themselves like any other equalizer, are really shaft encoders that send precise values to a digital controller interface. The digital controller applies these values (numbers) to the individual analog sections of the unit. The advantages of this remote control are many.

First, the values can be stored in any of the 25 user memories for instant recall of your favorite settings for recording that lead vocal or guitar track. You can use MIDI to store more settings and for selecting memory locations through MIDI sequencer Program Change commands. Furthermore, since the front panel shaft encoders are digital, there will never be a "scratchy" pot or dodgy switch on this unit to replace later on. Lastly, only a single front panel is required to control many "slave" equalizer units. You could, conceivable, build an entire recording console with one front panel and dozens of slave equalizer channels.