Warm Audio TB12 Tone Beast Tone Shaping Mic Preamp

Full Description

History Behind the Tone Beast

In the 60's and 70's many console/preamplifier builders hid the operational amplifier (opamp) of their preamps by cramming the components into a small box and then attaching the box to the circuit board. Inside these small boxes, the components were covered in glue to make them hard to disassemble/analyze. Manufacturers felt the character of these opamps was unique enough to protect.

The TB12 Tone Beast utilises this same square shaped opamp and pin configuration as the originals but without the plastic and glue housing. The TB12 is designed so that the stock opamp can be removed and replaced with whatever takes your fancy, allowing you to tweak and customise your sound as much, or as little as you like.

Multiple Discrete Signal Paths with Unprecedented Flexibility

By combining different mics with different preamps, you can make every source sound its absolute very best. First of all, you have the choice of a 1731 or 918 opamp; The 1731 is extremely coloured and break up quickly, while the 918 is fairly clean with a touch of character. Secondly, you have the choice of a 100 steel or 50 nickel transformer; The steel output transformer is more coloured than the nickel, especially when pushed. For even more tonal variety, the Tone Beast is provides you with the choice of tantalum and electrolytic capacitors.

Features

• Discrete 312 preamp design
• CineMag input and output transformers
• Provides 71dB of gain
• Transformer selection delivers both steel and 50 nickel CineMag output transformers for varying character
• Transformer bypass switch allows for removal of the output transformer from the circuit
• Discrete Opamp selection provides both the classic 1731 (vintage) and 918 (cleaner) style opamps
• Socketed/swappable with your choice of 2520 6-pin footprint opamps
• Impedance switch labeled TONE, switches between 150 and 600 ohms input impedance
• Capacitor selection between Tantalum and Electrolytic for different characters
• 80Hz hipass filter
• Polarity reverse
• +48 V phantom power
• Output attenuation allows for saturation flexibility of both the opamps and transformers
• 1/4'' insert for use of inline compressors, EQ's etc
• Balanced XLR mic (front and back), balanced TRS line and 1/4'' instrument inputs
• Balanced XLR and TRS outputs
• -20dB Pad
• LED VU meter
• 19'' rackmountable
• External line-lump 24V AC power transformer for low noise