I wanted to introduce a new 312 style mic pre to the forum, The Warm Audio WA12. It's completely discrete with custom wound USA made Cinemag transformers, 71db's of gain and high headroom. I've sold 8 channels of this design to a Neve console owner in Florida at a much higher price, they are the real deal. I wanted to introduce it to the high end forum because its price tag might lead one to think it's a budget pre.
Things that make the preamp noteworthy/unique:
- High quality components - Low cost $449
- It's intentional vintage (mid-boosted) character
looks cool, why not 500 series?
got ant pics of the inside?
Thanks for the question. A 500 series version is in the works. We wanted the first version to have a built in power supply so those without lunchboxes could also use it.
As for pictures of the inside I'll have to get some up, there are some small pics of the transformers and the opamp on the site WA12 Specs | Warm Audio
Lindell, thanks for the support. I've heard nothing but great things about your stuff, looking forward to your 500 series pres being available this summer.
A 500 series without a power supply is $700-$800, after a lunchbox you're above $1k. This pre isn’t trying to sound identical to API though, it has color/analogue warmth/vintage tone etc... that’s not commonly found in a lot of gear these days.
Some of my clients have sold pres valued well above $1k after using this design.
Just read the review and heard the demos. I'm not really in the market for a new pre but this sounds great, might change my mind (being a gear junkie is expensive)
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Soundjunkies productions I have a theory that if you aren't a little scared shitless about what you are working on then it isn't worth doing John Congleton Genius is small pieces Daniel Lanois
Some of my mixing/mastering work (pop, reggae, rock, metal)
you can buy a 500 series 2 space racks for under $300
I'm curious, if it's not identical to a 312 them why even use the name?
seems deceiving especially when you use the melcor part number too.
The only reason I ask this is because I would love a 312 with a melcor opamp.
But if you say it is not Identical, I've been looking for a realistic lowcost clone
But for the price it seems like a good preamp. Have you compared it to the bla 312?
Headstack,
Great questions. When I say not identical I mean that it doesn't use all identical components from the same manufacturers. Even with an identical schematic different component choices make big differences to the tone.
The custom transformers in the WA12 are a big factor in its uniqueness, they are designed to provide a vintage sonic signature. Some might say that the WA12 has more color/vibe/warmth/analogue-console-tone than many modern clean/transparent/fast acting pres. The WA12 gives a strong presence to the mid frequencies and has a silky smooth open top end. The sonic signature was tweaked and played with until I fell in love with it, it's not just a happen chance choice of part numbers from a catalog.
Cinemag is a first class transformer manufacturer supplying transformers to high-end companies like A-Designs (pacifica), Fink Audio, Universal Audio, Presonus (ADL 600), they do a great job. Much of the WA12’s manufacturing cost lies in these 2 parts alone (the Cinemag input and output transformers).
The WA12 does follow the original 312 schematic and the opamp follows the Melcor 1731. Following these 2 schematics exactly still leaves many components open for choice outside of the Cinemag transformers ie. transistors type, capacitor type, surface mount versus through hole etc... My ears were involved in all of these decisions....they have to be....I'm a picky guy
Last edited by WarmAudio; 27th April 2012 at 06:33 AM..
Reason: typo
Artists recently recorded with JJ Audio Mics: The Goonies (Hip Hop/Experimental)(My Band)
Ronnie Spector, Baby Bash, Paula DeAnda, Z-Ro, Slim Thug and the list continues to grow...
Yes, we are a few months out though, more units are being manufactured for other countries now. If you want to get your hands on one sooner than that send me a message and I can have a retailer here work with you on cost effective shipping. You would need to come up with a 24V AC power adapter.
We are happy to ship the WA12 to Europe if anyone would like one. As Bryce mentioned, you will need a European power supply at 24v or a common step-down transformer as these come with US voltage PSU. The European Golden Age supplies will also work. The GAP PSAC-4 is 110/220 switchable PSU and will supply power to 4 half-rack (or other) 24v units.
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Rich @ Lunchbox Audio (dot) com
I am also interested by a 500 series version of this Pre.
I have 2 slots to fill in my lunchbox and I want 2 more pres (for Keyboards) please do let me know if ti still in the works.
I wanted to introduce a new 312 style mic pre to the forum, The Warm Audio WA12. It's completely discrete with custom wound USA made Cinemag transformers, 71db's of gain and high headroom. I've sold 8 channels of this design to a Neve console owner in Florida at a much higher price, they are the real deal. I wanted to introduce it to the high end forum because its price tag might lead one to think it's a budget pre.
Things that make the preamp noteworthy/unique:
- High quality components - Low cost $449
- It's intentional vintage (mid-boosted) character
I am also interested by a 500 series version of this Pre.
I have 2 slots to fill in my lunchbox and I want 2 more pres (for Keyboards) please do let me know if ti still in the works.
i love that the numbers on the gain nob are so odd and seemingly arbitrary. who puts "29db on their product?! funny and creative.
I'll take the compliment . The true reasoning behind it is that those numbers should match the exact gain you are getting from the preamp at that rotation. You would add 6 dbs of gain to the number if you have the tone button pushed in....for example if cranked to full gain (65dbs), but you have the tone button pushed, in you'd actually be at 71dbs.
Haha I didnt even realize the funky numbering on the gain...its just how it falls at 9, 12, and 3 on the dial I guess.
Just want to speak up here as an owner of a WA12 and say that this thing is the real deal. I have been playing with it for a few weeks and it is filling a niche in my studio perfectly. I have been doing a lot of vocal work lately and I am finding that this pre works best with my voice on harder rock. I am running a very light compressor after the pre just to knock a few of the peaks off and it is sitting in the mix beautifully. The sound is not quite as present upon recording as some other options, but I attribute that to the warmth it retains in the middle to lower mids. Somehow it is able to retain that "warmth" and still have amazing detail ad clarity so it reacts beatifully to eq. The form factor and the wall wart are some drawbacks, but at the price point there had to be some concessions made and I would rather have in those areas than in the signal path.
Just so you dont think I am out campaigning for WARM audio I will say that I have not used it on everything since I got it. I found that my ART MPA Gold worked better for a Neil Diamond-esque vocal that I did.
Haha I didnt even realize the funky numbering on the gain...its just how it falls at 9, 12, and 3 on the dial I guess.
Just want to speak up here as an owner of a WA12 and say that this thing is the real deal. I have been playing with it for a few weeks and it is filling a niche in my studio perfectly. I have been doing a lot of vocal work lately and I am finding that this pre works best with my voice on harder rock. I am running a very light compressor after the pre just to knock a few of the peaks off and it is sitting in the mix beautifully. The sound is not quite as present upon recording as some other options, but I attribute that to the warmth it retains in the middle to lower mids. Somehow it is able to retain that "warmth" and still have amazing detail ad clarity so it reacts beatifully to eq. The form factor and the wall wart are some drawbacks, but at the price point there had to be some concessions made and I would rather have in those areas than in the signal path.
Just so you dont think I am out campaigning for WARM audio I will say that I have not used it on everything since I got it. I found that my ART MPA Gold worked better for a Neil Diamond-esque vocal that I did.
I don't know if it is class A or AB or if those classifications even apply. This is a solid state transformer in and out, not a tube like the ART. The circuits and sound are very different
Rack kits will be available in a few months, they will be black to match the body of the pre. We've prototyped a few racks but don't have them avail in the masses yet.
API is technically class A/B. "Class A" is not synonymous with "best class" but is often perceived as such. Both are excellent.
great color that orange. My stereo pair look great. After a few weeks of steady use on pretty much all aspects of the recording spectrum, this new pre packs a punch. I have to agree with bater on using a compressor post signal to help control vocal transient spl spikes. I truly like it best on vocals, snare drum, acoustic guitar, and sax. Warm and clear. The tone switch really boosts those mids for a nice vintage curve in the sonic mix. It is most effective and noticeable on the acoustic and snare tracks. Most of my other expensive pre's work as effectively well, but for less than $500 - you really can't go wrong.
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You may well have had me up until the "external power supply required" line.
I understand how that cuts both cost and noise, and that's certainly awesome, but I just really hate dealing with external power supplies, personally. If they're just racked up in the studio all the time, it's no big deal, but when doing location work or moving around a lot, external power supplies are a real pain.
Anyways, this looks really cool, and it seems like people are loving them, so I hope they're really successful for you! Maybe when they go 500-series, I can take another look.
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Warm Audio WA12 312 Mic Pre 
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