Warm WA412 vs. Black Lion Audio B12A Quad

[joninc]

I agree with the general sentiment re: "Real" API vs clones

a 512 was the first preamp I bought when I got a lunchbox like 15 years ago and I was underwhelmed from day 1. I sold it shortly after. Sounded hard and cold to me. I have a friends CAPI VP28 on loan and it is killer - has a really nice thickness to the mids and sounds fantastic.

My understanding is that API designs have shifted over the years so certain components have been swapped out and certain iterations are better than others. I would never shell out the dough for a 512 again but I would love to own some CAPI pres...

[digitaldrummer]

I had an API 512 once too. I also prefer the CAPi's and the Old School Audio MP1's over the 512, but that's the magic of buying a single 500 series module vs. being locked into a rack of 2,4, or 8 channels. Paint with the colors you like.

[bealesh]

Update: offer was countered on Reverb on the Lindell - around the same time my local high end audio store (sound pure here in Durham NC) called me and gave me an amazing deal on a brand new WA-412. Still getting into the 500 game sooner than later but I think the simplicity of this guy is perfect for now. Setting up now!

[bealesh]

Completely floored with the Warm preamps! The 'tone' button makes all the difference - Here's a quick drum recording I did within hours of buying it: https://www.dropbox.com/home/drums-n-st ... imited.mp3 - This is a mismatched kit: keller maple kick drum 22x14, 60's pearl mahogany stencil toms 13x9 and 16x16, ludwig classic birch snare drum 14x6.5, istanbul agop cymbals. And for mics inside kick is a Senn E602, outside kick is a AT 3035 (these things are cheap but great!), 57 on snare, AT ATM450's as overheads, Oktava mk-012's on toms - inside kick / overheads / snare through the warm, toms and outside kick through the unison Neve pre's on the Apollo. Legit just threw up mics and didn't fuss much over them, and I'm amazed!

[permanent hearing damage]

the tone button is just an impedance switch, yeah? should only effect your dynamic mics.

[vvv]

the tone button is just an impedance switch, yeah? should only effect your dynamic mics.

Really?

[bealesh]

That seems right - it definitely opens up my kick and snare mics.

[vvv]

So, my Socratic passive-aggressive didn't work ...

Impedance not only affects dynamics, it also affects ribbons, and tranny-condensers.

FWIW, whenever I get a new mic, I list the reco'd impedance, and that's where I start when using the mic. I think of it as starting with what the designer's intent is, altho' I feel free to change it up based on my need.

[permanent hearing damage]

but ribbons are dynamic mics also!

news to me that they effect condensers with transformers. I guess I've never thought to check, admittedly.

[vvv]

but ribbons are dynamic mics also!

Depends on what the definition of "are" is - and when the last time you used "dynamic" to describe a ribbon mic other than when differentiating a condensor - or in this conversation.