The Tone Beast is a mic pre that likes to be pushed and when pushed will colorize your signal ever so sweetly. The 2 opamps and 2 output transformers at the flip of their switches won’t appear to be much different, but as one drives the pre into harmonic distortion, the unique character of each of these components becomes apparent. Additionally the Tone Beast is customizable and allows for other opamps to be sourced and easily swapped into the unit. I’ve pulled my best tones from this pre right at the saturation point (as loud as I can push the gain before clipping). The output control on the TB12 allows you to limit the signal exiting the preamp even when pushing the gain to really hot levels, giving you maximum control.

Key features:

• Discrete 312 preamp design with coupled CineMag Transformers
• 71db of gain
• Transformer selection provides both Steel & 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) & 918(cleaner) style opamps. These are socketed/swappable with your choice of 2520 6 pin footprint opamps
• Impedance switch labeled TONE to switch between 150 & 600 ohms input impedance
• Capacitor selection between Tantalum & Electrolytic for different characters
• 80Hz hipass filter
• Polarity Reverse
• +48V phantom power
• Output attenuation allowing for saturation flexibility of both the opamps & transformers
• ¼” insert for the use of inline compressors, eq’s etc..
• Balanced XLR mic (front and back), balanced TRS line & ¼” instrument inputs
• Balanced XLR and TRS outputs
• -20db Pad
• LED VU Meter
• 19” rackmountable
• External line-lump 24V AC power transformer for low noise

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