Thanks for actually demonstrating how this thing sounds. I was tired of seeing everybody just point at it. It's not an index finger processor, it's an audio device! Glad to hear somebody actually send some audio through it. Nice job on the demo! Nice studio as well.
I bought this preamp about 10 months ago and I can’t tell you enough about how much I absolutely love it. I find myself mainly using it in full vintage mode as I absolutely adore the coloration that comes from it. I then have the WA 76 compressor going in through the send and return for even added color and tiny bit of compression going to “tape”. I gotta tell you, as someone who’s worked as an engineer in multimillion dollar studios, this is by far my favorite preamp I’ve ever had the pleasure of using and I can’t believe I own it. I’ll be buying another one in the next couple of months!
This sounds nice. I like this company and Golden Age as well as the FMR audio gear. Getting a decent sound does not need $1,000s of dollars anymore. I wish I had these items when I was younger, but I am happy that kids can get creative more easily. Nice work
The tone button is an impedance selector, That is all. By loading/mismatching the load on the transformer of the mic, you in turn get a richer signal with more harmonic content. A really handy device to have lying around is the Cloudlifter CL-Z with an IMPEDANCE dial. If you like the effect of the tone button, this will give you surgical tone control in that regard. (Though impedance isn't eq, it can have a similar effect) I really like the Tone Beast. Never knew about them 'til recently. Your demo is nice. I'm looking at getting a Vintech 473, but now I want one or two of these also.
For me, it seems like this pre-amp’s super power is with the gain cranked but the output master at lower settings. I just ordered it today and I can’t wait to get it in a couple of days!!!! Thanks for the excellent video, got a like and sub from me!
OK it sounds nice and is obviously flexible in all the right ways but where is the shootout so we ca really tell what it sounds like? Thanks for posting.
im amazed how clean the sound of your bass is, i think it's due to the HI-Z, that make the sound so clean, but the preamp can bring a lot of noise too if you wan't ^^ i have a Bass Driver from Tech 21 and it's a litile bit different, the sound is realy good on slap and pick style, but in finger it's a bit tricky.
Hi, I am about to acquire two options, a Warm audio TB12 and a focusrite isa one, I currently use a motu 828, which of the two would you recommend me to complete the motu ?, Very good video as always, thanks
Hi James. I’m interested to know your thoughts on the TB12, Audient ASP800 Retro Channel and Focusrite ISA. How do you find the tone of these preamps compare? If you only needed one channel which would you pick?
I think it's the wa76. Would really love to get yr review on that. I'm a fan of UA 1176 but can't afford it now. Would love to own a couple of the hardware
Hi James, many thanks for this nice review. As I can see, you have two different pair of Fluid Audio monitors standing there. They are really cheap (contrary to the Focal next to them) any comment on them? Or will there be a review, maybe? It's not so easy to review a monitor on UA-cam, of course, but would be great if you could share your thoughts :)
Thanks so much for the review. Can you please share your concerns about external power supplies? Why is this a bad thing? Sorry for my ignorance, but it would seems to be beneficial to have an external transformer, just in case the transformer went bad. This way you could just buy another transformer without having to crack the case on your unit or take it in to get fixed. Thanks!
hi~! i saw that you have some aphex j pres 500...How do you find them?iam looking for a preamp which is smoooth in the high mids and gentle-slow with transients,for vocals recordings...which pres do you suggest?
Carl Benons I went with the 710 first, but I'm eyeing this tone beast because of all the hype. I think the sounds out of the 710 are cleaner, but as anyone will tell you there are different apps for different hardware. No such thing as a one stop shop. different people, different voices, mean you may need to have different platforms.
First of all, you are bypassing the units preamp that is accessed through the XLR in (as with most interfaces) I would never plug a bass guitar into a line/instrument in. I would always use a DI box to XLR so that I could tap into the units preamp. The same principle applies with Focusrite 2i2, 18i20 & Universal Audio Twin interfaces. The tone difference between the XLR input and instrument/line input is drastic on all units. Also, I would increase the gain until the bass guitar got full and thick, and looking at your gain/volume, you had the gain down at about 9 o'clock, and this makes the review completely pointless.
It's something about the name "warm audio"....it just screams "gimmickry"... even if it's a good product. and I honestly want to give it a shot, but that name is just not a professional-sounding one. Hard to explain - it's kinda like a pro surfer buying a board from a company called Gnarly Waves or something lol
JBarber3d I find the name to be slightly ironic, because the term "warm" is thrown around *far* too much in the industry XD Through my experience with the WA-12, I wouldn't describe it as warm so much as dark and rich, but still with a sparkly top end and strong mids!
***** weird, I was just thinking about this thread today lol...we must've come across the same ad or something. Anyway, after learning more about it I think it might be a great preamp to try out, but I think my overall point was "pro" vs. "amateur" but that's not accurate. I just think the whole "I want it to sound WARM" thing is just a fad right now and having a company called WARM AUDIO might make sense for now but as soon as that gets overdone and "warm" becomes a bad word, I could see people avoiding this product. I really want their new EQ though!
Of course not, but almost every song that has hit any charts has been of high quality, with few exceptions. Source, acoustics, and the mic choice are definitely the most important things, but subtle things like mic pres, different types of analog or digital compressors, "colored" EQ's, console saturation or digital emulations, and lots of other tiny factors add up and accumulate across multiple tracks and end up making a pretty significant impact. A great sounding track is product of hundreds/thousands of subtle, good decisions. That said, you're 100% right and none of that matters if the song is trash.
Thanks for actually demonstrating how this thing sounds. I was tired of seeing everybody just point at it. It's not an index finger processor, it's an audio device! Glad to hear somebody actually send some audio through it. Nice job on the demo! Nice studio as well.
I bought this preamp about 10 months ago and I can’t tell you enough about how much I absolutely love it. I find myself mainly using it in full vintage mode as I absolutely adore the coloration that comes from it. I then have the WA 76 compressor going in through the send and return for even added color and tiny bit of compression going to “tape”. I gotta tell you, as someone who’s worked as an engineer in multimillion dollar studios, this is by far my favorite preamp I’ve ever had the pleasure of using and I can’t believe I own it. I’ll be buying another one in the next couple of months!
Good to know :)
it seems thick for
vocals as i like it but couldnt be sure about acoustic guitar. can it sound nice as a 73ish for acoustic or too harsh?
This sounds nice. I like this company and Golden Age as well as the FMR audio gear. Getting a decent sound does not need $1,000s of dollars anymore. I wish I had these items when I was younger, but I am happy that kids can get creative more easily. Nice work
What a professional and helpful video. I learned something new and spared myself the hassle of renting a unit like that to find what it sounds like.
Love the Tone Beast. I got it last week.
The tone button is an impedance selector, That is all. By loading/mismatching the load on the transformer of the mic, you in turn get a richer signal with more harmonic content. A really handy device to have lying around is the Cloudlifter CL-Z with an IMPEDANCE dial. If you like the effect of the tone button, this will give you surgical tone control in that regard. (Though impedance isn't eq, it can have a similar effect) I really like the Tone Beast. Never knew about them 'til recently. Your demo is nice. I'm looking at getting a Vintech 473, but now I want one or two of these also.
Because you did such an awesome review, I'll be looking forward to more videos.
sounds amazing, imagine running daw samples and vsts through it
For me, it seems like this pre-amp’s super power is with the gain cranked but the output master at lower settings. I just ordered it today and I can’t wait to get it in a couple of days!!!! Thanks for the excellent video, got a like and sub from me!
This is how you do a review! Seriously considering picking up a Tone Beast.
That bass sounds GOOD!
I like how you show the saturation knob and then don't push it so we can hear the character. Useful.
Great video really informative and full of tone. Thanks for showing us this beasts capabilities :)
Gotta watch out for that skull and crossbones setting !!!
Thnks for this video. Can you make a video testing al the other preamps that we see in this video. one VS another. Thanks
I was hoping you'd have by-passed the Pre just to get a feel for the difference it makes in the audio chain.
OK it sounds nice and is obviously flexible in all the right ways but where is the shootout so we ca really tell what it sounds like? Thanks for posting.
im amazed how clean the sound of your bass is, i think it's due to the HI-Z, that make the sound so clean, but the preamp can bring a lot of noise too if you wan't ^^ i have a Bass Driver from Tech 21 and it's a litile bit different, the sound is realy good on slap and pick style, but in finger it's a bit tricky.
Hi, I am about to acquire two options, a Warm audio TB12 and a focusrite isa one, I currently use a motu 828, which of the two would you recommend me to complete the motu ?, Very good video as always, thanks
Hey Pro Tools Expert and comment section. Would the TB12 or WA12 work with a Shure SM7B microphone ?
Hi James. I’m interested to know your thoughts on the TB12, Audient ASP800 Retro Channel and Focusrite ISA. How do you find the tone of these preamps compare? If you only needed one channel which would you pick?
I think it's the wa76. Would really love to get yr review on that. I'm a fan of UA 1176 but can't afford it now. Would love to own a couple of the hardware
Hi James, many thanks for this nice review.
As I can see, you have two different pair of Fluid Audio monitors standing there.
They are really cheap (contrary to the Focal next to them) any comment on them?
Or will there be a review, maybe?
It's not so easy to review a monitor on UA-cam, of course, but would be great if you could share your thoughts :)
*****
Cool, looking forward to it.
Better to have a lot of work than none, though ;)
Thanks so much for the review. Can you please share your concerns about external power supplies? Why is this a bad thing? Sorry for my ignorance, but it would seems to be beneficial to have an external transformer, just in case the transformer went bad. This way you could just buy another transformer without having to crack the case on your unit or take it in to get fixed. Thanks!
New company :)
hi~! i saw that you have some aphex j pres 500...How do you find them?iam looking for a preamp which is smoooth in the high mids and gentle-slow with transients,for vocals recordings...which pres do you suggest?
I'm trying to decide on this or Universal audio 710. Decisions decisions
Carl Benons The WA TB 12 is the move!!!
Carl Benons I went with the 710 first, but I'm eyeing this tone beast because of all the hype. I think the sounds out of the 710 are cleaner, but as anyone will tell you there are different apps for different hardware. No such thing as a one stop shop. different people, different voices, mean you may need to have different platforms.
can anyone compare this to black lion b173? I know they're different but in terms of value for money?
Any thoughts on their version of the 1176? Thanks
Could you tell us what acoustic guitar you have used?
I'm kind of sold already
Is it based on the api 512 pre?
so how does it compare to the isa one?
Andres Forero Oficial ISA ONE can't touch the Tone Beast!!!!
First of all, you are bypassing the units preamp that is accessed through the XLR in (as with most interfaces) I would never plug a bass guitar into a line/instrument in. I would always use a DI box to XLR so that I could tap into the units preamp. The same principle applies with Focusrite 2i2, 18i20 & Universal Audio Twin interfaces. The tone difference between the XLR input and instrument/line input is drastic on all units. Also, I would increase the gain until the bass guitar got full and thick, and looking at your gain/volume, you had the gain down at about 9 o'clock, and this makes the review completely pointless.
It's something about the name "warm audio"....it just screams "gimmickry"... even if it's a good product. and I honestly want to give it a shot, but that name is just not a professional-sounding one. Hard to explain - it's kinda like a pro surfer buying a board from a company called Gnarly Waves or something lol
I like the name, personally. But beyond that point: these things compete with preamps 2-4 times the price.
***** I admit the name has grown on me...I was going to say "I'm warming up to the idea" but I'll refrain
JBarber3d I find the name to be slightly ironic, because the term "warm" is thrown around *far* too much in the industry XD
Through my experience with the WA-12, I wouldn't describe it as warm so much as dark and rich, but still with a sparkly top end and strong mids!
***** weird, I was just thinking about this thread today lol...we must've come across the same ad or something. Anyway, after learning more about it I think it might be a great preamp to try out, but I think my overall point was "pro" vs. "amateur" but that's not accurate. I just think the whole "I want it to sound WARM" thing is just a fad right now and having a company called WARM AUDIO might make sense for now but as soon as that gets overdone and "warm" becomes a bad word, I could see people avoiding this product. I really want their new EQ though!
JBarber3d
I don't feel the warm "fad" will ever go away; with music as diverse as it is, something will always need "fattening" in the mix!
No GREAT SONG ever failed to chart due to a weak mic pre, and no sucky song ever made the charts because of any preamp. Ever.
Of course not, but almost every song that has hit any charts has been of high quality, with few exceptions. Source, acoustics, and the mic choice are definitely the most important things, but subtle things like mic pres, different types of analog or digital compressors, "colored" EQ's, console saturation or digital emulations, and lots of other tiny factors add up and accumulate across multiple tracks and end up making a pretty significant impact. A great sounding track is product of hundreds/thousands of subtle, good decisions. That said, you're 100% right and none of that matters if the song is trash.
Some people are just into gear like this and audio engineering as a passion. Not to make hits.