Black Lion Audio has introduced the Auteur Quad2, a four-channel rackmount mic preamp built on the same hybrid design as the original Auteur – a fast, transparent input stage working in tandem with Cinemag transformers on the output stage.
The American-meets-British-style circuitry of the unit promises ‘detail and transient attack flattering to drums and percussion, with the option of just a bit of analogue heft and colour when the gain is pushed’.
‘The Auteur Quad2 embodies what we call Chicago-style preamp design,’ says Black Lion Audio VP of Operations, Preston Whiting. ‘It’s a uniquely Black Lion take on classic American and British preamp topologies. You get the transient response of an American console preamp, plus the tonal weight and saturation of a vintage British design on four channels, with modern features, and at a price that defies comparison.’
Designed for modern studios in need of a rock-solid workhorse, the Auteur Quad2 includes per-channel +48V phantom power, polarity reverse, and -10dB pads. Front-panel instrument/line inputs support tracking of DI bass or keys, while rear-panel XLR and TRS outputs offer flexible routing.
Upgrade over the classic Auteur Quad include higher gain, all-new analogue vu meters on all channels and front-panel quarter-inch inputs to accept both instrument and line-level signals available on all four channels
The unit is presented as a rugged 1U-high chassis built from brushed black aluminium, built using premium components, including US-made Cinemag transformers, Nichicon and Vishay capacitors ensuring the lowest noise and highest fidelity in its class.
Key Features:
- Four-channel mic/line/instrument preamp.
- Transparent, ultra-fast input stage for transient-rich sources.
- US-made Cinemag output transformers for added depth and character.
- 66 dB of gain for ribbon and dynamic mics.
- Four Instrument/line DI inputs.
- Per-channel phantom power, polarity reverse and -10dB pads.
The Auteur Quad2 will ship through Black Lion Audio’s global dealer and distributor network with a US MAP of US$899 and an EU SSP of €1,199 (inc. 19% VAT).
More: www.blacklionaudio.com/store/mic-pres/auteur-quad2-four-channel-mic-pre