Mic pre + 10 band eq

Dual Audio Tools arose from the desire to get the most out of the good and expensive components that make up a recording setup. While prototyping equipment for my own use, I had the thought, "I'll put these transformers in this compressor, but I'd also like to build a preamp with them." So, why not add some extra components and switches that would allow me to use them for both functions? That's how they were born, and here they are in 500 series form.

Speaking of "MIC PRE + 10 BAND EQ", we have a preamplifier and graphic equalizer.

With "LINE" + "EQ ON" mode on, the signal passes through a replica of the complete API 560 circuit. It features the same electronically balanced input, the same 10 bands, and the same 30mm slide potentiometers with the same travel. Thus, we obtain a complete set of functions without sacrificing any features.

With "MIC" mode on, the signal passes through a high-quality input transformer and two gain stages with discrete operational amplifiers, providing 70dB of gain, making it suitable even for ribbon microphones. When in "MIC" mode, the equalizer can be activated, remaining silent and giving the preamplifier an infinite number of colors and characteristics, since the equalizer section is inserted between the two amp stages (as in other amplifiers designed with discrete opamps such as the Neve 1081). This allows you to "clean" unwanted frequencies and "accentuate" pleasant frequencies before sending them to the output transformer and generating harmonic distortion ONLY with the already sculpted sound.

So we literally have "2 devices in one". Plus the third possibility of using them simultaneously as a channel strip.