DiademTone DT12 "Toxic" 500 Series Mic Pre

Hand-Assembled · 3-Year Warranty Every Diadem Tone unit is hand-assembled one at a time using carefully selected components, and is individually quality checked before it leaves the factory. That's why Diadem Tone backs every product with a 3-year warranty. Diadem Tone DT-12 500 Series Mic Preamp The mic preamp is the first thing your signal meets, and it shapes everything that follows. The DT-12 is a single-channel 500-series microphone preamp built the old-school way. It has transformers on both input and output, and a fully discrete amplifier with hand-matched transistors. Diadem Tone describes it as a classic circuit with modern improvements, designed for a musical, characterful tone. A specially engineered input transformer sits at the front of the circuit, followed by discrete transistor gain stages and an output transformer. There are no integrated-circuit op-amps in the gain path. It's the same design approach used in classic recording console preamps, in a compact module you can slot into any standard 500-series rack. Push it Many budget preamps use integrated-circuit op-amps and no transformers. They can measure cleanly but often lack character. A transformer-coupled, discrete design behaves differently. The transformers add weight and a subtle, pleasing saturation, and the discrete transistor stages add depth and punch. Push the gain harder and the DT-12 adds more colour. Keep it moderate and it stays solid and clear. This is the character that made classic console preamps the sound of so many records. Why the 500-Series Format The 500-series format lets you build a rack of modules to suit how you work. Mix and match preamps, EQs and compressors from different makers in one chassis. Start with one DT-12, then add more as your recording grows. A rack of several DT-12s gives you matched, transformer-coloured channels for tracking a full drum kit or band. What to Use It On Vocals – a full, forward vocal sound with transformer weight, using condenser or dynamic mics. Drums – punchy kick, snare and toms, with transformer saturation for extra impact when driven. Guitar cabinets – solid, midrange-rich guitar tones that sit easily in a mix. Bass, keys and synths – plug straight into the front-panel DI input and record through the same discrete, transformer-coupled path. Acoustic instruments – natural body and detail on acoustic guitar, piano and strings. If you're recording through an audio interface's built-in preamps, a dedicated discrete preamp is one of the biggest upgrades you can make. The DT-12 gives your recordings the depth and character of a transformer-coupled console channel, one 500-series slot at a time. Front Panel DI input – front-panel 1/4″ instrument input DI switch – selects the instrument input Ø switch – polarity invert 48V switch – phantom power for condenser microphones Gain – sets the preamp gain Specifications Type Single-channel microphone preamp Format 500-series module (requires a 500-series rack) Circuit Fully discrete amplifier with hand-matched transistors Transformers Input and output transformers Inputs Microphone (via rack), front-panel 1/4″ DI Switches DI, polarity (Ø), +48V phantom power Power Supplied by the 500-series rack (not included) Warranty 3 years