Handle all of your single-channel audio recording needs with the black Warm Audio WA12 MkII, a preampliflier for professionals on a budget. This is a discrete, dual-transformer, high voltage mic pre that offers high headroom, a low noise floor, and sonics designed to impart a larger-than-life quality.

Based around an X731 opamp derived from the Melcor 1731, the pre offers a sound that can be warm or clean, saturated or transparent, depending on how hard you drive it. Drive it softly or hard, it won't change the essential sonorous quality of the unit.

It's also customizable for the DIY crowd: Because the unit was designed around the X731 opamp, the pre can accept any discrete opamp on the market that conforms to the 16V, 2520 pinout standard. In addition to the opamps, the WA12 MkII employs CineMag USA transformers, as well as other components that allow it to compete with units far more costly.

This preamp offers XLR and 1/4" connections for mic level, line level, or Hi-Z instruments. You'll also have your choice of XLR or 1/4" TRS outputs. A pad switch is on hand, as are a polarity switch and a button to supply 48V phantom power to condenser mics. A tone control lets you change the impedance from 600 to 150 ohms, which will have an effect on the sound.

Mic, Instrument, and Line Inputs    Up to 71 dB of Gain    Warm-Sounding, Replaceable Opamps    CineMag USA Transformers    XLR and 1/4" Connections    Switchable Impedance Settings    48V, Polarity Switch, 20 dB Pad

• Utilizes premium grade input and output USA CineMag transformers
• 71 dB of gain, fully discrete signal path
• Can be replaced with other 6-pin 2520-foot print opamps for varying tone/flavor
• Tone button switches the input impedance from 600 ohms to 150 ohms, changing the tone of both the microphone and Hi-Z inputs
• 2-megohm Hi-Z input on front panel, sends instrument signal through entire circuit including both Cinemag transformers and the discrete opamp
• Suitable for guitars, bass, keyboards, and other instruments that have a 1/4" output jack
• Output attenuation control (after the CineMag output transformer) allows for driving the preamp and transformers into saturation
• LED meter gain indication
• External power plug

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Will this work to provide line level control and phantom power to an Alexa Mini, and if so, what other components would be needed to ensure it works well?

A: Yes, you need to make sure you have the appropriate phantom power setting; 48volt is the most common, and make sure your Alexa is set to line level input. All you need is 2AA batteries, a microphone, and two XLR cables. One to connect the mic to the MM1, and another to go out of the MM1 to the Alexa. Recommend energizer ultimate lithium batteries. They'll last days.

Q: 2. Can the mark II transmitter transmit to mark i receivers? Or will this ONLY work within it's own generation, not backward compatible?

A: The Stealth Wireless MKII is not backwards compatible with previous generations.

Q: 3. If I buy this MM1 device, can I use it with the MIX PRE-3 II or do I no longer need it? Please help

A: Sound Devices MM-1 Single-Channel Portable Microphone Preamp provides a standalone preamp option with line level output for use in a variety of situations. If the Sound Devices MixPre-3 had a dedicated line level input, this unit might prove useful to use alongside.

Q: 4. I have 2 3.5mm mics will they be on separate left and right channels or be all in one?

A: The Saramonic SR-PAX1 Two-Channel Audio Mixer, Preamp, Microphone Adapter can be used to connect two microphones with 3.5mm connectors. There are separate left and right inputs on the back to connect both mics and a button on the front labeled "M/S" which is used to select between mono and stereo mode. When using the mono setting, the left and right channels will be combined as one mixed signal on both the left and right channels (same audio on both sides). When using the stereo mode, the two mics will be separated on different sides.

Q: 5. If I used this preamp with a recorder (TASCAM DR-40) at what setting should I put the audio gain in the recorder? I will be using it with a pro camcorder two, which has its own audio gain manual control, what gain setting should I use there too? Or should I adjust it while monitoring until I reach my sweet spot ?I'm still in the learning process.Thanks in advance :)

A: Hi - I use this preamp with a Tascam DR-60D Mark II recorder, so I'm guessing your DR-40 works similarly. The SoundDevices preamp sends out a line signal -- not a microphone signal -- so you would set the audio recorder input to line. (Page 48 of your manual has instructions on this.) You will not need to use gain on the recorder (and, in fact, I'm pretty sure that the recorder will not offer gain for a line signal). In my work with this preamp, I've found that the preamp gain dial on the preamp is the main setting to focus on. (If you're monitoring audio through the recorder, then the mon gain and phones dials on the preamp are irrelevant.) Depending on the type of mic you're connecting to the preamp, a preamp gain setting of 36-50 dB should work well, with an input level on the recorder of about 50%. Hope this helps!

Q: 6. Wil this work with passive speakers?

A: No, the Alto Professional Stealth MKII will not work with passive speakers as it cannot pass power through its outputs.

Q: 7. Does this mixer work with IPhones?

A: To connect the Saramonic SR-PAX1 Two-Channel Audio Mixer, Preamp, Microphone Adapter, you would require a 3.5mm to Lighting adapter such as BH #APLAADAP.

Q: 8. If I do not need phantom power, can I still use it without the battery?

A: The Saramonic SR-PAX1 Two-Channel Audio Mixer, Preamp, Microphone Adapter requires power from a 9V battery in all use cases for proper operation. Using the SR-PAX1 with the phantom power feature disengaged still requires power from the internal 9V battery source.

Q: 9. how connect cable?

A: The Saramonic SR-PAX1 Two-Channel Audio Mixer, Preamp, Microphone Adapter has a 3.5mm TRS output to connect the cable which will also connect to the mic input on the camera. You can use a cable like the Kopul CMX-RC30 Right-Angle Coiled Stereo Mini Cable (B&H # KOCMXRC30B) to connect to a camera with a 3.5mm TRS mic input.

Q: 10. Is this adapter compatible with the Sony HXR-MC2500 camcorder?

A: Yes, the Saramonic SR-PAX1 can be used with any camera that has a 3.5mm mic input.