Warm Audio Tone Beast TB12 User Manual

OPERATION MANUAL
TB12 TONEBEAST MICROPHONE PREAMPLIFIER
The Warm Audio Tone Beast TB12 is one of the highest quality microphone preamplifiers on the
market in its price range. It uses quality USA made components found in preamplifiers with much
higher price tags. In addition to its unparalleled quality and price, the Tone Beast has unique tone-
shaping features that give users flexibility usually only found by acquiring an assortment of different
preamps.
Home-based musicians and professional studios alike will find the Tone Beast to be an extremely
powerful, versatile and fully professional piece of gear that is capable of warming and shaping both
input signals and mixes in a way that is very pleasing to the ear.
Microphone level input (XLR):
Line Input:
Insert (Send & Receive):
Balanced Outputs (XLR & TRS):
This input is designed for dynamic,
condenser and ribbon microphones. Other instruments or devices
that put out low a level microphone signal can also be plugged into
this input.
The input impedance can be set to either 600 or 150 ohms.
This TRS input is padded -25db's and is designed for
line level instruments or sources that put out line level signals such
as keyboards, electric instruments or audio interface outputs.
This input and output are designed to
allow another device such as a compressor or EQ to be inserted in
the middle of the Tone Beast's circuit. These connections insert the
secondary device in the circuit after the input transformer, PAD, POL,
HPF and TONE switches, but before the op amp and output
transformer.
2 outputs are provided, balanced
XLR and TRS. These outputs can be used simultaneously or
independently. When using 2 TB12’s in stereo as a mastering bus,
one set of outputs can be assigned to the monitor speakers while the
other set returns the conditioned signal back to the DAW for
recording.
Front Connections
Back Connections
O
O
UNLEASH THE BEAST!
Microphone level input (XLR)
Hi-Z Instrument input:
: This input is designed for dynamic,
condenser and ribbon microphones. Other instruments or devices
that put out a low level microphone signal can also be plugged into
this input.
The input impedance can be set to either 600 or 150 ohms.
The front panel ¼” input sends the
instrument's signal through the entire preamp circuit including the
input transformer, discrete op amp (operational amplifier) and output
transformer.
The thorough layout of the Hi-Z's signal path ensures that
instruments are subject to the same robust pre-amplification as
microphones.
You can connect a variety of instruments via the Hi-Z input on the
front panel of the Tone Beast including: acoustic and electric guitars,
bass guitar, keyboards, synths, drum machines, etc...

Warm Audio Tone Beast TB12 Specifications

General

Brand	Warm Audio
Model	Tone Beast TB12
Category	Amplifier
Language	English

Summary

Front Connections

Microphone Level Input (XLR)

XLR input for dynamic, condenser, and ribbon microphones. Input impedance can be set to 600 or 150 ohms.

Hi-Z Instrument Input

Front 1/4" input for instruments, routing through the entire preamp circuit.

Back Connections

Microphone Level Input (XLR)

XLR input for dynamic, condenser, and ribbon microphones. Impedance 600 or 150 ohms.

Line Input

TRS input, padded -25db, for line level instruments or sources.

Insert (Send & Receive)

Connections to insert external devices like compressors or EQs into the signal path.

Balanced Outputs (XLR & TRS)

Dual balanced outputs for simultaneous or independent use.

Input Control Features

Hi-Z and Line Input Switches

Switches to engage front Hi-Z 1/4" input or back Line TRS input.

+48V Phantom Power

Provides phantom power for condenser mics and other devices.

Input Padding and Polarity

Features -20dB pad for overload prevention and polarity inversion for phase alignment.

Hi-Pass Filter

Removes unwanted low frequencies from the source signal below 80Hz.

Gain and Saturation Controls

Gain Knob

Variable gain control from +29db to +65db (or +71db with Tone engaged).

Output Control Knob

Controls the output signal level to prevent overload and shape tone.

Power Switch

Powers the unit on and off. Recommended to turn off when not in use.

Tone Shaping Controls

Discrete Op Amp Switch

Selects between two discrete analog op amps (1731 or 918) for different tonal characteristics.

Tone Switch (Impedance)

Switches input impedance between 600 ohms (disengaged) and 150 ohms (engaged).

Capacitor Switch

Switches capacitors between tantalum ('vintage') and electrolytic ('clean').

Output Transformer Bypass

Removes nickel and steel core transformers for a more transparent signal.

Output Transformer Selector

Selects between steel core (vintage) and 50% nickel core (cleaner) CineMag transformers.