Over here at Amplified Studios, we have recently made a new and exciting purchase. I want to introduce you to the T12 Tube Preamp. In this interview, I will be questioning our head engineer, Gabe Dagrezio, on the functionality of this preamp. For beginners in the audio engineering world, we will also be going over what a preamp does precisely, what makes the T12 stand out, and how it can make a good recording sound great. Let's learn about this legendary piece of music gear in greater detail.

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EXPLAIN TO ME EXACTLY WAT THE API T12 TUBE PREAMP DOES.

"The API T12 is a pre-amplifier. And just like any other Pre-amplifier, its primary purpose is to take the weak electric signal from a microphone or instruments and boost it to a level optimal for other studio equipment, such as sound interfaces, tape machines, power amplifiers, and outboard gear. It is one of the most common components of any recording spaces."

WHAT MAKES THE API T12 DIFFERENT/BETTER THAN OTHER PRE-AMPLIFIERS?

"Not all pre-amplifiers are created equal. In a nutshell, they all boost an electric signal, and there are few designs available and thousands of different components that can be used to accomplish this task. API is a company that uses the best designs and components and has been responsible for shaping the modern sound of recording for half a century. This particular model is a tube pre-amplifier. Between the microphone and the output, two custom transformers and two vacuum tubes amplify the signal and add all sorts of goodness to the sound."

WHAT DOES THE API T12 DO FOR RECORDING PROJECTS? COULD YOU GIVE ME THE TECHNICAL DETAILS?

"Most entry-level pre-amplifier make the signal louder without changing the sound. They are what, in audio, we call 'Transparent.' Although sometimes this is a desirable choice, often it is perceived as lifeless and sterile. Some tubes and transformers, when driven at the edge of their nominal capacity, saturate and distort and add their own color (or taste) to the sound; it is what people often refer to as "warmth." this expands the producer's/engineer's sonic palette, as each pre-amplifier has a unique sonic fingerprint."

HOW IS IT ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD RECORDING SOUND GREAT? WHAT GIVES IT THIS ABILITY?

"The sound of overdriven electronics is pleasant to the human ear. Take the vacuum tube as an example, originally it had a lot of applications in the real world, including the radio, radars, television, computers, music recording and reproduction, etc., but the invention of the transistor (which is lighter, more reliable, cheaper ad durable) made it obsolete for all the applications above except audio. Different degrees of distortion in recording can make a sound edgy, warm, compelling, attractive beautiful. All the great records have some distortion somewhere, whether obvious or subtle."

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO USE THIS ON A RECORDING PROJECT YET? IF SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE? DID IT MAKE THE RECORDING PROCESS EASIER FOR YOU AS THE ENGINEER?

"Yes, I already used it on acoustic guitars, vocals, overheads, and an electric guitar plugged in directly. Having a choice of preamps and compressors doesn't make the recording process easier per se; it probably adds an extra layer of complexity. But it makes it more inspiring."

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