Preamp Shootout - Presonus, Focusrite, WARM Audio, AML

Think for just a second Buster. If all preamps are pretty much the same, then why are the three Fender amps behind you ALL TUBE?

MINUTE AS HECK,BUT THE WARM AND FOCUSRITE HAD ME,AND GOT THEM,BUT ID LIKE TO HEAR EM POSSIBLY PUSHED LIL HARDER,AND ELECT BASS, SYTHS POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE LIL MORE DRASTIC RESULTS,...IDK....BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS VID,I AM STICKING WITH CLARETTE X-PRE8,AS IM ACTUALLY LOOKING S INTO DRAWMER PRE IN FUTURE. ILL POST THAT SHOOTOUT WITH ALL MY OTHER PRES SOMEDAY TOO. THANK YOU,DEF INTERESTING VID!!!!

Listened to it, while browsing somewhere else. on my laptop speakers instrument no difference. although on the vocal testing I could pick up the difference either airy or warmth. For drums I will stick with Ezdrummer for now. I still want the live beat for local beats. they are not found anywhere in the world.

Warm is so much better...

This video convinced me that preamps are one of the very last things you should invest in for a home studio. Gonna spend my money elsewhere for now. Thank you!

He's running both the Warm and the AML with output trim maxed, thus negating most of the "character" they might impart on the signal by driving the transformers.

focusrite is so clean n warm is soft n warm

Great test! Thank you for putting the hard work.

Great video….and you’re absolutely correct. The direct answer is any one of those would’ve worked. I’m a Presonus fan simply because it’s an all inclusive package. I agree with the Focusrite “air” function (which worlds great for snares and cymbals). We live in a golden age of gear. Grace a whatever interface you can afford, and then use a high-end plug-in API, SSL, Neve….all have KILLER plugin’s now that have a 99% accuracy to the hardware. Make sure the instrument is in tune, and sounds good. Short of that, the rest is learning the capability of the recording gear you’re using. If you’re into the old 70’s and 80’s productions that were all recorded on an analogue board (using all the same preamps for everything)….that’s VERY achievable now, as far as gear goes. This was a GREAT comparison….thanks for taking the time. Very cool of your.

AML Sounds great ...

From here I ll prefer Warm Audio. Nice cinema!

AML wins, nice clean deepp 3D sound. And I was surprised by the StudioChannel, it pushed the sound forward so it if you need something to cut through the mix in the mids, it could be the secret sauce.

Man all sounds good but the clarette destroys them all in details and definition

To each set of ears it's different I guess but I just didn't like the Focusrite. It had a harshness tht I'm sensitive to. All the others sounded good. I actually liked the Studio Channel on everything but the 1st guitar test which is surprising. I see it used for cheap at my GC often. If I had rank them it would be #1 AML, #2 Warm, #3 Both Presonus tied. (SC better vocal, the other better 1st guitar, all else identical.) #4 Focusrite but last by a wide margin. If I'm being 100% honest any of them besides the Focusrite would make the same song. None of the top 3 will improve an actual song. Yes, the 1073 clone is marginally better when solo'd side by side but it's so minor. It's like this.. Say ur grilling a good steak. U want to melt butter & brush it on the steak as u grill. Now let's say you're trying different sticks of butter. Sure 1 stick of butter is going to taste better than another brand to u. Will it matter at the end when you eat the steak? No. Still I love the demo. Great job on ur end. A clean, fast demo, w/o any bs. Definitely a good ass video. It did teach me to never buy or use tht Focusrite.

With the technology that's out there nowadays there's no need to over spend on a trillion dollar mic pre just because it says Neve or Avalon. There are affordable companies out here that are killing it with their products. I myself love the Warm Audio mic pres. I own the WA12 MK2 black edition, and I chain an LL2A compressor limiter from Little Labs behind it. Best vocal chain I've ever owned.

I love my Warm Audio mic pre. I have the WA12 MK2 (black).

Totally agree with you. The differences are there but so subtle that in a mix with plug-ins you won't hear it. All would be suitable for a home recording!

I actually liked the PreSonus studio channel a lot. It has a nice "soft" high end - a little "smear" - it isn't as transparent or clean as the AML's and some others but it has a nice character.