American console giants API have reissued their iconic 312 microphone preamp as a single-width 500-series Lunchbox module. Designed by API co-founder Saul Walker (1927-2016), the 312 front-end was employed in many of API's now classic mixers.
A fully discrete design, the 312 is based around a proprietary AP2516 input transformer and a 2520 op-amp, and can provide a generous 69dB of gain to microphone sources. Other features include a large, illuminated analogue VU meter, switchable phantom power and polarity inversion, a -20dB pad, and a switch that taps the 312's output transformer at a 3:1 ratio, allowing you to drive the output for more saturation, without overloading your A-D converters.
Available now, the API 312 preamp has an MSRP of $795.
