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Black Lion Audio Auteur MkIII 2-channel Microphone Preamp

2-channel Microphone Preamplifier with Pad, Phantom Power, and Polarity Reverse
$419.00

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Black Lion Audio Auteur MkIII 2-channel Microphone Preamp
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Modern Response, Vintage-inspired Sound, Killer Results

If you’re relying on your audio interface’s built-in mic pres, you’re short-changing yourself. Even if you have a high-end mic locker, you’re never going to achieve a pro-level sound with sterile, gain-starved preamps. That’s where the Black Lion Audio Auteur MkIII comes in. This 2-channel microphone preamp is top-tier all the way, boasting a transparent, modern IC-based front end and a character-infused, transformer-based output stage. The result is lightning-fast response with a vintage-inspired sound that’s guaranteed to inject your recordings with an ear-grabbing quality that demands attention. The Auteur MkIII includes all the features you’d expect on a professional mic preamp: line and hi-Z inputs, balanced line outputs, a -10dB pad, 48V phantom power, and polarity reverse. And with 62dB of gain on tap, the Auteur MkIII is primed to handle all but your most gain-hungry of microphones. You can’t attain a studio-level sound without a solid analog front end, and the Black Lion Audio Auteur MkIII really delivers.

Smart design with high-end components

The Auteur MkIII boasts an intelligent design and top-tier components. When a signal hits this mic preamp’s modern IC-based front end, which yields you fast response and transparent sound, you get exactly what you need to capture every nuance and detail of your source. The Auteur MkIII’s vintage-inspired output stage includes a high-quality CineMag transformer for a massive, colorful sound. Each channel includes a line-level input for infusing keyboards, synths, and even full mixes with weight and warmth, plus a hi-Z input for DI’ing your electric guitars and basses. Here at Sweetwater, we’re impressed by the durability of the Auteur MkIII’s tour-worthy chassis, and we find the included removable rack ears and 1U rack compatibility to be a convenient addition. This preamp is extremely portable as well!

Black Lion Audio: the mod squad

Founded in Chicago in 2006, Black Lion Audio has made their mark on the audio industry by hot rodding audio equipment and upgrading the sound quality of popular music-production gear, elevating industry-standard products to new levels of sonic quality. Though they started off modding gear from other manufacturers, they’ve utilized their cumulative expertise to design their own line of boutique mic preamps and word clocks. BLA gear and modded gear can be found in studios from Los Angeles to New York to Nashville and heard on projects from artists like Maroon 5, Alison Krauss, Metallica, T-Pain, George Strait, MGMT, Beyoncé, George Duke, Slayer, Erykah Badu, Rod Stewart, and more.

Black Lion Audio Auteur MkIII 2-channel Microphone Preamp Features:

  • Modern IC-based front end yields you transparent sound and lightning-fast response
  • Character-infused output stage includes a high-quality CineMag transformer
  • Line and hi-Z inputs accommodate line-level and high-impedance sources
  • Balanced line outputs integrate seamlessly with the rest of your studio
  • -10dB pad tames extra-loud sources
  • 48V phantom power for your condenser microphones
  • Polarity reverse eliminates phase problems
  • 62dB of gain — primed to handle all but your most gain-hungry of microphones
  • Tour-worthy chassis; includes removable rack ears with 1U 1/2 rack compatibility

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 2
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Pads: -10dB
  • Polarity Switch: Yes
  • Analog Inputs: 2 x XLR, 2 x 1/4"
  • Analog Outputs: 2 x 1/4" TRS
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz-30kHz
  • Power Source: 24V AC power supply (included)
  • Height: 4"
  • Depth: 9"
  • Width: 10"
  • Weight: 3.1 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: Auteur MK3

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

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Very pleased with this preamp. Went on recommendation from Aric, and it hits the mark. Set up a second studio room at my home with the same core equipment as our studio for editing, tracking keys & bass guitar. At the studio we have an API 3124 and a ADL 600 for tracking, but I needed something at home for bass guitar and quick fixes. This little preamp does the job very well. Clean, but not sterile sounding. It sounds very close to our API, IMO. So, if you aren't ready to drop $3K+ on a preamp - here you go. Considering cost + quality (nice build too), it qualifies as a 5 star.
Music background: Musician, Songwriter, Engineer over 50 years
Rated 5/5

WHEW !!!

Farfar more preamp in this wonderful lol beauty's price point. Equal and better than most of many times the cost. ZERO ways to go wrong here
Music background: Professional Bum
Rated 5/5

Black Lion Auteur Mklll just say yes

I received my new BLA Auteur MkIII only last week but have been able to try it with various mics while recording acoustic guitar so far. The MkIII brought out the best of each microphone I tried, I found it to be quiet and articulate, the overall sound is silky smooth, and when the output increases the cine-mag transformers really make for a wonderful sounding pre. Additionally, being 2 channels at this price point, make it one quality unit I'm glad I found.
Lastly, build quality is rock-solid, and the packaging well thought out, capable of protection while outside the studio.
Music background: Musician
Rated 5/5

Great Clean Tone, Plenty of Gain

The Black Lion Audio Auteur mkiii is a great 2 channel preamp for the money. I needed a better front end than the starved plate fake tube nonsense that I had for a long time. I needed 2 channels but had to stay in budget. Israel really set me in the right direction with the BLA pre. It is clean and responsive It's sounding great on bass, vocals, and direct guitar into amp plugins. You can't go wrong at this price point.
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