You hear all the time people talking about "analogue warmth" and how recordings "back in the day" were better- most of that is due to how analogue electronics deals with signals. The op amps, valves and the transformers that these things are built from all affect the sound, changing it, making it rounder; adding character.

The preamp is an interesting little box that is often over-looked when it comes to home and project studio set ups. They're built into your audio card and you can plug your guitar or microphone straight in, so why worry about it?  The integrated circuit chips that make up most modern microphone preamps do the job ok- they will amplify the signal to level that the rest of the electronics can deal with- but they don't add soul...  if you've found that your recordings are lacking compared with the classics, it could be part of what you're missing.

Meris440box3

The Meris 440 is based on the API312- this was a classic preamp that was in the consoles of the studios around LA in the 1970s and part of what became known as the "west coast" sound. It's been a favourite of engineers the world over ever since because of its warmth and tone.

If you can make it to our event, you'll hear first hand the difference a good preamp like this makes to your recordings. We'll be demonstrating how it can be used on both guitars and vocals, and how it will work with your current recording set up, improving your sound whether you're running a professional studio or recording yourself at home.

You can check out our unboxing video here and book a place at the event to come and see it in action  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/giraffe-audio-meris-440-launch-event-tickets-14169863443