Black Lion Audio Eighteen

Shape the recording at its source with a transformer preamp and a hands-on passive equaliser.

A characterful front end

Eighteen combines a single-channel microphone preamplifier with a two-band passive inductor EQ. A Cinemag transformer and Black Lion Audio’s BLA1831 discrete op-amp sit at the heart of the preamp, offering a recording path built around analogue character. It is a natural choice for a principal vocal chain, a featured instrument or any overdub that deserves its own dedicated front end.

Make broad tonal decisions

The equaliser encourages musical, broad-stroke adjustment while the sound is being captured. Add weight, bring presence forward or rebalance a microphone before the signal reaches your converter. The passive inductor design gives the EQ a distinct role alongside the preamp: you can shape tone at the hardware rather than treating recording gain and equalisation as separate stages later in the session.

Control the signal before conversion

Switchable 80 Hz high-pass and 10 kHz low-pass filters help focus the recorded frequency range. Phantom power supports compatible condenser microphones, while polarity reversal assists when combining microphones on a shared source. XLR input and output connections integrate the unit with a professional recording chain.

A dedicated recording channel

The 2U format provides room for clear front-panel controls and deliberate adjustment. Connect the output to a suitable line input on your audio interface or converter and set that input to accommodate the preamp’s output level. Eighteen suits engineers who prefer to commit to a sound during recording, with gain, filtering and tonal shaping immediately at hand.