"warmth" is more likely to come from a mic choice,
than a distorted tube.
 
compression, gets you there a lot quicker than a tube.
 
and forget about warmth from starved plate designs.
 
it's just distortion.
 

batsbrew
"warmth" is more likely to come from a mic choice,
than a distorted tube.
 
compression, gets you there a lot quicker than a tube.
 
and forget about warmth from starved plate designs.
 
it's just distortion.
 

that's all ANY warmth is.

AT
The Warm Audio stuff is all very nice.  The WA12 is API-ish and has more of a vintage vibe.   The Tone Beast has a wealth of colors since it has two transformers (or none) and a choice of op-amps, as well as gain and output, which means you can drive it hard.
 
The ISA One is nice, but cleaner, more modern sounding.  It has a transformer, too, and a preamp as well as DI you can use simultaneously.  Kinda like an RND (Rupert Neve Designs), since the Focusrite is based on a Neve design.  A new RND just sounds big, or mine does anyway.  But it is the one in the Portico II channel strip, which runs on big rails w/ a lot of power.  Maybe the single space units don't sound as big.
 
I just feel having a nice transformer-based preamp works well since most of the interface preamps don't have one.
 
@

 
I have two of these that AT mentions and I wish I had all three. I can't imagine better investment dollars per preamps than the ISA One or Tonebeast. The ISA One sounds good on vocals, but is stunning on direct input guitar and bass. The Tonebeast's strength is vocals between the two for my use, it also sounds good for instruments.

musicroom

AT
The Warm Audio stuff is all very nice.  The WA12 is API-ish and has more of a vintage vibe.   The Tone Beast has a wealth of colors since it has two transformers (or none) and a choice of op-amps, as well as gain and output, which means you can drive it hard.
 
The ISA One is nice, but cleaner, more modern sounding.  It has a transformer, too, and a preamp as well as DI you can use simultaneously.  Kinda like an RND (Rupert Neve Designs), since the Focusrite is based on a Neve design.  A new RND just sounds big, or mine does anyway.  But it is the one in the Portico II channel strip, which runs on big rails w/ a lot of power.  Maybe the single space units don't sound as big.
 
I just feel having a nice transformer-based preamp works well since most of the interface preamps don't have one.
 
@

 
I have two of these that AT mentions and I wish I had all three. I can't imagine better investment dollars per preamps than the ISA One or Tonebeast. The ISA One sounds good on vocals, but is stunning on direct input guitar and bass. The Tonebeast's strength is vocals between the two for my use, it also sounds good for instruments.

As helpful as all this is, it just seems to be getting harder.  Everyone has great things to say about both the ISA and the Tonebeast.  I will be using whichever one as a one trick pony for both vox and DI.  I imagine I'll be happy with either of them.  I have a cheap-ish tube mic (the MXL Mogami V69) that is already pretty dark and warm. It works great for my voice, but is certainly not bright.   Not sure how much more of that I want to introduce for vox.
 
Cosmetically I also would really rather the rackmount Tonebeast for my setup.  A big tabletop pre will require some rearranging.
 
Keep those ideas coming if you have them.  Its almost time to buy....

Scott,
 
I've been using the P-Solo for several years. Great clean sound. If that's what you want, you can't go wrong. I use mine with my favorite tube mic (Rode NTV) quite a bit. It does one thing and does it well. I also have several flavors of mic pres, so a one trick pony fits well in my set up.
 
My next pre amp purchase will be the Tone Beast. Impressed with what I've seen, heard and read about this one and Warm Audio seems like a great company to work with. I have their WA76 compressor. Very impressive!
 
Another consideration in the Sytek MPX-4Aii. Four channels. You can get it with Burr Brown op amps for a slightly warmer sound in two, or all four channels. It's $800 - $900 new, so may be out of your budget. See here - http://www.sytek-audio-systems.com/products/preamps/mpx4/
 
Have fun shopping! 

joel77
My next pre amp purchase will be the Tone Beast.
...
Another consideration in the Sytek MPX-4Aii.

Interesting that the first touts its transformers as being the source of its greatness, while the second does the same for its absence of transformers.
 
Makes it hard on us mere mortals.  This is definitely a case where you need not only to listen before you buy, but to use them enough so you can even tell the difference, and how one or the other might help in you setup.

It is funny, as no matter what I end up with, I will make it work.  They each have their charms and I will be really surprised if I am disappointed with any of the choices discussed here.  That being said, I'm leaning towards the either the Warm Audio "regular" pre, or the Tonebeast.  

I applaud your attitude Scott. We can make excuses for our equipment, or we can simply make it work. When the budget allows and the real need arises, we add more flavors.

The WA 12 (regular pre) is great, but a half rack unit.  I use it as much as the ToneBeast mostly because it is simple - plug and play with only one knob to mess w/.  I find I use the TB w/o a transformer as often as not, since I don't have a comparable clean preamp.  Or use it to put some extra saturation hair on a sound that needs it.  Otherwise, I just use the WA12 which sounds nigh on perfect DI'ed w/ bass (esp. w/ some 1176 compression).
 
Since you are paying double for the TB, just be sure to realize it is like a pick-up.  It is big, hard ride and eats gas and you ain't usually using it for what it was made for.  But if you need to load something up, there ain't anything else that will work.  Whether all the bells and whistles on the TB are worth it using them once or twice on a song are a question only you can answer.  Realistically, I probably use them about 10% of the time, tho I'd probably think I need to use it more if I didn't have it.
 
@

I'd say plan ahead now. Where are you headed? What is your goal?
  I have a PreSonus MP20 that I put BurrBrown opamps in. It was my first "good" or step up preamp from my Mackie 24-8. I added an ISA One (though I wish I'd gotten one with the AD card and plan to add that ASAP). Recently, I bought a Warm Audio WA76 and Tonebeast, and feel like I have moved way closer to my goal! I think one  of the best options of the Tonebeast is you can swap out one of the opamps! I just added a John Hardy 990C+ (replacing the X18 Jensen one) and the fact that you can take the Tonebeast up from where it is, already, is a no brainer! I haven't seen anything about anyone using the Seventh Cirlce Quad 8, the Trident one, nor the Ticha, but am hoping that will change the more the TB-12 filter out into "studio world"!
http://www.warmaudio.com/products/tb12-tone-shaping-microphone-preamp/
       I'd love to aim for the new Millenia's and then "down the road, a bit" Chandler and Great River. But I might try  the Black Lion B173- $549. Those are my current "nicely rounded out" front end plan. Of course I have to upgrade my I/O,  but that is an exciting proposition!
      Get the best conversion, I/O, preamp, and mic you can afford NOW and work on your space. I bought a ton of stuff for my last "big" set up(home studio for hire), hoping to impress clients with my gear list. What a waste of time that was! Impress yourself and your results will inspire you (and your clients, if you do that).
 
Hmmm, well I can certainly tell the difference between decaf and regular, this morning! LOL
Michael