4-Channel Boutique Mic Preamp

Black Lion Audio has introduced the Auteur Quad2, which they describe as a four-channel rack-mount mic preamp that brings its celebrated Auteur sound into high-channel-count workflows without compromising on tone, build quality, or price.

Preston Whiting, VP of Operations at Black Lion Audio, told us, "The Auteur Quad2 embodies what we call Chicago-style preamp design. It's a uniquely Black Lion take on classic American and British preamp topologies. You get the transient response of an American console preamp, plus the tonal weight and saturation of a vintage British design -- on four channels, with modern features, and at a price that defies comparison."

Here's more details direct from the company...

Hybrid design for versatile application
The Auteur Quad2 is built around the same hybrid design that made the original Auteur a studio favorite: a fast, transparent input stage working in tandem with fat, colorful Cinemag transformers on the output stage. This American-meets-British-style circuitry delivers the detail and transient attack flattering to drums and percussion, with the option for just a bit of analog heft and color when the gain is pushed.

All the essential preamp options included
Designed for modern studios in need of a rock-solid, great-sounding workhorse, the Auteur Quad2 includes per-channel +48V phantom power, polarity reverse, and -10 dB pads. Front-panel instrument/line inputs make it a breeze to track DI bass or keys, while rear-panel XLR and TRS outputs offer flexible routing.

The Auteur Quad2 is also a significant upgrade from the classic Auteur Quad. New to the Quad2:

• More gain than the original Auteur Quad
• All-new analog VU meters on all four channels
• Front-panel ¼" inputs now accept both instrument and line-level signals, and are available on all four channels

All of the above is packed into a rugged 1U chassis built from brushed black aluminum and loaded with premium components, including US-made Cinemag transformers, Nichicon and Vishay capacitors, and more, ensuring the lowest noise and highest fidelity in its class.

Key Features:
• Four-channel mic/line/instrument preamp
• Transparent, ultra-fast input stage for transient-rich sources
• US-made Cinemag output transformers for added depth and character
• 66 dB of gain -- perfect for power-hungry ribbon and dynamic mics
• Four Instrument/Line DI inputs add console warmth to direct recordings
• Per-channel phantom power, polarity reverse, and -10 dB pads
• Built Black Lion-tough

Pricing and Availability:
The Auteur Quad2 will begin shipping through Black Lion Audio's global network of dealers and distributors in October 2025 with a US MAP of $899.00 USD and an EU SSP of €1,199.00 EUR (inc. 19% VAT).

More information:

• Auteur Quad2

• Customisable Digital Labelling For Studio Racks 16-Sep-26
• Black Lion Audio Introduces Auteur 8DAT 06-May-26
• New 8x8 MIDI Interface 12-Jan-26
• Patchbay Designed To Eliminate Cable Chaos 08-Jan-26
• Passive 8-Channel XLR Mic Splitter 20-May-25