{"title":"British Audio Technologies - BAT","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"british-audio-technologies-altec-1588-500-series-mic-preamp","title":"British Audio Technologies Altec 1588 500-Series Mic Preamp","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBritish Audio Technologies Altec 1588 500-Series Mic Preamp\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBAT 1588\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e brings the legendary \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAltec 1588C\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e microphone preamp circuit to the 500-series world — not as a clone but as a\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003efaithful evolution\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e tuned for modern workflows. Packed with vintage vibe and loaded with premium Cinemag transformers (yes, the same transformer supplier used by UA, API, AeA, Moog, Avalon Design…) optimised for today’s demanding studios. The \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBAT 1588\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is not trying to be everything, it’s trying to be \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eexactly the right t\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eool — for rich tone, effortless vibe, and musical colour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot Just Transparent — Purposefully Musical\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere many modern 500-series preamps focus on transparency and precision, the BAT 1588 leans into musicality. This isn’t one dimensional — it brings your sound alive. The subtle harmonic coloration, transformer saturation and mid-forward focus provide the kind of texture that makes vocals sit in a mix effortlessly. Think “record-ready tone” from the first take.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSimple Circuit, Complex Tone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Altec 1588C is one of the most revered transistor-based preamps for a reason: it’s minimalist but sounds massive. The BAT 1588 preserves the original signal path with discrete transistor topology, avoids op-amps or ICs and stays transformer-balanced on both input and output. It’s the sound of radio hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s — now with lower noise and modern stability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExamples of uses:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVocals\u003c\/strong\u003e: Warm, detailed, and naturally forward\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrums\u003c\/strong\u003e: Rounded transients with punch and grit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuitars\u003c\/strong\u003e: Organic and harmonically rich\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeys\/Synths\u003c\/strong\u003e: Adds life and vibe to DI sounds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGain\u003c\/strong\u003e: ~55dB (perfect for dynamic mics, ribbons with boosters or condenser mics)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eFrequency Response\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: 0.5dB deviation from 20Hz to 25KHz\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eCircuit\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: Discrete Altec 1588C-inspired topology with no op-amps or ICs on the signal path\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eTransformers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: Cinemag input\/output\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eTrim adjustment\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: To fine tune the preamp saturation\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eOutput Fader\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: The output fader lets you saturate the output transformer for added colour, then reduce the level before the next stage\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ePower\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e Standard 500 Series Rack \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e(±16V)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eComponents\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: 1 Watt 1% metal film resistors,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e Nichicon Gold \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ecapacitors, high quality potentiometers and E-switch high quality switches\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0e579cfd986711ae8de08f051c83ce91\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eBuild\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e: Hand-assembled in small batches and tested for consistency\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"British Audio Technologies","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56563507822966,"sku":"SBRT1588","price":662.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0256\/2988\/4462\/files\/BAT1588V2.psd_0001_BAT1588Front.jpg?v=1779280060"},{"product_id":"british-audio-technologies-1699","title":"British Audio Technologies 1699 Parallel Dynamics Processor [Pre-Order]","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBritish Audio Technologies 1699 Parallel Dynamics Processor [Pre-Order]\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a point in every recording where things are… correct.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClean. Balanced. Technically fine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd completely uninteresting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBAT 1699\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexists specifically for that moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat it is (and what it isn’t)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1699 is not just a mic preamp.\u003cbr\u003eIt is not just a compressor.\u003cbr\u003eIt is definitely not transparent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eparallel dynamic processor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edesigned to take a signal that behaves… and make it\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003edo something\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt its core, the 1699 splits your microphone signal into two simultaneous paths:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003edirect (dry) output\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003evia XLR\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eprocessed (wet) path\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethrough the 1699’s gain and dynamics stages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis means you are never committing blindly. You always have the original. And you always have the option to blend in the damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSignal path\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wet path is where things get interesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e35dB transformer-balanced gain stage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epushes the signal into a region where it stops being polite and starts becoming useful. Not distortion for the sake of distortion — but the kind of harmonic behaviour that older equipment used to fight against, and that we now actively reach for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(There’s a reason people still chase circuits that can’t achieve modern low THD figures — the “imperfections” tend to sound better.)\u003cspan class=\"x_gmail-\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom there, the signal hits a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ehighly characterful compressor\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot a polite leveller.\u003cbr\u003eNot an invisible glue tool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore like a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriscope mic into the dynamics of the signal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— exaggerating, clamping, releasing and reshaping in a way that can range from subtle density to outright attitude.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eControls\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1699 keeps things deliberately focused:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInput Gain\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrives the transformer stage and sets how hard you hit everything downstream\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePad\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor when “hot” stops being a suggestion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThreshold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetermines when the compressor starts to take control\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRatio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom control to confrontation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat’s it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo menus. No presets. No safety net.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eParallel by design\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike traditional inline processors, the 1699 is built around\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eparallel processing as a first principle\u003c\/strong\u003e, not an afterthought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the same philosophy that engineers have used for years with outboard compressors — smashing a signal and blending it back in to retain transient clarity while adding density and excitement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe difference here is that it’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ebuilt into the hardware\u003c\/strong\u003e, immediately available at the source.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePractical use (real-world, not brochure)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVocals that feel too “correct” → become forward, urgent, present\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDI instruments → gain weight and harmonic complexity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLine-level sources → stop sounding like they came from a computer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can push it lightly and get thickness.\u003cbr\u003eOr push it harder and get something that starts to resemble intent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eConnectivity\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMic Input (XLR)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThrough Output (XLR)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e– dry signal, phantom power pass-through\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProcessed Output (XLR)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e– wet signal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimple routing. No surprises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat it actually does\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1699 is a device for people who:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edon’t want everything to sound “high fidelity”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edon’t trust purely clean signal paths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eunderstand that\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003echaracter is often introduced, not generated in the box\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt doesn’t try to emulate anything specific.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt simply gives you a way to take a signal that isn’t doing much…\u003cbr\u003eand turn it into something that is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIn short\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBAT 1699\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis what happens when you stop asking\u003cbr\u003e“is this accurate?”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e…and start asking\u003cbr\u003e“…hold on… what just happened there?”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMake it a take.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"British Audio Technologies","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57595900264822,"sku":"SBRT1699","price":332.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0256\/2988\/4462\/files\/BAT-1699_0002_Layer1.jpg?v=1778506841"}],"url":"https:\/\/studiocare.com\/collections\/british-audio-technologies-bat.oembed","provider":"Studiocare","version":"1.0","type":"link"}