The Essentials to Know About the Universal Audio SOLO/610 Mic Preamp/DI
- Authentic 610 Sound: the tube warmth crafted by Bill Putnam, ready for studio, stage, or office use.
- Extended Continuous Gain: gain and level controls to sculpt tones from clean to musical saturation.
- Mic and Instrument Versatility: mic and DI inputs with selectable impedance and mic/line output.
- Ready for Demanding Recordings: 48V phantom power, high-pass filter, phase inversion, Thru circuit, and ground lift.
Direct Heir to the Legendary 610 Console
The SOLO/610 translates the DNA of Bill Putnam's tube 610 console into a portable and rugged format. Designed as the gateway to Universal Audio's historic tonal character, it captures the sonic aesthetic that shaped countless classics while modernizing ergonomics for today's studios and mobile setups.
For Engineers, Musicians, and Creators Seeking Character
Ideal for vocals, guitars, basses, keyboards, and close-miking, the SOLO/610 shines when an organic timbre rich in harmonics is desired, with precise saturation control. Whether in a project studio or on tour, it integrates easily on a console, desk, or directly in the recording room.
Key Features for Inspired Recordings
Unlike early 610-inspired preamps, the SOLO/610 introduces a continuously variable gain control with a wider range, allowing fine-tuning of gain structure and saturation point while adjusting output level. This "gain + level" duo offers musical control over headroom, from subtle tube warmth to singing drive.
On the utility side, it includes essentials of a professional preamp: switchable 48V phantom power for your condensers, switchable high-pass filter to tame unwanted lows, phase inversion to correct polarity issues, and impedance selection on mic and DI inputs to match your transducer or instrument.
The DI section features a Thru circuit to simultaneously feed an amplifier while capturing a direct signal, a versatile mic/line output to adapt to your signal chain, and a ground lift to reduce hum and loops in live or hybrid environments.
Technical Specifications
Mic Preamp
- Architecture: fully tube-based preamplifier derived from the 610 console
- Controls: continuously variable gain with extended range and output level
- Phantom Power: switchable 48V
- Filters and Switches: switchable high-pass filter, phase inversion
- Impedance: two selectable impedances for mic input
Direct Box (DI)
- Instrument input with two selectable impedances
- Thru circuit for simultaneous amplifier feed
- Switchable mic/line output for chain adaptation
- Utility functions: ground lift to reduce noise and hum
Construction and Format
- Portable design for studio, office, or stage
- Very robust steel chassis
- Dimensions: 356 x 152 x 127 mm
- Weight: 4 kg
- Handmade in the USA
- Limited warranty: 1 year
Highlights of the 610 Range
- Legendary 610 sound at an accessible price for any project studio
- Gain, level, and impedance selection for maximum tonal variety
- Positioning: all-in-one mic preamp and DI solution with vintage character, ready for modern workflows