ESTIMATED SHIPPING TIME: JULY 2026
8-Channel Mic Preamp & ADAT Expander with Macro-MMC Clocking
The Black Lion Audio Auteur 8DAT is the most comprehensive Auteur series preamp to date, offering eight channels of boutique "Chicago-style" preamplification in a rugged 2U chassis. Designed for engineers who demand both modern clarity and vintage character, the 8DAT combines a lightning-fast IC-based front-end with USA-made Cinemag transformer-coupled outputs. The result is a preamp that captures the transparent snap of American designs with the musical saturation and weight of classic British consoles.
More than just a preamp, the 8DAT serves as a high-fidelity studio centerpiece. It features elite 24-bit/192kHz conversion and ADAT connectivity, allowing you to instantly add eight channels of premium I/O to your existing interface.
The Gold Standard in Clocking and Conversion
Black Lion Audio built its reputation on hot-rodding digital gear, and that expertise is baked into the Auteur 8DAT. It features the same crystal-clear converters found in the Revolution series and utilizes patented Macro-MMC clocking. This ultra-low jitter technology ensures that your entire digital rig stays in perfect sync, minimizing phase distortion and preserving the high-end detail of your transients.
Flexible Routing for the Modern Studio
The 8DAT is built to integrate seamlessly with your outboard hardware. In addition to standard XLR outputs, it features DB25 Send and Return inserts for all eight channels. These connections allow for easy A/B testing of hardware processors or can be used as "mults" for parallel processing and complex signal routing. Front-mounted Hi-Z inputs also make it a breeze to track guitars, basses, and synthesizers without reaching behind your rack.
Boutique Engineering, Rack-Ready Build
True to Black Lion’s "modded out of the box" philosophy, the 8DAT uses a component-sourcing list usually reserved for custom boutique builds. The signal path is populated with high-end Vishay, Nichicon, and Wima capacitors, alongside highly-filtered power rails to ensure an ultra-low noise floor and maximum signal integrity.
Main Features
-
8 Channels of Auteur Character: Versatile tone that excels on everything from aggressive drums to delicate vocals.
-
Integrated ADAT Expansion: Simple, high-quality digital expansion for any ADAT-equipped interface.
-
Cinemag Transformers: Provides clean headroom at low gain and rich harmonic heft when driven.
-
Macro-MMC Technology: Professional BNC word clock I/O for superior synchronization.
-
Hardware Inserts: Dedicated DB25 I/O for effortless integration of external compressors and EQs.
-
Comprehensive Per-Channel Controls: Independent +48V phantom power, polarity reverse, -10dB pad, and 8-stage LED metering.
-
Pro Construction: Black-anodized aluminum faceplate built for longevity in professional environments.
