The API 312 was designed by Saul Walker in the late 1960s and became the building block of API mixing consoles. Its sound shaped countless rock, pop, and R&B records through the 1970s and remains a staple in modern studios. The 312T was developed by Stam Audio to bring this American classic to engineers at a fraction of the cost of vintage or modern API units. The T designation indicates Stam transformer-coupled design, maintaining the output transformer stage that contributes to the 312 punchy character.
312T
2015
The Stam Audio 312T — famously known as the "Turbo API" — is a dual-channel tube microphone preamplifier that retains the aggressive character of the original API 312 while adding an ECC83 tube output stage and a US-made 5:1 steel output transformer for further harmonic distortion and coloration. The US-made 1:8 input transformer and reverse-engineered SA-25 discrete op-amp are exact replicas of those found in a vintage API 312 card from the 1970s. Results in the classic 312 sound but with higher THD and bigger low end. Ideal for electric guitars, drums, and hard vocals. Hand made in Chile.