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The Story Behind the Wolff Audio Tutti Preamp
Mar
The Story Behind the Wolff Audio Tutti Preamp
The Wolff Audio Tutti is more than a microphone preamp – it’s a revival of one of the most influential analogue circuits ever used in professional recording studios. Developed through a collaboration between Wolff Audio and the legendary Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, the Tutti recreates the iconic “Floater” mic preamp that helped define the sound of countless classic recordings.
For decades, this circuit remained hidden inside the custom consoles of Sunset Sound’s Studio 1. Now, thanks to modern engineering and meticulous recreation, the same sonic character is available as a 500 Series module for today’s studios.
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Origins at Sunset Sound
The story begins in the 1960s when pioneering engineer and producer Salvador “Tutti” Camarata founded Sunset Sound Recorders with a vision for exceptional audio quality. Inside the studio’s custom consoles lived a microphone preamp that engineers affectionately called the “Tutti” preamp.
Designed by Camarata’s in-house technical team led by Frank DeMedio, the circuit – often referred to as the “Floater” preamp – delivered a powerful, musical sound that quickly became part of Sunset Sound’s signature.
The preamp played a role in countless iconic sessions spanning decades of music history. Its punchy midrange, rich low end, and open high frequencies helped shape the sound of legendary recordings made within those studio walls.
Engineering That Defined a Studio Sound
What made the Tutti preamp so special was its elegant yet powerful engineering.
The original design used discrete dual 990 op-amps in a dual-stage topology capable of delivering more than 60 dB of gain while maintaining extremely low noise and distortion. With headroom reaching +28 dBu, the circuit handled even the loudest sources without needing pads.
Transformers also played a crucial role in its sonic identity. Custom nickel-core transformers originally developed with transformer pioneer Ed Reichenbach added warmth, weight, and musical depth while preserving clarity and transient response.
The signal path was intentionally simple – free of unnecessary filters or circuitry – preserving phase integrity and allowing performances to retain their natural energy.
Reborn for Modern Studios
For many years, the only way to experience the authentic Tutti preamp sound was to record at Sunset Sound Recorders or find a studio housing one of its vintage consoles.
That changed when Paul Camarata, current president of Sunset Sound and son of Tutti Camarata, partnered with renowned console designer Paul Wolff to bring the circuit back to life.
Together, they painstakingly recreated the original design as the Wolff Audio Tutti – a faithful 500 Series version of the Studio 1 preamp module. Authenticity was essential, so they enlisted transformer designer David Geren of Cinemag to recreate the nickel-core transformers from the original blueprints.
The result is a modern preamp that retains the full sonic DNA of the original console design.
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Classic Tone with Modern Workflow
While the core signal path remains true to the original design, the Tutti includes practical modern features suited to contemporary recording environments.
The module offers more than 60 dB of gain, ultra-low distortion below 0.03%, and a remarkably wide frequency response from 10 Hz to 60 kHz. Its discrete dual 990 op-amps and custom Cinemag transformers deliver the warmth and musicality that made the original circuit so beloved.
Additional modern features include an output fader for driving the circuit, a front-panel Hi-Z instrument input, phantom power with silent switching, polarity reversal, and clip indication – all designed to integrate seamlessly into modern 500 Series racks.
Why Engineers Still Chase the Tutti Sound
The reason engineers continue to seek out the Tutti sound is simple: it combines musical character with technical precision.
Vocals sit forward in the mix with natural presence. Drums hit with authority and punch. Guitars feel thick and dimensional. Acoustic instruments retain depth and clarity.
With massive headroom, minimal phase shift, and transformer-balanced tone, tracks often feel finished right at the preamp stage.
A Piece of Recording History in Your Rack
The Wolff Audio Tutti is more than a piece of studio equipment – it’s a direct link to decades of influential recordings.
Born in the golden age of analogue console design and revived by the engineers who understand its legacy best, the Tutti now brings that iconic Sunset Sound character into modern studios everywhere.
Plug into it, and you’re not just capturing sound – you’re tapping into a lineage of recordings that shaped music history.
👉 Get your very own Wolff Audio Tutti Mic/Instrument Preamp today! 👇