Warm Audio WA-8000

There are many microphones whose performance is capable of meeting the requirements of sound engineers. However, few of them really meet the needs of singers and choristers. The Warm Audio WA-8000 is one of the preferred microphones of professional musicians , arrangers and composers.

Omnidirectional polar pattern configurable in cardioid , large diaphragm and transformer-symmetrical design... This is an overview of the essentials of what this powerful condenser microphone .

To give you access to more details, I will go directly to testing the Warm Audio WA-8000. After this detailed examination, I will also be able to give my opinion on this condenser microphone from the Warm Audio factory.

Warm Audio WA-8000 Microphone Overview

All Warm Audio microphones are appreciated for their performance and for the quality of their sound reproduction, whether for use for broadcasting or audio recording . The Warm Audio WA-8000 also inherits all these capabilities. The model continues to benefit from the ingenious microphone designs of Warm Audio, the brand so appreciated and esteemed by the great artists of the 90s.

Until now, this technical ingenuity continues to delight a large number of stars since the Warm Audio WA-8000 is equipped with specific characteristics . Note that we are dealing here with a condenser microphone:

• Lamp
• Large diaphragm
• Balanced by transformer
• With cardioid and omnidirectional polar

The Warm Audio WA-8000 features a capsule identical to that of the original 800 stereo microphone . And likewise, its internal circuit is designed (roughly) the same way as that of the K67 in the Neumann U67. Its internal lamp has a typical cooling which greatly helps in reducing its own noise .

The Warm Audio WA-8000 is also equipped with a Gotham GAC-7 patented 7-pin cable Regarding audio and acoustic , I can tell you that this recorder provides hyper-high sound sensitivity.

The sensitivity of the microphone itself allows for an incredibly clear . Added to this is an unrivaled audio signature for all high, mid and low vocal timbres.

Warm Audio WA-8000: a vintage sound brought up to date

The Warm Audio WA-8000 is a pure reproduction of its ancestor so popular with stars of the 90s. Its specific large diaphragm like that of the Audio-Technica AT2050 pro microphone makes it a vocal microphone par excellence. And this, with incomparable sound capture quality surpassing those achieved in countless recording studios.

Many RnB and Rap stars have been able to build their popularity by taking advantage of the qualities and performances of this microphone. This is particularly the case with the Boyz II Men group, by singer Mariah Carey.

The same goes for other big stars like Bryan McKnight, Dr. Dre, Rihanna, Eminem and Drake among many others. artist's personal style, detail and clarity of vocal imprint

On all occasions, the Warm Audio WA-8000 will enhance all types of vocal recordings and sound broadcasts . Like any other model of microphones from Warm Audio such as the WA-47jr from Warm Audio or the Warm Audio WA-87, the WA-8000 benefits from a safe and cutting-edge design to ensure unrivaled quality sound production .

The Warm Audio WA-8000 comes with all the necessary recording equipment and is designed to meet the needs of studio or record label .

Warm Audio WA-800: an unrivaled sound signature

The Warm Audio WA-8000 is characterized by its great high frequency response and its extraordinary output level . This condenser studio microphone provides a clear frequency range to help obtain audio capture that is clear , detailed , nuanced and high-fidelity .

It is therefore clear that Warm Audio WA-8000 ideally adapts to the sound recording needs of a diversity of musical styles to name only: RNB, Rap, Hip-hop (also discover our selection of best microphones rap ), Soul Music. Moreover, the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone will bring a personal touch to your voice whatever your style or genre of music.

Note (in passing) that this high-end vocal microphone also allows you to obtain sound quality that far exceeds the average if you plan to use it to capture the sound of acoustic instruments in a recording studio.

Warm Audio WA-800 condenser microphone: what is it made of?

The Warm Audio WA-8000 condenser microphone features:

• One capsule:

The original model on which the Warm Audio WA-8000 was designed had a capsule (almost) identical to the very first K67 microphone designed by Neumann during the 60s and 70s.

The Warm Audio WA-8000, however, displays certain specificities since its capsule has been recreated (more finely) with a double diaphragm and a central termination. This allows for a better frequency response while guaranteeing audio pickup performance as high as that of the original model.

• A lamp :

The Warm Audio WA-8000 features an 6AU6 tube design for high-frequency, wide-range applications. This high-end microphone design technology with integrated tube is recognized for its efficiency and power . It is very useful in recording studios due to its optimized operating temperature range

• A cooling system:

Given that we are dealing here with a condenser microphone equipped with a specific internal lamp , the manufacturer has taken care to equip it with an integrated cooler . This helps temper and optimize the internal workings of the mic. The goal is to extend its durability.

By maintaining the lamp integrated into the microphone at a stable temperature, the Warm Audio WA-8000 can therefore provide optimal efficiency . All this, with sound capture performance that is both fluid and impeccable .

• A cable entry:

Via this input, we will connect a 7-pin cable which will be used to connect the Warm Audio WA-8000 wired microphone to its power supply. To do this, Warm Audio chose to have its own 7-pin GAC-7 cables by the famous Swiss manufacturer “ Gotham Audio ”.

The goal is to equip all of its best high-end studio and tube microphones with this premium cable ; certainly quite expensive (because they are handmade), but the design is safe and reliable. The use of this cable makes it possible to improve the sound rendering and presence with more spectrum widths and much less phase shifts. The reduction in parasitic noise also remains very significant.

Warm Audio WA-8000: unboxing and feature overview

The Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone comes with a external IEC power supply , an IEC cable to power it, a shock mount, a Gotham GAC-7 cable and a hard case.

The Warm Audio WA-8000 has a power switch on the dedicated power switch. You just need to be sure to turn off this power supply before plugging in or removing the cables.

Likewise, and to extend the life of the microphone, it is important to turn it on for at least half an hour before use. This will especially help operate the lamp so that it can reach and optimal operating temperature

Just at the back of the power supply, there is an IEC power supply to which we can connect a standard IEC cable which we can then plug into a wall socket, after having taken care to connect it to the block power supply.

To protect against any risk of overvoltage, we can, with this microphone, have the possibility of accessing a voltage selector which will allow you to choose between the electrical voltage of 110 and the electrical current of 230 Volts . This option will remain all the more useful depending on the country you are going to.

The power supply supplied with the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone also includes a 7-pin female connector . On one of the two ends of this 7-pin connector (female), you can connect the dedicated Gotham GAC-7 cable. On the other, you can easily connect the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone.

Still on the power supply, there is also a 3-pin male XLR connector to output the signal from the microphone. Thanks to this connector, you can connect the microphone to a high-end preamplifier via a dedicated standard 3-pin XLR cable.

On the front of the microphone, we also have access to a directivity selector. This directivity selector will allow you to switch between two polar patterns: cardioid and omnidirectional .

If we wish to capture only the sound source located in front of the microphone, we will speak of cardioid polar pattern or unidirectional polar pattern. On the other hand, if you wish to record (in a balanced manner) several sound sources placed around the Warm Audio WA-8000 at the same time, you can configure it in omnidirectional mode .

Superlux S502 condenser microphone . Apart from the complete test of this microphone, also discover in this guide the technical characteristics as well as our opinion on this condenser microphone.

Focus on the sound quality of the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone

The Warm Audio WA-8000 is a condenser microphone with an internal tube. large diaphragm design gives this stereo microphone a greater capacity to cover a wide bandwidth (Bass – medium and treble) in a frequency response between 20 Hz and 20 kHz .

Its maximum sound pressure Spl rises to 131 dB when its directivity is set to cardioid mode. This maximum sound pressure can rise up to 134 dB in omnidirectional mode. It is therefore clear that this vocal microphone is as efficient as any other professional dynamic microphone or shotgun microphone for recording powerful sounds.

The sensitivity of the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone is -33 dPa (in cardioid mode) and -36 dPa (in omnidirectional microphone mode). This microphone therefore has nothing to envy of other condenser microphones in terms of sound perception capacity in both high and mid frequencies as well as low frequencies.

The Warm Audio WA-8000 also differs from any other type of condenser microphones; because regular condenser mics often operate using phantom power. The case is different for the Warm Audio WA-8000, because instead of a classic phantom power supply (or 48 Volt phantom), we will use an external power supply (i.e. a block specific power supply) for IEC electrical cable which will be connected to a wall electrical outlet.

To ensure an electrical connection without the risk of overvoltage , you can use a dedicated voltage selector. The Warm Audio WA-8000 is also a specific side-mounted studio microphone. This means that the sound source must be placed so that it emits the sound wave towards the side of the grille and not directly towards the top of the microphone.

For the rest, it will depend on the directionality that we must choose. If you prefer to sing or play solo, it is better to set the microphone in cardioid mode, taking care to emit the sound in the front side part of the microphone which is located just above the directivity selector. The volume of the microphone will therefore tend to increase as we approach it.

Otherwise, and if you really have to do group vocal and using a single microphone, you will need to configure the Warm Audio WA-8000 in omnidirectional mode. In this case, the dynamic instrument will capture all the sound waves emitted around its grid.

To perfect this polarization, we will just set up the microphone on a stand and place it in the middle of the group. The cardioid directivity has the advantage of offering a nice “ proximity effect ”. This allows for a better frequency response in the bass (i.e. bass) as you approach the microphone.

This is what makes dynamic microphones (or even certain condenser microphones offering this directionality such as the TLM 193 microphone from Neumann ) particularly effective for monitoring , recording voice-overs , producing podcasts and vocal recording of rap songs. (For example).

Here, and given that we are dealing with a high-end professional vocal microphone , this directivity also allows for exceptional sound clarity provided that we manage to really take advantage of this proximity effect.

When the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone is set to omnidirectional mode, the proximity effect tends to decrease (because it is dispersed). The sensitivity of the microphone is distributed equally on all its sides. This directivity mode remains practical for recording polyphony or a group musical arrangement .

In one of the directivities as in the other, whether it is an instrumental or vocal recording, you will need to have good listening skills during recording to determine (more or less) at what moment you should approach the Warm Audio WA-8000 and when to move away from it.

When it comes to choosing the distance and angle of microphone placement, one must rely more on one's listening abilities and preferences than on purely objective technical rules. Microphone placement, regardless of the types, is an art in itself.

Sound professionals will certainly recommend some reading to support the follow-up of dedicated training to master the good basics of sound recording. I completely share their opinion, because studio sound recording is a specialization in its own right.

Anyway, since it is an art, you must mainly rely on your tastes, your requirements and your own ears to bring out and obtain exactly the sound you want to capture in using this high-end voice recorder .

This will also depend on your needs, because individuals who wish to acquire this microphone (whatever their project) are not necessarily all singers or musicians. Please note that you can take full advantage of this microphone to be used for radio broadcasting , podcasts or broadcasting .

Regarding the location distance from the microphone, I can say that the microphone provides a clean, crisp and direct sound signal (free of distortion and background noise) as we listen. 'approaching. And this in one of the directivities as in the other.

Regardless, and given that this is a high-end professional microphone , I still recommend use in an environment conducive to sound pickup. Ideally, this microphone is more suitable for use in a studio or in a quasi-soundproof room than for use outdoors.

This is even though the Warm Audio WA-8000 is extremely sensitive and allows you to use a windshield. Concerning the location distance, I recommend a positioning of between 20 and 35 cm from the microphone if you plan to use a vocal pickup for singing or polyphony.

If you plan to use it for presenting a podcast or for taking voice-overs, you can opt for a distance of around 15 cm without having to raise your voice. In both cases, and if necessary, you can always resort to using a pop filter .

This will help ensure a decent, cleaner sound free of plosives and airflow that could saturate this fully sensitive vocal mic. To avoid magnetic interference with the speaker, it is recommended to place it out of range of the microphone.

The magnet integrated into the speaker (in operation) may indeed interfere with the moving coil inside the microphone (functional) and cause deafening noises in full audio recording. Whatever the polar pattern setting to be used during a recording (unidirectional, bidirectional, omnidirectional, etc.), you must therefore ensure that the microphone is correctly positioned in relation to the speakers to prevent the two types of devices from interfering. .

When purchasing your recording equipment for home studio sound recording , you can also plan to purchase specific plexiglass insulating panels to reduce or eliminate background noise and resonances.

Above all, this will help you minimize the effects of reverberations and handling noise which can alter the quality of your sound recording via a mixing desk. To facilitate the mixing and editing of your audio recording, it is better to take all the right precautions aimed at taking care of it and optimizing its quality.

Regarding sound capture, I would like to note that not all microphones perceive sound in the same way. No matter how good a microphone is, it perceives sound differently from our ears. We naturally hear the sound in stereo.

Thus, we hear, at the same time as the source, everything that is audible to us around this source that we choose to listen to. The location of the Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone affects the recording sound you want to achieve through it. Hence it is important to place it at all distances and at all angles so as to bring out exactly the sound we would like to capture and hear.

Technical characteristics of the Warm Audio WA-8000

• Microphone type: condenser and tube
• Style: vocal microphone
• Design: large diaphragm and symmetrical by transformer
• Polar pattern: cardioid and omnidirectional
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Maximum sound pressure SPL: 131dB (cardioid), 134 dB (omnidirectional
• Output impedance: 100 ohms
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 76 dB (in cardioid mode), 73 dB (in omnidirectional)
• Sensitivity: -33 dPa (cardioid), -36 dPa (omnidirectional)
• Self-noise: 15 dB (A-weighted) in cardioid mode, 17 dB (A-weighted) in omnidirectional mode
• Lamp: 6AU6
• Power Source: External 7-pin power supply (included)

Our opinion on the Warm Audio WA-8000

In all honesty, I can say that there is nothing to say about the capabilities and performance of the Warm Audio WA-8000 in generating very high quality sound. Since this is a high-end mic, its purchase may not fit every budget.

Either way, acquiring this professional mic with the amp and all the dedicated recording equipment could be a wise and profitable investment in the long term. This is all the more essential if you plan to launch a record production company or a professional recording studio.

Purchasing this studio microphone may also be ideal if you are a singer and if you want to showcase your musical talents through the use of an ultra-high-performance microphone like the Warm Audio WA-8000.

Its great presence and spectrum width significantly reduces distortions and phase shifts. For all those who wish to pay the price to ensure impeccable and personalized sound recording in the studio, I highly recommend the acquisition of a Warm Audio WA-8000 type microphone.

If you want to get started in audio production and at the same time plan to save money to acquire other equipment, you can choose other alternatives. The advantage of purchasing a Rode nt USB type microphone lies in its very easy handling.

The same applies to the acquisition of a Blue Yeti type microphone and all dynamic microphones designed by the Yeti brand. In addition to being much more affordable, a high-performance USB microphone saves you from having to worry about an XLR type microphone and all the technical hassles that handling it entails.

The Plug and Play functionality provided by a lavalier or gooseneck microphone equipped with USB connectivity requires no connection other than direct connection to a computer via a dedicated cable. If you really plan to start your audio project at a low price for speech or monitoring, you can also consider purchasing a lavalier microphone or a gooseneck microphone.

Warm Audio WA-8000 Demo

Special Offer at Warm Audio 🔥