Arturia 1973-Pre

Arturia Pre 1973: Software Recreation of the Legendary 1073 Preamp

Experience the iconic sound of the 1970s with the Pre 1973, a faithful recreation of the legendary British 1073 preamp. Revered by top producers and engineers worldwide, this classic preamp shaped the tone of countless hit records. Utilising Arturia’s advanced TAE modelling, the Pre 1973 brings the warmth, harmonic richness, and musical character of the original hardware directly into your DAW. Whether you want to subtly enhance your tracks, add analogue colour, or saturate your signal for a more vibrant feel, this plugin delivers an authentic sonic experience. Its intuitive interface and versatile controls allow both newcomers and seasoned producers to shape their sound with precision. From punchy drums and lush vocals to powerful bass lines, the Pre 1973 provides a studio-quality foundation for every production, capturing the essence of vintage British recording technology with modern flexibility.

Features

• Authentic 1073 Preamp Emulation:
  Recreates the legendary tonal character, harmonic distortion, and musical colour of Rupert Neve’s original preamp for a rich, classic sound.
• Flexible EQ Section:
  Low, mid, and high band controls allow precise tone shaping, adding presence, warmth, or air to your tracks without complex routing.
• Advanced Studio Enhancements:
  Includes mid/side processing, switchable transformers, and continuous gain control for modern DAW compatibility and creative versatility.

Analogue Warmth in the Digital Realm:

The Pre 1973 captures the subtle, musical distortions that made vintage preamps so desirable. Modern audio interfaces provide clean, transparent gain, but this plugin reintroduces the pleasing colour and character that producers relied on for decades. By applying the Pre 1973 at the start of your signal chain, you can impart harmonic excitement and richness to vocals, drums, and instruments, giving your mix that professional, time-tested sound. The plugin allows you to balance the warmth of analogue processing with the precision of a digital workflow.

Intuitive and Musical Controls:

Designed for ease of use, the Pre 1973 offers simple yet powerful controls. Its continuous EQ bands, input gain, and transformer options provide maximum flexibility without overwhelming complexity. Producers can experiment freely, shaping their sound in creative ways that mirror the workflow of a classic studio. From subtle tonal adjustments to bold signal colouring, the plugin responds musically, delivering the satisfying touch of analogue hardware with every tweak.

Modern Studio Integration:

Fully compatible with all major DAWs on Windows and Mac, the Pre 1973 fits seamlessly into contemporary production setups. Additional features like mid/side processing, automatic gain control, and advanced stereo modes ensure that both mono and stereo signals maintain clarity and character. The high-definition interface combines vintage aesthetics with modern functionality, giving you a visually engaging and musically inspiring tool for your productions.

Specifications

• Virtual recreation of classic British 1073 preamp
• 60 dB virtual continuous input gain
• Two types of output transformers
• +/- 24 dB output trim level
• Complete switchable EQ section
• Bypass and phase inversion switch
• High shelf filter +/- 18 dB, fixed 12 kHz
• Midrange bell filter +/- 18 dB, 360 Hz to 7.2 kHz
• Low shelf filter +/- 18 dB, 35 Hz to 220 Hz
• High pass filter -18 dB/oct, 50 Hz to 300 Hz
• 1 & 2 channel plugin versions
• Three stereo modes: stereo link, dual mono, mid/side
• Output analogue VU meter with three calibration modes
• Analogue clipping LED indicator
• Comprehensive set of presets
• State-of-the-art TAE analogue modelling
• Windows 10+ and Mac OS 11+ compatibility
• VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only)