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In 2008, Universal Audio released their Twinfinity 710 preamp which ended up becoming rather successful. Two years later, in 2010, Universal Audio released the Twinfinity 4-710d which, as the name may suggest, is most simply four of the previous 710s put into one system condensed slightly and with a few new features to boot. Some of these new features include four mic/line inputs and an eight channel analog to digital converter as well as some built in FET (Field Effect Transistor) compression which is based on their 1176 compressor. The preamp remains solid state and a tube preamp and has 48V phantom power, a 75Hz low cut filter, phase inversion, and, with its new compression feature, a switch to set slow fast or no compression.

As for how the preamp sounds, it has a dial to switch or blend the preamp’s solid state and tube modes which is described by Universal Audio as giving the user tons of textures that are “from creamy to crunchy” (Universal Audio’s 4-710d page). The general uses that seem most prominent with this preamp are for vocals, guitar, and bass, with Universal Audio also mentioning adding sizzle to synthesizers but most reviews ended up not covering them. The preamps' most standout features are its ability to switch between and blend solid state and tube and its built in compressor.

Released in July of 2010, the Focusrite ISA 428 MK2 is a well adapted upgrade of its predecessor while having a shift more towards DAWs. It has 4 pres with options of mic, line, or instrument input with 60dB of gain and 20dB of trim. The MK2 forgoes the moving coil meter in favor of LED and also removed the soft limiter from the MK1.

The sound of the ISA 428 MK2 has been described as clear and punchy. One of the mentioned uses on their website is drums but the preamp also tends to be a fairly safe option for most anything. It stands out for general flexibility and for leaning more on DAWs.

Released in 1968, Universal Audio’s 1176 Compressor has been a big player for many in their recording and especially their mixing whether in physical form or digital plugin. The 1176 is an FET compressor that has controls for input and output level, attach and release, and ratio and meter.

The sound has been described as having a punch and attitude but also by some as gentle saturation when pushed. While mentions of its use often shift towards vocals or guitar, the 1176 is also often mentioned to work effectively with most any sound. Its most standout feature is likely its emphasis on its incredibly fast attack time on its fastest setting.