Inspired Re-creation of a Legendary Small-diaphragm Condenser

Their acclaimed compressors and preamps have famously upset the pro audio price/performance ratio. When Warm Audio turned its attention to the granddaddy of small-diaphragm FET condenser microphones, you know it had to be good. And it is. Flash back to any top recording studio in the 1970s. You'll see the venerable '84 everywhere. Music Experience engineers who have worked with different generations of this perennial studio favorite know that the vintage ones have a warmer, more forgiving sonic character. It's these circuit designs — dating back nearly half a century — that Warm Audio closely followed for the WA-84. Stellar performance, top-shelf parts, and amazing value: that's the Warm formula — and the WA-84 nails it.

Quality components make the Warm difference

Warm Audio doesn't cut corners on components, but they do order parts and build in quantity, which keeps costs down and delivers amazing value. Featuring a meticulously crafted vintage reproduction capsule, WA-84 is built with premium all-discrete components that include Fairchild transistors, Wima capacitors, and a CineMag USA transformer. Designed for professional commercial and home studios, live sound reinforcement, and broadcast applications, the WA-84 has the uncanny ability to finesse a wide range of sources, such as acoustic guitars, double bass, drums and percussion, piano, strings, brass and woodwinds, and more.

What can the WA-84 do for you?

Every studio needs at least one pair of high-quality small-diaphragm condenser mics, and the Warm Audio WA-84 is designed after a legendary one. With its versatile cardioid polar pattern and 10dB pad, you can use the WA-84 on any instrument — with world-class results. It makes snares and tom toms sound huge. It's great for drum overheads, capturing cymbals with warmth and vibrancy. It's perfect for adding a bit of room to complement a close dynamic or ribbon mic on a guitar cabinet. Engage the pad, and move the mic right up on the speaker grille.

Double your value with this stereo pair

The WA-84 is an ideal choice for piano, vibraphone, marimba, congas, strings, woodwinds, and so much more. The list goes on, but suffice to say: You haven't lived until you've heard a grand piano spring to life when miked with a pair of WA-84s. For drum room mics, use two of them and nuke the stereo signal with a fast limiter. Positively explosive! Considering its amazing price, you're wise to consider a pair of these excellent mics for recording tracks in stereo. You'll not only doubling your value — you're getting a valuable addition to your mic locker you'll reach session after session!

What Warm Audio Says...

The WA-84 is a precise reproduction of the industry-standard small-diaphragm condenser mic. Unlike modern transformerless recreations, vintage units are prized for their rich and detailed tone that delivers smooth yet articulate high end. Like the original, the WA-84 delivers the signature SDC sound trusted by artists and engineers on legendary recordings by James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, Steve Gadd, and many more.

Clear, Focused Tone

Like the original vintage units, the WA-84 delivers open clarity with powerful noise rejection. Unlike modern reissues that skip the transformer and “update” the circuit, the WA-84 captures creamy, smooth top-end along with the beefy mid-to-bottom end that made the original a studio legend. Its class-A circuitry, premium transformer, and meticulous design allow the WA-84 to capture precise performance detail with professional isolation. The slight 8–10 kHz dip and 11–20 kHz lift smooth harsh highs without sacrificing brilliance.

What You Need to Know

Like the original vintage 84-style mic, the WA-84 includes all the essential features for a complete and professional recording experience. The carefully crafted cardioid capsule delivers elite performance true to the vintage original, including a smooth 9–10 kHz dip that prevents overly harsh highs—especially important for cymbals.

Unlike modern transformerless reissues, the WA-84 uses a custom USA-made CineMag transformer that ensures rich detail, clear top end, and tight low-end response while maintaining that unmistakable analog character. The WA-84 also incorporates WIMA, polystyrene, and tantalum through-hole capacitors throughout the circuit for optimal signal transfer from capsule to transformer.

The available -10 dB pad provides additional headroom, allowing you to record loud sources with impressive condenser detail and exceptional noise rejection.