Hear it
Rona Vintage Dual Tube Preamp is a dual-channel tube microphone / line preamplifier in the Rona Vintage line from Rona Audio, with the unit’s own front panel as the interface. Every knob and switch you see works; the circuit behind them is modelled stage by stage so the controls interact the way the hardware’s do.
- GAIN L — Left channel drive into its tube stage, 0 to +60 dB in 1 dB steps (after PAD, before the saturation): the harder the stage is driven, the more it saturates
- OUTPUT L — Left channel trim after the tube stage, -60 to +6 dB in 1 dB steps (the VU meter reads after it)
- 48V L — model indicator state only: stored and automated, no effect on the audio – a plug-in cannot supply phantom power or control an audio interface
- PAD L — ON: -20 dB before the left gain stage (so the tube is driven 20 dB less at the same GAIN)
- PHASE L — INVERTED: the left channel’s polarity is flipped after the output trim, over a 20 ms ramp
- GAIN R — Right channel drive into its tube stage, 0 to +60 dB in 1 dB steps (after PAD, before the saturation): the harder the stage is driven, the more it saturates
- OUTPUT R — Right channel trim after the tube stage, -60 to +6 dB in 1 dB steps (the VU meter reads after it)
- 48V R — model indicator state only: stored and automated, no effect on the audio – a plug-in cannot supply phantom power or control an audio interface
- PAD R — ON: -20 dB before the right gain stage (so the tube is driven 20 dB less at the same GAIN)
- PHASE R — INVERTED: the right channel’s polarity is flipped after the output trim, over a 20 ms ramp
- REDUCED MOTION — GUI only (settings panel): the power animation uses plain fades, no needle settling bounce or glow modulation. No effect on the audio
14 factory presets in 6 categories. Formats: VST3 and AAX (Windows 10/11 64-bit); VST3, AU and AAX (macOS). Stereo output. Installed, activated and updated with RONA License Manager.
System requirements
What’s included
Windows: VST3 / AAX · macOS: VST3 / AAX / AU · PDF manual · one license, 3 computers · installed and activated with RONA License Manager · free updates within the major version
Version
Version 1.0.0 8 October 2026
First release. 19-inch dual-channel tube preamplifier on the Rona Vintage front panel: GAIN and OUTPUT per channel (stepped), 48V, PAD and PHASE switches, two round VU meters, two glowing tubes and the POWER rocker with warm-up and cool-down, MIDI Learn on every control. Windows VST3 + AAX, macOS VST3 + AU + AAX. Installed, activated and updated with RONA License Manager.
Questions
How do I install and activate Rona Vintage Dual Tube Preamp?
Download RONA License Manager from rona.com.au/license-manager, log in with your rona.com.au account and click Install next to the product. It activates this computer, downloads the right installer for your system and installs every format. There is no serial number to enter and no activation button inside the plug-in.
How many computers can I use it on?
Each serial number can be active on up to 3 computers at the same time. On a Mac the VST3, AU and AAX formats share one activation. You can see your computers and free a slot at any time in RONA License Manager (Activations) or on rona.com.au under My Account → My Products.
Which formats are included?
Windows: VST3 and AAX. macOS: VST3, AU (Audio Unit) and AAX, Universal 2 for Intel and Apple Silicon. RONA License Manager installs all formats of a product together and they share one activation.
Do I need an internet connection?
An internet connection is needed for RONA License Manager to log in, activate, download and update your products. You do not need to be online while you work in your DAW.
Where are the controls that are not on the front panel?
A right-click on the top bar or the panel opens the settings panel. It holds everything that is not a control on the front panel: Presets: choose a factory preset, step through presets, save, rename and delete your own. MANUAL: opens this manual. Right-click the header strip for the licence options: licence status, check now, deactivate this computer, show the machine id, load an offline licence, open RONA License Manager. QUALITY: the oversampling used by the clipping stages – Normal (2x), High (4x, default) or Ultra (8x). Higher settings reduce aliasing at the cost of CPU; the latency reported to your DAW changes with it and is compensated automatically.
