Hi Yon. No you cannot operate an API 512 card without a seperate power supply of some sort (+/-15V). You don't HAVE TO get a frame from API ... yes they are quite pricey $$ You might rather want to, if not yourself then by a local tech dude, buy a rackmount case and have the cards mounted with a power supply. Why the API 2 card frame is more expensive than the others, well I couldn't say for sure.

:c:

All of the API modules need to be plugged into something that has I/O connections and power. The two slot is more expensive because of the smaller power supply. The lunchbox and bigger rack frames use a bigger and different power supply. You get a discount on the larger frames because if you don't fill them up and have to stare at the blank slots all the time, you get the hebe-jebes. API knows that sooner or later your gonna fill those empty slots.

Other modules that fit into the 500 series racks were made by APSI, Aphex and Melcor. All now obsolete. Brent Averill still sells old API 312 mic pre's and does mic pre conversion from API 325 cards. a fairly new company, Old School Audio stated making API clone but now makes something with a swapped out VCA and transformers for a different sound.

Check this link. It will show you the products that API is currently marketing. [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.apiaudio…"]API products[/]="http://www.apiaudio…"]API products[/] I love their site. I like to go there and drool!

Thanks, I have more questions...

What goes into installing the modules into the rack? Is there soldering or anything of that sort to be done or does it just slide in and lock into position (hopefully makes that machine gun "chitch" sound)...

Let's say I just want one mic pre (for now), the cheapest combo I've found is the 512c mic pre and the 6-space lunch box ... Do I need to buy anything else at this point to get the mic pre working by it's self?

Have a look at their pdf on the 512 it shows what appears to be a plugin connector. [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.apiaudio…"]512 pdf[/]="http://www.apiaudio…"]512 pdf[/]

I've been eyeing the API pres here also but thats about all so far. To much gear to want and not enough $ to spend.

Originally posted by Yon:

Do I need to buy anything else at this point to get the mic pre working by it's self?

If you buy the API brand lunchbox, no. Just plug the mic pre module in and connect your I/O cables. The API modules have edge connecters like those on a video or modem PCI card for a PC.

I've got a 10 space 500 series frame and the new 6 space lunchbox all full.

It's a no-brainer. Just slide the module into the frame/lunchbox and you're good to go. Right now the lunchbox represents the best value for money.

The 512 sounds great on everything from drums to vocals and is a workhorse. The 550B EQ is also fantastic especially on drums and electric guitars. The 560 graphic is amazing for sculpting and I use it on kick and snare all the time but my absolute favorite of them all is the 525 compressor which is easy to use and makes things sit where they are supposed to.

Without a doubt the 500 series API gear has been one of my best investments in audio and having fun.

I just got the 6 space lunchbox with four API 512c preamps. As mentioned above. A no brainer to install the 512c into the power supply. 2 screws hold the preamp into the power supply. Your grandmother could do it. It's just that easy.

One of the best audio investments you'll make. When I first heard the quality I almost cried. I'm trying to figure out how to get more. I got 2 spaces left, which I wanna fill & start filling another lunchbox.

When you start compiling tracks done with the API preamp you'll notice the "texture" sounds like the records you've heard all your life. Then you'll know you're on the right track.

Jayman

I have a question. Are the API's better than the Averills? I am looking at getting some mainly for drum tracking.

Originally posted by reignman:
I have a question. Are the API's better than the Averills? I am looking at getting some mainly for drum tracking.

Brent Averill makes different types of pres. I think he mounts API's as well as the Neve 1272 types. I don't know if he makes / mounts other types of Neves as well.. so it is hard to answer the question, without knowing which ones you are addressing.

API pres are known for their agressive sound while the Neves are a bit darker and smooth sounding by reputation. Often, APIs are percived to be better suited to drum tracking.

Pleas listen to the sound samples I posted at the Audio Projects page using the JLM TMP 8 pre package.
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I like these quite a bit and found them to sound quite a bit like the APIs however not exactally the same. A slightly different flavor. This package retails for $1900 USD for 8 pres! A great value! Kurt

Hey Kurt, thanks for the quick response! Sorry, I meant the API312's he repackages. How are they different than the 500 series? About the JLM's,the audio post sounds great, but I think the API's have more "ooh" value to potential customers, and probably hold value better.

The API's Brent Averill makes are refurbished and repackaged older original API mic pre using the 312 module or from 325 line cards both from older consoles.

The current API mic pre sold by API is the 512C or the 212L which is the same as in the current Legacy model console. The small difference is in the older 312 vs the newer 512C is the 2520 opamp as well as which transformers get used. Brent often uses Jenson while API the company has their own custom made version.

http://www.brentaverill.com/api_pre/

Originally posted by reignman:
About the JLM's,the audio post sounds great, but I think the API's have more "ooh" value to potential customers, and probably hold value better.

Only the most educated ones and believe me they are far and few between. JLM is a very well known company in Asia and Europe and is fast gaining a foothold in the US market, much like Sebatron. Several months ago, I began recommending the Sebatron products, telling people to get them before they caught on and the prices went up due to increased demand, which is now coming to fruition. I have seen recent posts, where members have said they were kicking themselves for not picking up a Sebatron while the price was lower.
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Oh Shit! I have been drooling over a VMP2000 for a long time now. I've already watched the first price increases and kick my self each time. This is probably a sign to buy the damn thing already, before the price goes up again. :) Be a leader, not a follower.

Originally posted by AudioGaff:
The current API mic pre sold by API is the 512C or the 212L which is the same as in the current Legacy model console. The small difference is in the older 312 vs the newer 512C is the 2520 opamp as well as which transformers get used.

A.G.,

I always assumed that the current boxes designated 3124 and 3124+ were using the 312 pres. That idea was based solely on the naming scheme. Or is that entirely too logical to be correct? (Wouldn't that be like if someone was selling four 1073's in a box, and decided to call it 1272x4!)

The 312 is the original mic pre circuit as used in the older consoles. It hasn't ever really changed other than updates due to obsolete parts or added function features. The 512C is the same as the 312 only in a module format to fit in the 500 series frame. The 212 is the same as the 312 but without the DI, front panel XLR, or polarity switch. The 3124+ is exactly the same as the 512C with the difference that it has no XLR inputs on the front panel. The 3124MB+ is the 3124+ and adds a 4X2 mixer with pan, aux send and return. Looking at the 3124+ you can see that appears as 4-512C mic pres mounted sideways.

Vintech makes a 4-ch Neve 1073 clone, called the X473 although it doesn't have the same exact eq as a 1073, or even the same eq as their own x73 Neve 1073 clone.

Got it?

Thanks, AG, I probably should get it, but now I'm more confused than ever!

You did say earlier:

The current API mic pre sold by API is the 512C or the 212L which is the same as in the current Legacy model console. The small difference is in the older 312 vs the newer 512C is the 2520 opamp as well as which transformers get used.

And now you just said:

The 512C is the same as the 312 only in a module format to fit in the 500 series frame.

I realize that for for all practical purposes people should consider them the same, but it does seem like your two statements slightly contradict each other.

Sorry if I'm being such a nit-picker. :(

Ya, Your a nitwit-picker. I also said...

It hasn't ever really changed other than updates due to obsolete parts or added function features.

Most of the older 312's mic pre's that are now single modules setup to fit in the API 500 series frames contain the older obsolete parts. The 312 Brent refurbs can be done with the newer or older parts. Small differences in sound depending what parts are used.

To make a long story short. The 3xx series of API are OLD.
The 5xx are NEWer. If you price compare,,,I think buying them from Brent is cheaper than buying them new from API. Sonically no two of anything are identical. If you have a rpoblem recording with either...the problem is with you. Therefore save some money. The bets way to go imo if your ever going to get more than two pre's is to get a large frame from Brent, and everytime you've got $600 you can get a new mic-pre to put in it.

Thanks for the clarifications. Sorry if I was annoying!

I generally use the "Aunt Mabel" test in responding to posts. I figure, if there's something that's a little confusing to me, it is going to REALLY be confusing to my Aunt Mabel, should she, in her senility, ever be foolish enough to come here and read these threads.

So on behalf of the Aunt Mabel's everywhere, sometimes I'll ask the seemingly stupid question. You see, I don't mind looking like a fool. I've had lots of practice! :p

I've noticed that they've changed the wording on the Brent Averill site from "made with API components" to "made with Avedis components". So I guess they ran out of old 2520 op amps. I wonder how much of a difference there is.

Originally posted by groove guru:
I've noticed that they've changed the wording on the Brent Averill site from "made with API components" to "made with Avedis components". So I guess they ran out of old 2520 op amps. I wonder how much of a difference there is.

I was wondering the same thing. Anyone ever compared an Avedis op-amp to an API?