Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Neve / SSL / API console summing vs. summing box summing

mlocascio · 30th January 2006

I owned the API 7800 with (3) 8200's, which, as you may know, is all discrete. While I thought it was good for the price point, it is not even in the same universe as my API 2488 console.

One interesting thing I discovered was that vintage API mic pres racked by Brent Averill and others, sound nothing like the pres in the console. The console pres are way better (to be fair, the pres in this console are built into the 528 input modules, which are not the 312's you commonly see racked). Also, I think the 550 / 550a / 550b / 553 etc. EQs sound very good in an outboard rack, but I think they sound better in the console as well. To my ears, there is a greater difference with the console mic pres vs. racked API mic pres than there is with EQs in the console vs. racked API EQs though.

The signal goes through A LOT more (transformers / op-amps / caps / resisters / wire / pots / switches / etc.) in a console than any of the summing boxes. This contributes to the mojo/vibe/magic of a great sounding console, and does more harm than good with a lesser console.

There is nothing like a great sounding console.

My 2 cents.

30th January 2006	#15
mlocascio Gear addict Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 369	I owned the API 7800 with (3) 8200's, which, as you may know, is all discrete. While I thought it was good for the price point, it is not even in the same universe as my API 2488 console. One interesting thing I discovered was that vintage API mic pres racked by Brent Averill and others, sound nothing like the pres in the console. The console pres are way better (to be fair, the pres in this console are built into the 528 input modules, which are not the 312's you commonly see racked). Also, I think the 550 / 550a / 550b / 553 etc. EQs sound very good in an outboard rack, but I think they sound better in the console as well. To my ears, there is a greater difference with the console mic pres vs. racked API mic pres than there is with EQs in the console vs. racked API EQs though. The signal goes through A LOT more (transformers / op-amps / caps / resisters / wire / pots / switches / etc.) in a console than any of the summing boxes. This contributes to the mojo/vibe/magic of a great sounding console, and does more harm than good with a lesser console. There is nothing like a great sounding console. My 2 cents.