Other API 500 series style modules by other manufacturers?

[edIT]

Can anybody list some other manufacturers that make modules that are compatible and will fit into the API 500 series lunch boxes. I've seen the oldschool audio pres and thre purple audio along with the averill stuff. are there anymore?

[Drumsound]

Aphex used to make some modules for the 500 series.

[cgarges]

The Aphex modules were made to be compatible with the DBX 900-Series racks, which are much deeper than the API 500 stuff. I still see DBX and Aphex units on ebay listed as API-compatible, though, even though that's not the case.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[beechstudio]

There was a company called M.A.P (Modular Audio Products) who made a few pieces. However, they are no longer in business. I have their 550 type eq (model 3100). Sounds as good as my API 550 and has 33 selectable frequencies!

I think the modules in Paul Wolfs new company 'Soundlux' are compatable. Someone please chime in if this is not true!

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by beechstudio


I think the modules in Paul Wolfs new company 'Soundlux' are compatable.

1) Soundelux is a mic manufacturer and has no affiliation with Paul Wolff's company, which BTW is called Tonelux.


2) Tonelux is not 500 series compatible.

[Paul Gold]

Originally posted by beechstudio
There was a company called M.A.P (Modular Audio Products) who made a few pieces.

Also known as Melcor. API more or less grew out of this company.

[antti]

Apsi modules? Never used/tried/seen them so might be wrong info.

[cgarges]

Originally posted by Kent
Drumsound is correct. Aphex (from the time before they were Aphex [B&B Sound]) made 500 series compatible lunchboxes (4B-1), EQs (EQF-2), and compressors (CX-1). They continued to make these units well into their Aphex years.

Interesting. I was unaware that those older modules were the same size as the APIs. I was thinking about these, which are the same size as the DBX 900 stuff:

http://www.aphex.com/9000R.htm

So where do the MXR modules fit into the picture? Anyone?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Drumsound]

Originally posted by cgarges
Interesting. I was unaware that those older modules were the same size as the APIs. I was thinking about these, which are the same size as the DBX 900 stuff:

http://www.aphex.com/9000R.htm

So where do the MXR modules fit into the picture? Anyone?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

So we're both right.

[Fletcher]

APsI modules and "Angus" modules were a direct retro fit... the APSI stuff was OK... I liked their graphic a bit better than the API 560... the Angus modules are to die for if you can find any.

[beechstudio]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

1) Soundelux is a mic manufacturer and has no affiliation with Paul Wolff's company, which BTW is called Tonelux.


2) Tonelux is not 500 series compatible.

Thanks! My bad!

Yeah.....Tonelux was what I was thinking of! Up all night...... needed some

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by beechstudio

Thanks! My bad!

Yeah.....Tonelux was what I was thinking of! Up all night...... needed some

Stay tuned, we will be offering an adapter for our Tonelux line to fit in 500 series racks. Look for it in about 3 months.

[XHipHop]

I think i saw Troisi modules for either an API or a DBX rack a few years back on ebay.

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I think i saw Troisi modules for either an API or a DBX rack a few years back on ebay.

Troisi made several very cool modules for the 500 series. There was a dynamic EQ that looked very cool. It was like a 3 band compressor, but it would ease in or out the EQ setting that you had. I don't know how they sounded, but he and his wife were very nice people. I was next to them at a trade show once.

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by ToneLux

Stay tuned, we will be offering an adapter for our Tonelux line to fit in 500 series racks. Look for it in about 3 months.

Paul,

Why did you not make you midules 500 series compatible in the first place? It seems like a great system. Also you, of all people, should really know the ins and outs of it.

[lefthando]

What about Valley People? I seem to recall seeing their gates and compressors along side API modules. Is that true?

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

Paul,

Why did you not make your modules 500 series compatible in the first place? It seems like a great system. Also you, of all people, should really know the ins and outs of it.

Ouch...

The 500 pinout is limited as it has a balanced in and a balanced out, power, GND, 48V, and a link pin.

My format has per channel:

2) balanced inputs, 2) balanced outputs, compressor link, 16 balanced audio busses (send 1-6, ST, Surround, stereo AFL, mono PFL), 8 data busses, 8 address busses, serial in/out, +-18V, +24V, +48V, 10 GNDs, an aux panel for additional inputs, Pre audio out, Post audio out, Pan left and right out.

I think you get the idea. My system is a universal system that can do anything in any position. The motherboard is a 4 layer board. It has 16 channels in it. Adapting the EQ and MIC pre for the 500 rack was decided this week because the response from the MIC Pre and EQ have been huge.

Several engineers in different studios all said that the EQ is great sounding and would be an easy replacement for a 550A in many ways. The MIC pre's reaction was that is has the fatness of the API in the low end, but the top is much more "open" sounding, which pleased all that used it.

We have 4 other manufacturers that are going to be making modules for our system. We are trying to minimize how many different racks that someone needs in the control room.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by ToneLux

We have 4 other manufacturers that are going to be making modules for our system. We are trying to minimize how many different racks that someone needs in the control room.

Can you drop us any hints? I'd LOVE to minimize the ammount of different racks i'll need in my control room!

[pgk]

paul, pretty friggin' kewl that your mic pre has a "quad style" tilt control for the di! i always thought that was the best single knob eq design i've ever seen.....
very,very nice. bravo

http://www.tonelux.com/mp1.html

[Buddhaman]

Purple audio are making something called the BIZ that is 500 series compatible....

it's a mic preamp...although they aren't very good at returning phone calls or emails. Maybe you will have better luck!!

Buddhaman

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Can you drop us any hints? I'd LOVE to minimize the ammount of different racks i'll need in my control room!

Sorry, one boner at a time. We will be announcing it soon.

As far as the tilt control. we decided to leave it active so you can switch it in for the Mic Pre. The response was unreal. Everyone that used it (major studios in Nashville last week) used only the tilt control for snare, kick, piano and vocals. It was very cool. It was as someone said "exactly what it needed".

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by ToneLux

Ouch...

The 500 pinout is limited as it has a balanced in and a balanced out, power, GND, 48V, and a link pin.

My format has per channel:

2) balanced inputs, 2) balanced outputs, compressor link, 16 balanced audio busses (send 1-6, ST, Surround, stereo AFL, mono PFL), 8 data busses, 8 address busses, serial in/out, +-18V, +24V, +48V, 10 GNDs, an aux panel for additional inputs, Pre audio out, Post audio out, Pan left and right out.

I think you get the idea. My system is a universal system that can do anything in any position. The motherboard is a 4 layer board. It has 16 channels in it. Adapting the EQ and MIC pre for the 500 rack was decided this week because the response from the MIC Pre and EQ have been huge.

Several engineers in different studios all said that the EQ is great sounding and would be an easy replacement for a 550A in many ways. The MIC pre's reaction was that is has the fatness of the API in the low end, but the top is much more "open" sounding, which pleased all that used it.

We have 4 other manufacturers that are going to be making modules for our system. We are trying to minimize how many different racks that someone needs in the control room.

Paul,

My comment was not meant as a dig. I was sure you had specific and good reasons for the new "standard." I was curious to what they were. Thanks for the great info and I apologize for my wording if it offended you.



TS

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

Paul,

My comment was not meant as a dig. I was sure you had specific and good reasons for the new "standard." I was curious to what they were. Thanks for the great info and I apologize for my wording if it offended you.



TS

Nothing can offend me...

[pgk]

paul, there's lunchboxes and 8 and 11 space vertical racks. how bout a snack size? a 2 slot vertical rack with power supply onboard, rather than 2 pres modded for a single rack space. man, i betcha folks with portable recording rigs etc would jump all over that one........

[ToneLux]

Originally Posted by pgk

paul, there's lunchboxes and 8 and 11 space vertical racks. how bout a snack size? a 2 slot vertical rack with power supply onboard, rather than 2 pres modded for a single rack space. man, i betcha folks with portable recording rigs etc would jump all over that one........

There will be a 2 slot 1U and a 6 slot 2U box soon. Like I said, one boner at a time...