API reference album/recording...?

[Mattsson]

Hey all=)

If somone asks you to describe the sound of API gear, which album or recording comes first to your mind?

Cheers

Rob

[Sensenel]

HI !

The " Perle" Album from "Gianna Nannini" was complete recorded with API and EAR Equipment from one of the best Engineers in Germany ...

[Greg Curtis]

the Beach Boys recordings donewith Sunset Sound's API in Studio 1.

Greg

.

[superburtm]

And I believe Purple Rain was done at studio 3 at Sunset on the custom API.

[PRuthenburg]

Some of the Mary CHapin Carpenter albums were recorded at Bias studios through API;I like the sound of those.

Pete

[Kestral]

Ok, so far no one has been able to name anything good that has been done with APIs. Someone throw a fricking bone here, cause it's only reinforcing my belief that Neves are completely superior to APIs.

[dpianomn]

Originally Posted by Kestral

Ok, so far no one has been able to name anything good that has been done with APIs.

[Rail Jon Rogut]

How about the Van Halen albums then?

Toto IV ?

Rail

[Duardo]

I believe the last few Phish albums (like, from "Farmhouse" on) were done on their API console...although I don't know if I'd say that the albums "sound like" API...

-Duardo

[Steamy Williams]

The difference between the API and Neve sound. Fun and Enlightening.

[max cooper]

Why do we have to decide that one box is better than another?

Can we just decide if a thing is good or not?

I think API is good, but what I'm starting to wonder is 'what do I know?'

Hey, doesn't Tony Berg have an API over at the house in Brentwood?

I wasn't much of an engineer when I got to check it out.

[paterno]

Originally Posted by Rail Jon Rogut

How about the Van Halen albums then?

Toto IV ?

Rail

Not to get too picky, but those records, along with the Prince stuff [1999, Purple Rain, and a few others] at Sunset Sound, were done on DiMedio consoles, which were custom designs based around API components -- pres and line amps. While similar, it's not quite - technically - an API.

I'm pretty sure that Sound Factory has been all API since the 70's. If you go on the Sunset Sound website I'm sure there is a list of records done at both facilities over the years.

Cheers,
John

[lucey]

Originally Posted by paterno

Not to get too picky, but those records, along with the Prince stuff [1999, Purple Rain, and a few others] at Sunset Sound, were done on DiMedio consoles, which were custom designs based around API components -- pres and line amps. While similar, it's not quite - technically - an API.

Is that the API-ish console with the Nickel transformers? If so ... brighter.


Dave Matthews Band early albums all API?

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Hi John

Toto IV was done at Record One (mainly) I believe.

When I talk API, I'm thinking of the 2520 BTW

Rail

[paterno]

Originally Posted by Rail Jon Rogut

Hi John

Toto IV was done at Record One (mainly) I believe.

When I talk API, I'm thinking of the 2520 BTW

Rail

Hey Rail --

Toto IV was done at both Sunset Sound and Record One. Sunset has first billing in the credits if that makes any difference. I believe the Al Schmitt tracks were done there -- in Studio 2, the same room as Van Halen I.

Not sure what you mean by 'thinking of the 2520'?

JP

[mcsnare]

Those mid 70's to early 80's James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt albums that were done at The Sound Factory are classic API, IMO. Toto IV is VERY API sounding, and to my ear less clean and modded API sounding, but that fat, slightly soft, stock API sound.
Dave McNair

[paterno]

Originally Posted by lucey

Is that the API-ish console with the Nickel transformers? If so ... brighter.

From what i know about the DiMedio consoles, he used API mic amp cards, line amp cards, and EQ's in his consoles. At the time, API would sell him these components and he built the consoles around them. If there was a Nickel transformer version of the API card, then it is possible. I worked on one DiMedio that had ALL mic pre cards for all the gain stages, because, as i have heard it, at the time the console was built API did not have any line amp cards. Mr DiMedio just modded the cards to work with line level signals, and left all the transformers in !!! That was one S-L-O-W console !! From what I understand, it was built for Wally Heider's place, and at one point Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf had it for several years. It was sold to Artist Direct around 2003/2004 and i'm not sure what happened to it after that...

John

[paterno]

Originally Posted by mcsnare

Those mid 70's to early 80's James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt albums that were done at The Sound Factory are classic API, IMO. Toto IV is VERY API sounding, and to my ear less clean and modded API sounding, but that fat, slightly soft, stock API sound.
Dave McNair

Hey Dave !!!

What's new? nice job on Julien Kasper's record !!!

Cheers,
John

[mcsnare]

Thanks!

Dave

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Originally Posted by paterno

Hey Rail --

Toto IV was done at both Sunset Sound and Record One. Sunset has first billing in the credits if that makes any difference. I believe the Al Schmitt tracks were done there -- in Studio 2, the same room as Van Halen I.

Not sure what you mean by 'thinking of the 2520'?

JP

http://www.waltzingbear.com/Schematics/API/API_2520.htm

The Op Amp which IMO is the main sonic imprint of the API modules/consoles.

Rail

[TheSweetener]

Lenny Kravitz uses an API console right?

[vernier]

The DeMedio console at Heider ...Crosby, Stills & Nash and CSN&Y Deja Vu (NOT API)!!! ...I repeat (NOT API) !!! ...and around '73 or '74, they switched to API. If you do the math, it's easy to figure out why I don't use API. HEE!

[picksail]

Originally Posted by Rail Jon Rogut

When I talk API, I'm thinking of the 2520 BTW

Rail

Absolutely

[nevusmusic]

I read that the Isley Brothers recorded on an API.

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by paterno

From what i know about the DiMedio consoles, he used API mic amp cards, line amp cards, and EQ's in his consoles. At the time, API would sell him these components and he built the consoles around them. If there was a Nickel transformer version of the API card, then it is possible. I worked on one DiMedio that had ALL mic pre cards for all the gain stages, because, as i have heard it, at the time the console was built API did not have any line amp cards. Mr DiMedio just modded the cards to work with line level signals, and left all the transformers in !!! That was one S-L-O-W console !! From what I understand, it was built for Wally Heider's place, and at one point Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf had it for several years. It was sold to Artist Direct around 2003/2004 and i'm not sure what happened to it after that...

John

From speaking to Frank De Medio last year, I know that at least some of the De Medio consoles only have API EQ and not Api mic preamps, De Medio manufacturered his own. I think this is true of Prince's De Medio at Paisley Park.

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by nevusmusic

I read that the Isley Brothers recorded on an API.

http://mixonline.com/recording/inter...brothers_lady/

[Kardoso]

Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf did some Elliott Smith albums on API.
Tchad Blake did most of his stuff-before moving to RealWorld- on API at SunsetSound, i.e. Phantom Planets "California", Los Lobos"This Time", Ron Sexsmith "Whereabouts"

[kats]

Lenny Kravitz uses an API console right?

I think he bought a vintage TG console awhile back no?

[retrograde]

Originally Posted by Kardoso

Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf did some Elliott Smith albums on API.
Tchad Blake did most of his stuff-before moving to RealWorld- on API at SunsetSound, i.e. Phantom Planets "California", Los Lobos"This Time", Ron Sexsmith "Whereabouts"

He engineered the first two Crowded House albums with Mitchell Froom at Sunset on that desk as well.

[MIKEHARRIS]

Allman Bros...most recorded on Capricorns API...Kooster's cool remote truck
http://www.recordplantremote.com/
http://www.recordplantremote.com/clients/index.php