API DSM

Guidotoons · 8th July 2006

Just finished my first tracking sessions with the API DSM.

I swapped my Trident 80 (... wiping a tear...) for one (and some $$$) and love it!

Awesome! Fat and punchy!

API could stand a lick and a promise on quality control, however. Ran into a couple of issues (solved quickly...) but other than that....loving it!

Guido

kenkelly81 · 8th July 2006

Hey Man,

That's good to hear.

I have a 7800 and 2 8200's and I was thinking about the going the whole enchilada.

What is you setup? Also if you don't mind me asking what do think I might gain buy getting the whole thing?
Also do you have your pres routed through the DSM on the way in or just the way out at mix?
And how do you have your headphone/speaker monitoring setup?

I know what a lot of questions. Sorry I love my setup and I'm just looking at different ways to use it and how I might benefit from expanding it.

Thanks,
KC

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

I use a bunch of outboard pre's and EQ's straight to "tape". I don't have any 7600's...

For phones I use the 2 cue sends... one with click...one without. "More me" boxes are not allowed in my studio! D'oh!

For monitors I just use the large/small monitor outs of the 7800 via the pre-wired patch bay.

This system really sounds great! Very happy with what mixing I have done so far.

For the record...

I have the DSM 24 w/ an extra 8200. I also have 16 channels of outboard Neve, Focusrite, API and UA pre's.

Hope this helps!

I urge those wanting (or those...like myself...that are/were afraid of 'em...) a summing mixer to check it out. Anyone in Nashville that would like to hear this feel free to email me guido@guidotoons.com and come on by!

Guido

SoundEng1 · 9th July 2006

I got my 32 channels of 8200s and 7800 right next to my Icon and absolutely Love it!

heyman · 9th July 2006

glad to hear that you like it... I know they are 2 diffent beasts, but how would you compare it to the trident as far as headroom/summing...

Also, too bad they dont mak a fader pack.... is any 3rd party company working on that?

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

It has plenty o' headroom. The low end reproduction isn't as boomy as the Trident and overall everything is punchier...more presence, I suppose. The Trident seems "puffy" in comparison. But it was 25 or so years old.

Bottom line? I'm happy I did it. This is a more contemporary sound.

I dug the Trident...it had some major mojo and history ...but this will make my tired old 51 year old ears accept the sh*t sandwich Pro Tools stuff sound better.

My too sense.

Guido

drBill · 9th July 2006

Guido, I think you made a good choice! The Tridents I've used have always sounded "puffy" or a little "soft" (for lack of a better term) to me. I always love the API sound and always looked forward to working on the biggest granddaddy API of all out at O'Henry's, but now that they've closed their doors.... :-( .....I'm ending up on a bunch of SSL's and Neve's.

I know that Trident is popular in N'ville, but I think the API has a cooler "sound" and will do you good with clients.

cww2 · 9th July 2006

Anyone know if API plans on selling the DSM components separately? I bought the 7800/8200 (x3) before they came out with the whole rig and would love to get the VU meters. I've emailed API several times asking but no one ever gets back to me.

cww2

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

Call them.

Here's the new rig....

Guido

heyman · 9th July 2006

getting back to my first question, I dont track in pro tools, I use a radar and I want to stay OTB.

Faders would be real nice, I have the Api3124mb and it kicks but having a dsm racked up the way it comes , all the nobs start to look the same and If I am using it that way, a fader pack would be nice..

Less confusion and easier to push a fader than to twist a nob..

Guido, throw some pics up as well..

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

I mix on the PT faders and keep these at full blast. So far...so good.

I wouldn't know how to use this w/Radar.

Guido

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

notice I labelled each row so I could tell 1 from 1...or 1.

Guido

drBill · 9th July 2006

Sweet pics! Looks very "old school". How do your clients like the new "look"?

Guidotoons · 9th July 2006

So far so good. They dig the sound....

G

Slaytex · 10th July 2006

Guidotoons, the 8200's have direct outs correct? The .pdf manual shows them as an option (maybe it was an option a while ago). I'd like to run my 3124 into the 8200 and use it as an output fader so I can overdrive my pre's if I want. Have you done this? Also did you get the 424 bus interface? How does the 424 work?
Thanks.

Guidotoons · 10th July 2006

The direct outs are on an optional D-sub, I believe.

They typically interface w/ the 7800 master module and meter bridge via a ribbon cable.

I am not tech oriented.... I'm guessing.

Guido

max cooper · 10th July 2006

I like it! It looks boss!

long-liveanalog · 11th July 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guidotoons

I mix on the PT faders and keep these at full blast. So far...so good.

I wouldn't know how to use this w/Radar.

Guido

Did you make the numbered stickers or did they come from API?

Guidotoons · 22nd July 2006

I made 'em! I made the first 8 as well so they'd match.

Guido

superburtm · 22nd July 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guidotoons

Call them.

Here's the new rig....

Guido

that is a badass rig

subspace · 22nd July 2006

What the hell is in the mddle of your 2500?

Guidotoons · 22nd July 2006

A little rubber monster...

Guido

ToneRanger · 21st September 2006

Sorry for digging up an old thread like this, but I just HAVE to say your setup is totally, 100 %, killer! KILLER! What's all that outboard and how you use it? Could you explain your setup a bit, you mix ITB/OTB etc, what about conversion etc?

stringbean01 · 31st August 2010

would love to see this thread kick up again. still using that system, guido? hows it aging?

funwithguitars8 · 29th October 2010

Another bump for this thread. Very cool rig, Guido.

-Tom

godofmetal · 29th October 2010

Is that an Argosy desk?

DarkSky Media · 29th October 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by aemaury

would love to see this thread kick up again...

It was the rubber monster that killed it.

godofmetal · 30th October 2010

Also, why did you decide to buy 4 Distressors, and 2 ELOP's and a SLAM? Just curious... Do you have a certain kind of music you work with exclusively?

8th July 2006	#1
Guidotoons Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2005 Location: I wish I was on Cape Cod Posts: 253 Thread Starter	API DSM Just finished my first tracking sessions with the API DSM. I swapped my Trident 80 (... wiping a tear...) for one (and some $$$) and love it! Awesome! Fat and punchy! API could stand a lick and a promise on quality control, however. Ran into a couple of issues (solved quickly...) but other than that....loving it! Guido

8th July 2006	#2
kenkelly81 Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 222	DSM Hey Man, That's good to hear. I have a 7800 and 2 8200's and I was thinking about the going the whole enchilada. What is you setup? Also if you don't mind me asking what do think I might gain buy getting the whole thing? Also do you have your pres routed through the DSM on the way in or just the way out at mix? And how do you have your headphone/speaker monitoring setup? I know what a lot of questions. Sorry I love my setup and I'm just looking at different ways to use it and how I might benefit from expanding it. Thanks, KC

9th July 2006	#5
heyman Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 2,769	glad to hear that you like it... I know they are 2 diffent beasts, but how would you compare it to the trident as far as headroom/summing... Also, too bad they dont mak a fader pack.... is any 3rd party company working on that? __________________ Best quote ever....! Posted by Infernal Device.. "Guitar Center.... Even the good news is in the moan zone."

9th July 2006	#9
Guidotoons Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2005 Location: I wish I was on Cape Cod Posts: 253 Thread Starter	Call them. Here's the new rig.... Guido Attached Thumbnails

9th July 2006	#11
Guidotoons Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2005 Location: I wish I was on Cape Cod Posts: 253 Thread Starter	I mix on the PT faders and keep these at full blast. So far...so good. I wouldn't know how to use this w/Radar. Guido Attached Thumbnails

9th July 2006	#4
SoundEng1 Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: The Deep End Posts: 1,359	I got my 32 channels of 8200s and 7800 right next to my Icon and absolutely Love it!

9th July 2006	#7
drBill Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 11,509	Guido, I think you made a good choice! The Tridents I've used have always sounded "puffy" or a little "soft" (for lack of a better term) to me. I always love the API sound and always looked forward to working on the biggest granddaddy API of all out at O'Henry's, but now that they've closed their doors.... :-( .....I'm ending up on a bunch of SSL's and Neve's. I know that Trident is popular in N'ville, but I think the API has a cooler "sound" and will do you good with clients.

9th July 2006	#8
cww2 Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 544	Anyone know if API plans on selling the DSM components separately? I bought the 7800/8200 (x3) before they came out with the whole rig and would love to get the VU meters. I've emailed API several times asking but no one ever gets back to me. cww2

10th July 2006	#15
Slaytex Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Charlotte Posts: 1,034	Guidotoons, the 8200's have direct outs correct? The .pdf manual shows them as an option (maybe it was an option a while ago). I'd like to run my 3124 into the 8200 and use it as an output fader so I can overdrive my pre's if I want. Have you done this? Also did you get the 424 bus interface? How does the 424 work? Thanks. __________________ Clayton Yunt Full Volume Sound Full Volume Sound

10th July 2006	#17
max cooper Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2004 Location: tx Posts: 8,802	I like it! It looks boss!

22nd July 2006	#19
Guidotoons Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2005 Location: I wish I was on Cape Cod Posts: 253 Thread Starter	I made 'em! I made the first 8 as well so they'd match. Guido

22nd July 2006	#21
subspace Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Too sun Posts: 860 2 Reviews written	What the hell is in the mddle of your 2500?

21st September 2006	#23
ToneRanger Gear addict Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 323	Sorry for digging up an old thread like this, but I just HAVE to say your setup is totally, 100 %, killer! KILLER! What's all that outboard and how you use it? Could you explain your setup a bit, you mix ITB/OTB etc, what about conversion etc?

31st August 2010	#24
stringbean01 Gear addict Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 314	would love to see this thread kick up again. still using that system, guido? hows it aging?

29th October 2010	#25
funwithguitars8 Gear interested Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 11	Another bump for this thread. Very cool rig, Guido. -Tom

29th October 2010	#26
godofmetal Gear Head Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 64	Is that an Argosy desk?

30th October 2010	#28
godofmetal Gear Head Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 64	Also, why did you decide to buy 4 Distressors, and 2 ELOP's and a SLAM? Just curious... Do you have a certain kind of music you work with exclusively?

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