API Quality Control

[Senor Groove]

Anybody else have issues with their 8200 line mixer or lunchboxes? The studio has 3 8200 line mixers and each channel sounds completely different even after calibrating each one. Plus their lunchboxes have massive signal loss when patched in. Instead of gaining punch, I get mush.

[nobtwiddler]

I recently purchased a new API 3124 MB+

While using it on the first session as a mic pre summing amp for 4 mics on a drum kit I noticed somthing was not right.
I kinda sounded like the entire kit was outta phase?
Hummmmmm.
Checked all the cables, (twice) found nothing wrong.
So then then took one channel, the kick and bussed it to both the left and right outputs and still they sounded out of phase....
So I recorded the kick and looked at the waveforms in a DAW....
Well. the right side was completly out of phase?
The unit was two days old..
What gives?

I was pretty upset not being able to use it for the session that it was purchased for.

Anyhow, I sent it back, and the guys in the service dept. were great...
They fixed the problem in one day, and got it right back to me.
They found that the right side output transformer was wired incorrectly?

I found this to be pretty strange, especially, since I read the quality control card that was included within the package had everything checked as being A-O-K ?
I thought it was checked out?

In the end, everything has turned out OK....
And it is a beautiful piece.

Paul

[demonfuzz]

I was just thinking about this last nite as I have recently noticed an issue with my 8200A.

The Right channel of the stereo master outs keeps going on & off intermittently every few minutes..
I thought maybe it was my wiring, patchbay or input source, but I removed everything & it's still happening.
Anyone have a similair issue?

Other than, I like my 8200 & the sound of it.
It's simple & straight to the point. I drive the input & it punches right through.

I'm gonna double check my wiring/cables & check it again, hoping I won't have to send it back for svc.

[jbuntz]

Noticed issues with both 560b (distortion/opamp went out. waiting for new one still.) and 550b (low level? maybe a bad patch point. Kinda hard to explain the intermittent popping sounds though. swapped opamps into preamps and now everything is working for the time being.), the 560b probably is a little more than a year old and the 550b was used but in good cosmetic condition. That's two out of 6 lunchbox spaces. I was expecting a bit better quality too.

[max cooper]

API have been stellar as far as fixing stuff. They've repaired stuff I've bought second-hand, and haven't charged a dime (as long as it's still in warranty) plus they've paid the return shipping.

And they've always been quick!

[TonyBelmont]

I've only had one problem with a module in the last 5 years, and I've sold hundreds....

They are extremely reliable and have great quality control.

[Fletcher]

Well I doubt has sold the hundreds of modules that Tony has sold, but we do test shit as it comes into the building [and usually a second time when it leaves] and have found a few problems here or there... so while M-A's clients rarely [if ever] discover problems with API hardware they have purchased we've had our fair share of transportation bills to get inventory serviced before it leaves the building [on its way to a client... when it does leave the building broken chances are far better than even that the unit is on its way back to API to be made right].