API vintage vs. modern

I'm thinking of getting some API Pre's and Eq's to improve my protools mixes.
What are the major drawbacks/advantages to getting the newer 550b and 512c, as opposed to getting the Brent Averill stuff

Also How do the the 1073 knock offs compare to the Averill stuff??? A dealer who I hold in good regard is trying to sell me on the chandler 1073 exrollz rollz help ???

[juniorhifikit]

API's sound different than Neve-esque things, though both are great in a ballsy kind of way. I've heard of several people having power supply problems with the new API's resulting in Hum. I've also found several studio's vintage API's that were not terminated properly on the output, and sounded like shit until the problem was fixed. How they couldn't hear it is mystery to me. Maybe they were too enamored with the API myth to question crappy
sound. Try before you by and let your ears decide. Also, I recommend using a reputable source for your vintage goodies, like Brent Avrill. There are a lot of people selling crap modules with crap power supplies, capitalizing on the name on the front of the unit. Beware.

[Knox]

Personally . . . I love API stuff, though many don't.

Many times Neve is too 'soft' for certain things.

Though, I am not sure API would be my first choice for a Pro Tools front end. Maybe you would enjoy a tube pre / eq. It would be a way to soften the digital harshness. It really depends on what kind of music you may be doing as to what might be best for you.

[Opal Music]

I use the 3124 4 channel API mic Pre and I love It! I've used it on male vocals with a U87 into the API straight to the SSL and it sounds great. I've also heard, though I've not tried yet, that the vintech X73 is awsome! Everyone I talk to says it sounds just like the good ol' 1073's but with clean caps. I've really taken a liking to the AMEK 9098 Pre/EQ too. Great Box. Maybe my little bit helps. Good luck with the never ending gear search.

Marty:)

As for an answer for the origional question - the diff between new & old...

It may take a while but someone will turn up (perhaps Fletcher) that will be able to tell us..

I remember asking Brent Avril.. he kinda struggled to find a discription...

[Knox]

I have not heard anything negative about the new API mic pre compared to the older ones. The 550B eq is sometimes compared in a negative way to the A model. To me there is a bit of a difference, though I find them both VERY useful. The 560 graphic is the same, from what I can tell. The thing that I have not heard a straight answer on is the difference between the 3 series and the 5 series.

I have a loaded 10 space rack of API (roughly 6 years old) and the only negative I can tell you is that it runs VERY hot. I spoke to Paul and he offered to put an external power supply on it for me (at a small cost) so it would run cooler (the new rack comes with external supply from what I hear). One of the meters acts up. A lot of headroom (good for ribbons). At the time I bought it, the 5 series didn't have a phase reversal switch, which seemed stupid, they now do.

Hopefully some of this will help.

[Donald Ashcroft]

550a is the best
Don't mess with the rest
I had a massive passive that I replaced with these 4 little gems and am much happier. The massive passive was too gentle.


If you're in a big city... RENT them first. DREAMHIRE has them for $25/weekend. YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THAT!!! Rent all of'em and try them out!!!
madd

Chris

[Fibes]

FWIW there isn't a lick of difference between the 512 and 312 at this time other than age and a few minor revisions. There are however points in time when 550, 550a, 560 eqs and 312 pres weren't up to snuff. The 560 was "put back" a few years ago and the 550b is much stronger today as well. I'm a huge fan of the 560 for the grab and go quotient.

If you're looking for Neveish stuff I would check out Phoenix audios GTQ2 or DRS2. I own serial # 001 GTQ2 and love it to death. For most applications it kills the NEVE stuff and has just the right eq points to get you closer to Nirvana.

I own 512 modules now and bought them from odyssey pro sound not only because Pau;'s a cool guy, has great prices and service but also he usually has a more direct line to API than other dealers so availability is better.

[thethrillfactor]

FWIW there isn't a lick of difference between the 512 and 312 at this time other than age and a few minor revisions.


Not totally true. The older 312's were from the console, so they used the original Api transformers. The Datatronix runs used their own, and the new 512 used a different transformer(Jensen's sometimes I think). There is a slight difference, and i mean slight. If I could rate the three it would be: Original-Darker, Datatronix-flashier, 512(with Jensen)-cleaner sounding. I know guys that have pairs of each. Actually I know Datatronix gets trashed all of the time, but I actually prefer their transformers(for drums/guitars/ and vocals). The originals are great too but you tend to use more EQ when mixing. The 512 are nice too. If you happen to own any of the three, you are doing all right.

[thethrillfactor]

I'm thinking of getting some API Pre's and Eq's to improve my protools mixes.
What are the major drawbacks/advantages to getting the newer 550b and 512c, as opposed to getting the Brent Averill stuff

Also How do the the 1073 knock offs compare to the Averill stuff??? A dealer who I hold in good regard is trying to sell me on the chandler 1073 ex help ???


The 550B's are great EQ's period, new or not. Sure the 550A has a touch more bottomn, but I find the 550B is much more flexible and forgiving and you get the extra EQ points. By the way I use a 5502 which is a 550A with the EQ points from a 550B(and no I am not selling it!!). The 512C is a great mic pre, but as Fletcher always says YMMV, its just one color in the pallette. When it comes to the knock offs, well...opinions vary. In my personal opinion, none sound exactly like a 1073. Is that bad..no not necessarily, remember even the heralded 1073 is just a color in the pallete. Just because the knockoffs aren't the exact clones doesn't make them useful, on the contrary with the extra EQ points they are actually more flexible. If you are looking into a "clone", look at the new Vintech 1081, same pre as the X73, but a more powerful EQ section(by the way I prefer the 1081 over the 1073 when tracking vocals). The Chandler by the way is useful too. Hope this helps some.

[robp]

I adore API both new and old.... we have 6 Averil racked 312 pres, 2x553 eqs, 2x550b(new), and a 2500 2buss. You can't go wrong.

rob p

www.witchdoctorrecording.com

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Also How do the the 1073 knock offs compare to the Averill stuff??? A dealer who I hold in good regard is trying to sell me on the chandler 1073 ex help ???

Brent's 1272 is a little darker to my ears than the 1073. The Vintech X73 is identical in tone to the 1073 in every way that I have heard.

[Sir Bob]

API allows the transients through, which probably works well with percussion and recording to tape. But as for digital recording, I don't know.

[NathanEldred]

API sounds great to digital. I like it for vocals & snare, and I would be using it for overheads and acoustic but I have other preamps that I prefer (Phoenix DRS-2 usually). Somehow I can't bring myself to make the rules too different for mic/preamp choices for digital or analog. A Coles 4038 sounds great to both, a Jim Williams modded Neumann KM86 sounds great to both...one is "quick", one is "slow". It's all about the sound. If you need to slow down the transient, use a high quality compressor or throw a million transformers in the path. API is a great front end to a Pro Tools rig IMO. So is a V76 or a Manley. It doesn't matter, just because something has a valve in it doesn't make it a distortion box. YMMV.