Whats Your Favourite API 500 Module

[DwaneHollands]

Hi guys,

Just bought myself an API 500 6B Lunchbox.

Haven't got any modules yet...saving : ) I'm considering an API 560 - 10 band eq to start with. Mainly looking at stuff for mixing at the moment.

But, I'd be interested in peoples favourite API 500 modules. For any purpose.

What modules do you love?

[Aearth]

The 560 is a bit clinical than tasty, great for correction. The Avedis EQ is sweet.

nIC

[heathen]

api 525 is a pretty cool compressor, it can level things out quite nicely, nice on bass, some vox, electric guits etc. Buzz audio opto comp is pretty good on bass too.

[a.beck]

Doesn't really apply for mixing, but I absolutely love my Avedis MA5s.

My JLMPEQ500s just arrived, but I haven't had a chance to hear them yet - will report back next week after I've used them a bit.

I also have a Dramastic Obsidian and an Inward Connections OPT1A coming "soonâ„¢" from Awave, but apparently Dramastic are backed up or something.

As far as actual useful advice based on personal experience goes, I'm not a big fan of 560s, myself (disclaimer: I dislike graphic EQs in general, so I'm clearly not the best person to ask).

There's a lot that a graphic EQ won't do, there have been very few situations where a 550A (or B) wouldn't get me to where I wanted. YMMV, obviously, but I've yet to meet someone that doesn't like 550s (I personally love them).

[musikwerks]

I don't have any API modules.But I have a JLM TG500, NV500, Avedis E27 x 2 and a Shadow Hills Mono Opto 500 compressor.

Put it this way, I'm saving for another SH comp... it's just great.

Pre wise I am very happy with the JLM's and the Avedis EQ's are just superb IMHO.

I've ordered a pair of Grace M501's for voice over work (supposedly very clean... and only $500 each). It will be interesting to hear the Wagner go through those units.

[TimS]

512C - I have 2 of them..

[DwaneHollands]

Cool. Keep 'em coming!

Yeah the 550 seems to get a favourite of many. The 550B looks great as a 4 band parametric.

This also looks good. Not a bad price too.
http://www.awave.com.au/product_info.ph ... ts_id=3580

The new API 527 looks interesting too. Particularily with the "Thrust" switch. However after reading it, it sounded just like a sidechain feature with a preset low cut.

http://www.apiaudio.com/527.html

The Avedis MA5 looks interesting with the 28K switch!

[Gian]

JLM Audio has some lovely 500 series modules.

He has a very clean Dual99V500
Smooth and fat TG500
Neve-esc NV500
Pultect style eq PEG500
as well as his take on the 1176 compressor
FC500

My 6 space lunchbox is full of JLM modules. They are lovely.

[DwaneHollands]

JLM Audio has some lovely 500 series modules.

He has a very clean Dual99V500
Smooth and fat TG500
Neve-esc NV500
Pultect style eq PEG500
as well as his take on the 1176 compressor
FC500

My 6 space lunchbox is full of JLM modules. They are lovely.

I didn't realise the NV500 was a Neve flavoured preamp! The pultec is quite tempting. I've used a bomb factory emulation and I liked the silky bottom end on it. Quite transparent. I heard there was a modification that Joe does to tighten the bottom end on it. Very interesting!

[DwaneHollands]

I don't have any API modules.But I have a JLM TG500, NV500, Avedis E27 x 2 and a Shadow Hills Mono Opto 500 compressor.

Put it this way, I'm saving for another SH comp... it's just great.

Pre wise I am very happy with the JLM's and the Avedis EQ's are just superb IMHO.

I've ordered a pair of Grace M501's for voice over work (supposedly very clean... and only $500 each). It will be interesting to hear the Wagner go through those units.

How does that NV500 go as a Bass DI with that variable impedance control? Do you get a good selection of tones? Good energy out of it?

[Gian]

Hi Dwane

I am pretty sure all of Joe's 500 series pres have impedance control, and they all have a high impedance DI input. I have used it mainly on acoustic guitar, not much on bass. But it was nice. I dont have any of his TG500 modules, but I have been eyeing them off for some time now...drool.

[heathen]

The JLM PEQ is a little beast of an eq, the bottom end is massive, just right for getting kicks phat, nice on bass too.

[a.beck]

Yes, after using mine for only one day, I can definitely say that the JLM PEQ500s are, in fact, dope. Not only do they sound great, I was really impressed with the build quality. Three thumbs up.

[ChrisW]

I use my 560 all the time. I also have APSI graphics, which are similar but harder to find.
I'm no mixer or studio expert, but I think at least one 560 is a no brainer for the price.
I find it is capable of radical sculpting, perhaps not to fix an exact problem, or to sling across the entire mix, but if you are looking to heavily eq something - especially drums - it's very excellent.
The 550b is very good too. Lots of scope with that.
I like the 512c's, but I see you are looking for mixing tools first and foremost.

[DwaneHollands]

I use my 560 all the time. I also have APSI graphics, which are similar but harder to find.
I'm no mixer or studio expert, but I think at least one 560 is a no brainer for the price.
I find it is capable of radical sculpting, perhaps not to fix an exact problem, or to sling across the entire mix, but if you are looking to heavily eq something - especially drums - it's very excellent.
The 550b is very good too. Lots of scope with that.
I like the 512c's, but I see you are looking for mixing tools first and foremost.

One of the reasons at looking at the API 560 first was because it was probably the cheapest! ha ha. I've heard good things about them, aswell as 'lack luster things'. I guess some people obsess over subtly and others obsess over broader strokes.

Probably a lot determined by the gear you already have. If you've have a rack full of broad swords, but very little transparent gear, you might be looking for the surgically clean eq's/comps/pre's etc. But if it's the other way around, you might be looking for more colour and character.

I suppose I'm looking for 'sterility killers'. Which most likely means I'm looking for a coloured eq/preamp/comp's. But I have an empty lunchbox on the way and I wouldn't mind putting something in it soon ; ) So the cheap 560 might be a good starter. It's sculpting ability is of interest. Particularily for getting the kicks punchy.

The guy who sold the lunchbox to me, never put a module in it. So I'd like to get one in there ASAP, before it becomes the 'Cursed Lunchbox'. haha. (everybody buys it, no one ever uses it)

Still, the JLMPEQ500 sounds really good....so does the ....etc

[heathen]

First time I tried the peq it was like, "hmmmmm what have we here"," hmmm dial in 40hz and boost on lifeless kick", "ummmmm not much happening", "stand back a few feet, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yesssssssssss plenty happening". :)

I'd say the peq is 1 one of the cheaper routes to sub thumping bliss.

Superbly built too, I'll always agree on that.

[ChrisW]

You see plenty of 560's in pro studios.
It's a broad sword IMHO, but not what I would call 'coloured' per say.
It's a lot of people's favourite eq for bass drum.
As I said, I'm no studio guru, but for the money I think it's a very useful module to own.
FWIW, my API rack contains 2 x 512c's, 2 x APSI 559 graphics (vintage), 2 x 550b's which are in the process of being replaced by vintage 550a's, and 1 x 560.

If I was adding third party, a couple of modules I'd definitely add would be the Pete's Place E/Dyne modules (501 mic/pre and 511 eq).
I've just been recording with my Q8's for the first time and I fell in love with the mic/pre's and two band eq. I think the Electrodynes are very similar.

[Gian]

Most people on GS say you must have a 512.

Here is a pair of Dual99V500
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/JLM-AUDIO-Dual-9 ... 500wt_1182

[musikwerks]

How does that NV500 go as a Bass DI with that variable impedance control? Do you get a good selection of tones? Good energy out of it?

Very nice on Bass.

The bass on this album:

http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/send-d ... d363969651

was tracked through NV500 ---> Shadow Hills Comp ---> Avedis EQ.

[DwaneHollands]

How does that NV500 go as a Bass DI with that variable impedance control? Do you get a good selection of tones? Good energy out of it?

Very nice on Bass.

The bass on this album:

http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/send-d ... d363969651

was tracked through NV500 ---> Shadow Hills Comp ---> Avedis EQ.

So that bass was DI'd? Or was it a mic'd cabinet?

nice and warm, BTW! Nice mix for a live concert too!

[musikwerks]

DI'd into the module.

[DwaneHollands]

DI'd into the module.

Wow, that is impressive then!

[musikwerks]

I'm pretty sure that it was mixed on an SSL console though, so that would definitely have something to do with the overall sound.

Mixed by Sam Gibson....

http://www.samgibson.net/

[DwaneHollands]

I'm pretty sure that it was mixed on an SSL console though, so that would definitely have something to do with the overall sound.

Mixed by Sam Gibson....

http://www.samgibson.net/

Oh man, that "come to the water" song in his sound clips area was sooooo fat! Particularily when the bass and guitars come in. Wow!

Great energy in that song!

[DwaneHollands]

OK,

I'm going to bite the bullet and fill up the Lunchbox.

The definite candidates are:
2 x 512C's
2 x 527
1 x 550B

The uncertainty is whether to get another 550B to make the pair. Or get a 560 instead.

I'm pretty sold on getting one of Rob's 16:2 passive summing mixers to feed the 2 x 512C and the 527 for drum compression and final mix down. The USB interface I've got coming is an 8 out jobbie, so I'd do a few runs through the passive mix and then sum the stems with 527's at the end. Read quite a favourable review by Barry Rudolf on the 527's as mix buss compressors when linked.

And I'm not sure whether it would be better to have two 550Bs for working on Drum submixes and/or 2-Buss or whether I'd regret not having another flavour of eq while doing individual tracks.

So I'm trying to get both a mixing solution and a summing solution. (I'm figuring that my mixes could use more solidity and depth)

So the questions are:
1. Do you tend to eq the final 2-bus mixdown.
1.1 If you do, would you risk using 2 different types of eqs to do that
2. What would you do if you could buy 6 API branded modules for mixing and summing.
3. Whatever other comments...

This post turned pretty regimented didn't it : )