Mic preamps

[Gomez]

well, by itself the API looks to be like $800 for single channel and any lunchbox is gonna run you like $1600 or so ... if you were looking for a 2 pres ... the UA is selling for like $2000 ....

is it possible our shitty US dollar value could be of help to you at the moment?

Yes, but you have to buy the lunchbox plus the pair of pres, which comes to about 2000.

Someone recommended the DAV BG. The price is excellent and apparently they are very very good... very "clean". You should check them out. Also there's the new Arsenal Audio range by API which is cheaper. Looks very cool, but have NO IDEA what they sound like (yet).

 

[Skinny Viking]

Unfortunately no. One USD is like 7 NOK. A few months ago it was only 5
And then there is the shipping costs + norwegian VAT.

I dont know though. I havent decided on anything yet.
Im gonna try and borrow a 2-610 and see if it is what Im looking for.

Btw, is there any point in trying out the SOLO 610? Im pretty sure I can borrow one of those. Would the results be comparable? Except I would only have one channel to work with.

I'm gonna take a guess and say ja, it should be comparable. I haven't used one personally but if they really modelled it as a single channel, portable version of the 610 family I would say it should sound pretty good. Can't hurt to try, especially since you say you can probably borrow one. Like I said before, the 2-610 I use has sounded great on pretty much anything we've used it for

btw, how's the Quadrivium recording going?

 

[Metaltastic]

well, by itself the API looks to be like $800 for single channel and any lunchbox is gonna run you like $1600 or so ... if you were looking for a 2 pres ... the UA is selling for like $2000 ....

is it possible our shitty US dollar value could be of help to you at the moment?

!!?!!?!?!?!?!?!???!!?!

http://vintageking.com/API-500B6-Lunchbox - $425

Seems like a bargain to me!

And Ihsahn, the Shadow Hills mono GAMA is supposed to be AMAZING ("supposed to be" being the operative words, but still, it has tons of options for coloration, which is sweet)

 

[Jaymz]

!!?!!?!?!?!?!?!???!!?!

http://vintageking.com/API-500B6-Lunchbox - $425

Seems like a bargain to me!

And Ihsahn, the Shadow Hills mono GAMA is supposed to be AMAZING ("supposed to be" being the operative words, but still, it has tons of options for coloration, which is sweet)

Thats just for the chassis isnt it?

 

[Gomez]

Hey metaltastic - you have no idea how lucky you are in this respect (and many others) to live in the U.S... here in the EU we pay a lot more for that kind of stuff, the taxes are MAD

 

[Skinny Viking]

!!?!!?!?!?!?!?!???!!?!

http://vintageking.com/API-500B6-Lunchbox - $425

Seems like a bargain to me!

And Ihsahn, the Shadow Hills mono GAMA is supposed to be AMAZING ("supposed to be" being the operative words, but still, it has tons of options for coloration, which is sweet)

?!?!?!!?!??!??!?!?!?

each single pre is around $800 ... he said he was looking for 2 pres

like gomez said, add the cost of the lunchbox with the pres ... close to $2000

same as the UA we were talking about

I probably just worded my post all fucked up ... I'm on my 4th ccup of ccoffee and iitss starttingg to afff ... affff ... affect my writtinggg

 

[Gomez]

Thats just for the chassis isnt it?

Yeahm that's for the six slot chasis aka "lunchbox". Then you could add any other 500 series modules.

I got mine last week with 1 512c. I love it, I have used in the past though, so I knew what I was getting.

I like the whole idea of 500 series modules... what I didn't like is that using non API modules voids the warranty.

 

[Ihsahn1981]

I got mine last week with 1 512c. I love it, I have used in the past though, so I knew what I was getting.

How is the 512c on acoustic guitar? Ever tried it?

Hey metaltastic - you have no idea how lucky you are in this respect (and many others) to live in the U.S... here in the EU we pay a lot more for that kind of stuff, the taxes are MAD

Indeed!

btw, how's the Quadrivium recording going?

Progress is good. Im hoping to have the drummer in TopRoom studio to record sometime this spring.




A crazy thought.. A soundcard that can use 500 series modules. How great would that be!

 

[Eschatologist]

I tried the great river and I thought it was good, but I was a bit disappointed as there's a lot of hype about them. They're good, but I was expecting more.

Same, though in all honesty I didn't spend as much time with mine as I would've liked

 

[devouredremains]

What about the Great River MP-500NV?
And the Shadow Hills Mono Gama?

Anyone ever tried them?

I own one channel of Mono Gama and it's incredible.

 

[Gomez]

How is the 512c on acoustic guitar? !

Very nice. I recorded a middle of the road Martin acoustic with it last week and I like it.

 

[jauernis]

Is there a lunchbox out there that you can put a great river and an api, etc? Or will the api hold the great river but just voids the warranty?

 

[Black neon bob]

Hey metaltastic - you have no idea how lucky you are in this respect (and many others) to live in the U.S... here in the EU we pay a lot more for that kind of stuff, the taxes are MAD

Oh he knows, that bastard!

Why do you think he was laughing at us europeans and taunting us because we have to pay a shitload more for gear in his rectumfrier video thread!?

 

[Gomez]

The answer is yes.

Basically API where the first to build modular consoles. Then they had the brilliant idea of selling you the console in bits with the lunchbox which holds 500 series pre amps, comps, eq's, and so on.

Many manufacturers make 500 series modules these days including Great River. The downside of the 500 series GR pre is that it takes 2 rack spaces.

As I said I got my lunch box last week and this is what it says:

"PLEASE NOTE: the design or quality of any non-authorized third party or vendor is beyond the control of API.
Therefore the use of your API modules in any non API rack, or use of a NON-API VPR ALLIANCE IN ANY API RACK may VOID it's waranty"

I'm glad I typed that... so maybe that means that other manufacturers that are in the VPR alliance can supply products that can be used on the API lunchbox without voiding it's warrant... I'll have to look on that.

 

[Gomez]

VPR alliance:

API 512C Mic Preamp
525 Compressor
550A Equalizer
550A Saul Walker Edition Equalizer
550B Equalizer
560 Equalizer
A Designs EM-PEQ
EM Blue Mic Preamp
EM Red Mic Preamp
Avedis Audio Electronics E27 3 Band Equalizer
Buzz Audio Elixer Mic Preamp*
Danfield MX20 Mic Preamp
Empirical Labs DerrEsser Model EL-DS
Great River Electronics MP-500NV Mic Preamp
LaChapell Audio 583s Mic Preamp
Speck Electronics ASC-V Equalizer

 

[Ihsahn1981]

I own one channel of Mono Gama and it's incredible.

What sources do you like it on?

 

[Metaltastic]

Oh he knows, that bastard!

Why do you think he was laughing at us europeans and taunting us because we have to pay a shitload more for gear in his rectumfrier video thread!?

Bwhahahahahahaha, it's just so irresistible!

VPR alliance:

API 512C Mic Preamp
525 Compressor
550A Equalizer
550A Saul Walker Edition Equalizer
550B Equalizer
560 Equalizer
A Designs EM-PEQ
EM Blue Mic Preamp
EM Red Mic Preamp
Avedis Audio Electronics E27 3 Band Equalizer
Buzz Audio Elixer Mic Preamp*
Danfield MX20 Mic Preamp
Empirical Labs DerrEsser Model EL-DS
Great River Electronics MP-500NV Mic Preamp
LaChapell Audio 583s Mic Preamp
Speck Electronics ASC-V Equalizer

Only the A Designs EM-PEQ, or all their 500-series stuff? That seems odd...

Also, what's the "VPR Alliance?"

 

[Gomez]

Hey man

Not sure. Maybe they take a while to road test them and give them approval.

The alliance was created by API, so if you put one of these in your lunchbox, you're covered by the warranty which is 5 years.

 

[devouredremains]

What sources do you like it on?

I really like the steel output transformer on guitars and snare top, discrete on clean vocals and acoustic guitar soundhole. The nickel is great for screaming, growling etc..

This preamp has a big tonal palette and it's certainly worth the price. I would also recommend this preamp to anyone looking at buying their first "high end" preamp for this very reason.

The problem with only having one channel at the moment is the urge to try it on some stereo sources!

I also seem to remember Greyskull mentioning having experience with the Gama series preamps so he should have some useful info as well.

 

[Metaltastic]

Hey man

Not sure. Maybe they take a while to road test them and give them approval.

The alliance was created by API, so if you put one of these in your lunchbox, you're covered by the warranty which is 5 years.

Thanks for the heads-up dude!