TAXI.com

https://youtu.be/lOxg-q_Oqrg

https://youtu.be/Ksid-FW5cno

I have a 200 series outboard with various units, similar to the 500 series lunchbox.

I'm not sure why they say 'vintage' in the first video, as the vintage is nearly the same as the new stuff??

API gear has a sound that many folks would describe as 'vintage' and some of their oldest designs are still available, (and very much in demand) hence the nomenclature. API has been described as 'the sound of Rock'n'Roll', and for some very good reasons, starting with the fact that more great classic rock records were made on API gear than practically anything else you could mention. And yeah, that includes Neve, because in the seventies there were thousands of little basement/garage studios that started with sixteen API channels and an eight track reel to reel deck. This happened because of the money-saving lunchbox format and because the cheapest decent mixing consoles started at well over $15k IF you could even find one. That is, until Greg Mackie founded TAPCO, which basically tried to be a 'poor man's' API, and the previously undiscovered 'budget console market' grew from there.

API's preamps go from pristine to 'stun' with a weighty, mid-forward character that's perfect for drums and guitars, particularly when slamming them to analog tape OR its digital equivalent. Their EQs are perfectly dialed in for loud modern electric instruments but can be just as beefy (or airy) on a simple acoustic guitar or harmonica. Their channel and bus compressors are similarly massively useful and in terms of competing with 'the big boys'...affordable.

Mojo, I've heard of the API sound though never really knew what they were talking about.

I bought the 200 series rack, I have a mic pre, a gate/expander, and 3 compressors. I bought 2 of the compressors after I bought the first one, even though it is labeled the same, 225L, it is setup a little different. I actually bought a lunchbox for a couple of eq's because they didn't make an eq, then they came out with the 215L sweep filters. I eventually sold the lunchbox and eq's because I didn't use them!

I bought them mainly because at the time, it was really the most economical way to buy a channel strip from a console. I didn't see many reviews, but what I did see, they were spoke of very flatteringly.

Later I did purchase an Amek 9098 eq, that had a preamp, a Neve design. That's all I really had in the same league to compare it to, the other preamp junk I had bought I donated to the Blind Thrift Shop,lol! I did give the Amek to a friend later, it was okay, but didn't seem to hold a candle to the API preamp, and again, I didn't really use the eq, it was cool and I played with it, but never used it.

In the days before the internet, there were only magazine subscriptions. I probably subscribed to all of them I could find that were in the bookstores, until I think I remained with Mix and Pro Audio Magazines. I could only read reviews and mail order back then, because the local music stores didn't carry any of the good stuff. No doubt I had a lot more discretionary income back then.

This is a little embarrassing, but I also have an Oram Octasonic and Oram Octamix, but I have never actually listened to the Oram preamps by themselves, just for boost, and of course the Octamix is a part of my in/out interface for the computer. I am going to try them soon, I promise, but I have always really liked the API preamp so much, I didn't see the need to try anything else. I know it's weird!

Len, you should find this of interest; there's a bit of history on the API EQs: http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/sun ... -s1p-tutti

Mojo, I think they had more about the Sunset pre-amp.

Speaking of interesting history, the Oram gear. At one time you couldn't hear enough about the glowing reviews and how wonderful they were, then all of a sudden, terrible press and nothing. I think I bought the Oram stuff I have at a great price as Sweetwater was discontinuing it's dealership.

Len911 wrote:Mojo, I think they had more about the Sunset pre-amp.

Well, yeah, it was a review of a phase accurate copy of Sunset Sound's legendary preamp; my point was that the Doors and pretty much everybody who recorded there used API EQs, which were available long before API offered any kind of console.

oh, ok ding ding!

got it!

I finally got this gate/expander set up. It really works great when set up properly. I used to have to wait for the a/c and furnace to quit before recording.