API preamps idea to "grow" on...

[tubedude]

Hey, does anyone think this would be a good idea?
I've been poking around for high grade preamps, and I found something that might possibly bring some quality into the hands of home recers... I'm thinking buy the API 12 slot rack mount case for $625 and an API 212 mic pre to go in it for $560. The total there is $1185. Now, every time you want to add a quality preamp, you can do so for $560. Buy 2 a year and eventually have about 6 or 8 of them, enough for full drum kits.
Is this a good idea? Anyone? Sjoko?
$560 www.mercenary.com/212lmicpre.html

$625 www.mercenary.com/l2twelslotra.html

I'm still pretty sold on the Focusrite ISA 110 though

[ametth]

The API's are very fine preamps.

[Shailat]

Ametth ?!

It's not like you......they are not fine.... they are amazing pre's.

One of my first choice pre's on many situations.

I once ran a heavy thick bass through one of the lower end focusrite pre's (not the red) and it distorted the bass a drop as it couldnt handle it.
I then ran it through a API and it was as smooth as a babies ass.

Thats only one story...........I dont have the space to go on.

[c7sus]

http://www.mercenary.com/api200ps.html

Oops! Don't forget the power supply!

[ametth]

Well, I didnt want to get all gushy about them. I meant "fine" as in "really great fucking pres" But yeah, I would get them if you can afford them, you will not be disappointed!

[tubedude]

I thought the power supply was built into the rack unit... ?
I'll have to check that... good idea, then? What about Eq?
I figure this is a good way to grow into having about 5 or 6 real good pre's.
What the deal with these anyway? They arent self powered? What about inputs and outputs? I need a rear view of the things. I'm gonna check the web site right now. How quality are the EQ's that go with these? How do the pre's and EQ's compare to the Neves? I want at least 1 or 2 Neve quality preamps.
I still have trouble beleiveing anything can sound better than a Red series, because its the only high end pre I've ever heard. Delicious.
Thanks!
Paul

[Roel]

That's a 500$ power supply??

Jeee... If you ever buy it, could you open up that box and tell me what brand is in it?

[regebro]

Theres a picture of it in the bottom of this page.

http://www.charly-bohaimid.de/apimai...audio_200.html

[Roel]

Looks very much like any other power supply, with another frontpanel. I'm pretty sure a good and less expensive power supply would do just as well. If you can find the specs for this one, just get another power supply with the same or better specs... I'm sure you can find a cheaper one...

[Shailat]

The API I use is the 3124M. It's a 4 pre API.

The 212 is a lower power voltage and you would be better off with the 512 (even better an old one).

As for the power supply. All you need is a good electronic technician to build you the power supply and it will cost no more
then $200. Dont be fooled into thinking you have to buy the original.

On the last matter - in general you are right when you say that
many high end pre's are a rip off. Not in sound quality but in the
price. If you have the time I would call several people that modify old pre's from old boards. After they are modified they sound wonderfull and tend to be much cheaper.

If you want I'll give you some emails or phone numbers of some modifiers from the States.

A friend of mine buys for $100 -$500 old strips and modifies them.
I can tell you that after they are finished with they are killers.
I have heard Telefunkens, Rca's, Neve, and western electric pre's
he has modified (including power supplies) and they are as good if not better them some of these $1500 pre's they sell.

Do some leg work and save some good money.

[tubedude]

Give me some emails then, and what models these guys work on. I'll give it a shot. Can any of them modify Mackie preamps to make them better? It'd be nice to put about $400 into a 6 preamp board and make over the top
Thanks,
Paul

[electricbeats]

I'd be deffinately interested in that too, for good micpres are one of the most essential parts of the signal chain, and I'd really like to add one or two old neves to my rack, I'd be happy to get some contacts under electricbeats@gmx.net
thank's in advance

klaus

[Shailat]

Start with this guy.

He is not the cheapest but one on the best and the prices are ok.
He doesnt change the audio path like others on the pre's, and Ilike that type of work.

He does api neve calrec and audix pre's and EQ.

Check him out here - http://www.brentaverill.com/

[tubedude]

Cool deal.. any other names?

[Shailat]

Here's a guy I used once indirectly and he does a great job only,
He lives in Canada.

http://nanaimo.ark.com/~pat/index.htm

He's on vacation now but check him out when he gets back.
I heard a modification he did on the ART Levelar compressor for $140 that made a vast improvment !!!.

He builds some geat stuff, sells some kits he makes and modifeis as well.
Some of his pre kits are being used in top notch studios as their first choice pre.

[Igormeister]

Did you guys ever heard of Analog Devices SSM 2017 chip ?
This is balanced ultra low noise pre amp, mos-fet running in pure a-class. It is used in every big frame- big name recording console.
I use custom built 16 channels rack unit. Find some electronics guru, and you get 200 $ worth per channel for 20 $ per channel price.

[Scooter B]

Where can you obtain these Analog Devices SSM 2017 chip?

Do they sell direct? I am intersted in doing some build your own projects. By time I can afford to buy a $2000 preamp I wont remember what it is used for and may not l be able to hear anymore anyway.

Scooter B

[Roel]

Originally posted by Igormeister
Find some electronics guru, and you get 200 $ worth per channel for 20 $ per channel price.

I'm one of them guru's. No... I'm not... But I will be if you can get me a schematic of what's in yours!! (PCB-design would be a bonus.)

[tubedude]

Supposedly the tube circuits are much easier to build, at least from what I've read at recording.org and the EQ forums.
I think we should look up a good schematic, say for a Neve 10xx series, or maybe a tube schematic like the Avalon (very nice) and find someone that knows what they are doing, and we all buy and build it a piece at a time, with the helpful instruction of one in the know. Kind of like Harveys big mic post, only building something. We could learn a ton, spend slowly, and eventually have a very nice preamp that we can be extra proud of.
I thik that one link has some schematics, or tons of them... http://nanaimo.ark.com/~pat/index.htm

Anyone be interested in this little group project? We could stretch it over about 4 or 5 months so as to go easy on the pocketbook, and expect to spend about $400-500 total.
My vote is on a Neve 10 series or maybe 1274.
If anyones interested, I'll round up some experienced moderators for the new thread we'll start for this. Let me know.

Anyone know anything about Ward Beck (WBS) consoles. Model #'s 470 & 460...

[gnarled]

The DIY preamp idea sounds like fun to me. I've been a little interested in this myself for a while but didn't really know where to start. I'm in.

[CyanJaguar]

You know, tubedude,

I was quite interseted in this idea. Until I began to ask, Why do I want 6 channels of the same preamp.

Woudnt you rather get

grace 101
joemeek vc1q
hhb radius 40
symetrix 528e
dbx576
avalon

for right around the same price. That way, you have more options.

[tubedude]

Except for the Avalon, I doubt you would want any of those pre's over an API. I'd kinda like to have 6 or 8 similar pres for mic'ing drum kits. An then a few good outboards for different colors, but not low line stuff, I've been finding myself reading about high end pre's ALOT.
Ok, we have a few interested parties in building pre's. I think the list will grow as I invite people from other forums as well. I'll start throwing together some ideas and we'll see who wants to host this thing.
Paul

You know, maybe you're right... who in thier right mind would want a whole stack of Neve pre's?

[ametth]

This is a very large and involved task your about to undertake here. Do you know the cost of builidng a quality mic pre? I would first decide what you want to build and find out how much parts will cost...you may be suprised.

It can be done, but you need to be very careful if your building a tube pre, you'll be playing with large amounts of power.

Cyan, the Grace pre is a very nice preamp. Not better or worse than API, just different.

GOOD LUCK!!

[tubedude]

Yep... very involved... fun shit, to me
Might not be too easy though... I'm in... are you?
People I know that have built them ususally spend about $500 or so, it seems. We'll have to decide on a model, and price the whole thing, parts wise. Then we'll know who's gonna be in and who isnt. Might not even happen at all.
Paul

[ametth]

Do you want to build a tube pre or a solid state?