API Lunchbox with analog modules

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Mennisbtr

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I'm looking to get some analog modules, an EQ like the Maag EQ4 or the 1073 and a compressor of some variety on the way in for my acoustic recordings and as a vocal chain.
could someone explain the process of connecting these up to an interface and if there's a way of using them without the lunchbox, because £500 for a box seems ridiculous.

Thanks guys!
 
From what I've gathered, I'm pretty sure you need the lunchbox or a similar unit to make 500 series equipment work. It's kind of like a modular synth - the chasis that holds each piece of gear is what provides power to the individual units. If there is a way to hook them up without a radial box or a lunchbox, I would like to know as well...

But then again I could be totally wrong. :o
 
Nope...the lunchboxes are the power source for the modules.

If you don't want the lunchbox....then you have to get the standalone rack-mount units for each of the modules you are considering (which will end up being as expensive, 'cuz you probably have to buy 2-channel, rack mount units of each.

You can get the 6-module box from Lindell Audio....$300 dollars.

Lindell Audio | Lindell Audio – We Know Sound

That said....it will be messy hooking up the analog boxes for use with a DAW for processing. You will need a multi-channel interface to cover as many analog modules on individual DAW tracks, and then you have to consider any latency issues...etc.
 
If I'm interpreting the OP right, he says he wants to use the hardware:
Mennisbtr said:
on the way in for my acoustic recordings and as a vocal chain.
Click to expand...
(emphasis added).

Sounds like what he has a microphone (or two) and an interface, and he wants to put some 500-series hardware in between, for whatever reason.

My suggestion, for what it's worth:
- One (at least) of the modules should be a mic preamp. A two-channel one, if you want to record with two mics at once (as people often do when recording acoustic guitar). Two one-channel ones would also work, if that's not obvious.
- Plug mic(s) into mic preamp input(s)
- Route signal out of mic preamp through EQ, compressor, etc. in whatever order appeals to you. You generally would do this just by connecting cables to the appropriate jacks on the back of the lunchbox (output -> input, etc.) Some lunchboxes have a switch that allows you to route the signal internally without the cables, so long as you put the modules in the order you want.
- Connect final output(s) to interface input(s) with cable(s)

The lunchbox contains the power supply, and also provides easy connection in the form of standard jacks that you can put cables into. You could use modules without buying a lunchbox if you built your own power supply and wiring; plus you'd probably also want to build some sort of case, so the circuit boards aren't hanging out in the open. Essentially, this is just another way of saying you could use modules without buying a lunchbox if you built your own lunchbox ... which doesn't seem like a particularly promising course of action. As noted, there are other, non-lunchbox-shaped, units you can stick 500-series units in, the most obvious being: (i) a smaller box that allows you to mount a couple modules side-by-side in a standard rack and (ii) a console. The latter will cost considerably more than a lunchbox, and is probably overkill for your purposes. The former might be useful. Of course, another - perhaps even more useful - approach might be simply to buy standard rack units, rather than 500-series modules. You can even buy a single unit that has mic preamps, an EQ and a compressor already all hooked up in one box.

If you're set on a lunchbox, I will note that some of them sell for quite a bit less than the equivalent of 500 pounds in the US. That, of course, does not mean they do the same thing in Europe, unfortunately.
 
sjjohnston hit the nail on the head.

500 pounds does seem ridiculous--the price in the U.S. is only $424 for a new lunchbox! Maybe you could look into buying one used from someone who lives here, because the price for international shipping will probably be less than the amount of money you save.

I will say, however, that a lunchbox (or any other 500 series rack) is a cost-effective investment. When you buy standard rack units, you pay for the circuitry, the chassis, and the power supply for every unit. They also tend to take up a lot of space (usually you'd want a big 19 inch rack to mount them). When you buy 500 series modules, you only pay for for the circuitry, meaning you can get higher quality gear for a lower price. That means when you buy the 500 series rack, you are paying for the chassis and the power supply for several units. 500 series modules are also considerably smaller than standard rack units because part of the challenge for manufacturers is to fit as much circuitry into a tiny slot as possible.

To sum it up,

500 series pros

- you only pay for chassis/power supply once
- subsequently, high quality gear can cost less
- modules are interchangeable
- portable (in most cases)

500 series cons:

- functionality is limited by the size of the modules
- narrower selection than standard rack units (although in the past few years there's been an explosion of new 500 series gear)

Standard rack pros:

- wider selection, especially in higher end gear
- usually more functionality than 500 series counterparts

Standard rack cons:

- not portable
- bulky (usually), takes up more space
- units are usually more expensive because you have to pay for chassis/power supply

Sorry if you already knew this or it's more than you asked for, I just thought it was important to clear up.

To answer your original question, most boxes will have standard balanced ins and outs. For example, the lunchbox has an XLR input and XLR output for each channel. Usually you will wire it up using XLR patch cables. So, if you had a mic preamp in channel 1, you would need two XLR cables--one to connect the mic to the preamp input, and one to connect the preamp output to whatever comes next in your chain (could be another hardware processor or your interface).
 
Since the standard seems to be open enough for people to make compatible modules for it, is there a cheapter, compatible rack that matches this standard?
 
Maybe not this standard. but the dbx "box" has several other manufacturers that make modules compatible with the box, like Aphex, less money too.
 
PDP said:
I've heard this company makes great stuff for the price...
Click to expand...
That's an interesting website that I hadn't seen before but just to note the obvious: they don't sell a lunchbox (just sandwiches and cookies to put in the lunchbox).

Worth noting: their 19" case plus their power supply runs 179+159= 338 Euros = $452 = 291 pounds. That's in the same ballpark as a lunchbox (in the US, anyway, though maybe not Britain), particularly since a 6-unit lunchbox is bigger.
 
sjjohnston said:
That's an interesting website that I hadn't seen before but just to note the obvious: they don't sell a lunchbox (just sandwiches and cookies to put in the lunchbox).

Worth noting: their 19" case plus their power supply runs 179+159= 338 Euros = $452 = 291 pounds. That's in the same ballpark as a lunchbox (in the US, anyway, though maybe not Britain), particularly since a 6-unit lunchbox is bigger.
Click to expand...

Sorry your right, just a few 500 series units.
 
Thanks for all of your replies people, this has been a very useful thread for an analog noob like me!
I'm not set on a lunchbox, just interested buying some analog gear for some nice colouration and tone control before it gets to my DAW.
I like the idea of a single, full rack unit with a pre, an EQ and a compressor if anybody has any good suggestions for one that would be great too!
 
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