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In the late 1960s, Saul Walker and Lou Lindauer co-founded Automated Processes, Inc.—better known as API—to improve on the early modular console concepts pioneered in the 1950s.
The brand soon developed a series of distinctive consoles built around its own interchangeable modules, including the now-abundant 500 Series processors. The flexibility of these modular desks appealed to studio owners keen to keep up with the rapidly evolving studio technology of the time, and the crisp, in-your-face sound of API preamps and EQs proved perfectly suited to pop and rock music.
As the company changed hands over the years, API’s owners always made sure to preserve the tried-and-true designs their customers loved, while keeping up with new technologies like automation and opening up the 500 Series format to third-party manufacturers.
Today, API continues to build on that foundation with reissued and reimagined classics, preserving the legendary sonic character, modular architecture, and distinctive style that people love while adding modern features.
From the fully loaded Vision desk equipped for 5.1 mixing to the streamlined BOX 2 mini-console aimed at smaller studios, API’s product range covers every possible need. Plus, many of these consoles are highly configurable with varying amounts of channels, interchangeable 500 Series modules, custom-wired patch bays, and more.
No matter what your studio looks like, there are plenty of ways to obtain the legendary detail and “punch” of the API sound in a format that makes sense for your needs.
API offers a range of large-format consoles suited to a variety of applications, from boutique studios that prize rich analog character to film and television studios that prioritize surround mixing, automation, and recallability. A large-format console is a significant investment, so API offers plenty of customization options to adapt to each customer’s unique needs.
The API 2448 is the brand’s latest console, combining the legacy of the iconic API 1604 with the modern innovation of the 1608-II. While the 1608-II has become a staple for project studios, the 2448 is designed for larger, professional environments, delivering advanced routing and control options ideal for tracking, mixing, and even post-production.
This in-line console offers 24 input channels with API’s renowned 212L mic preamps, 550A and 560 EQ modules, 24 additional line-level inputs, four stereo returns, and eight buses—providing extensive flexibility for any recording or mixing session.
At the heart of the desk, the feature-packed center section includes API’s Vision Automation System, offering precise control over motorized faders. With Final Touch Automation, you get system reliability, user flexibility, and features typically found only in higher-end, far more expensive automation systems. The center section also supports an optional 529C stereo bus compressor for powerful VCA-style compression and includes 5.1 surround monitoring capabilities.
Available in 24, 32, and 40-channel configurations, with customizable 500 Series slots and an optional producer’s desk, the API 2448 is built to meet the needs of studios of any scale. To learn more about this versatile analog desk and see if it’s right for your studio, read our API 2448 buyer’s guide.
For film and television studios working in 5.1 surround sound, API’s Vision console has all the bells and whistles. Every channel features dual mic and line signal paths (each with its own 100mm motorized fader and panning controls for surround and stereo), plus ten aux sends and a routing matrix for accessing the 24 main busses.
The EQ slots can be loaded with your choice of the 550L four-band parametric EQ or the 560L 10-band graphic EQ, and the dynamics section can house the optional 225L compressor/limiter and 235L gate/expander modules.
The API Vision’s center section is a spaceship-like control center with all the tools you need to facilitate simultaneous surround and stereo mixing. The large color screen gives you access to the powerful Vision Automation and recall system, which includes the motorized faders, aux sends, bus assignments, and many resettable switches. The Vision computer also allows you to save and load projects or even use the faders as a control surface for DAW mixing.
The center section also houses nine long-throw faders for controlling the six surround channels and three stereo masters. Other features include monitor selection, bass management, a surround fold-down matrix, talkback, metering controls, and a signal generator for monitor calibration. Each console is custom-built to the client’s specifications, including a full patch bay section.
The original Legacy Series consoles introduced in the 1990s represented the culmination of decades of analog excellence. Around 75 of these wood-encased behemoths were made, and most of those are still in service today. In 2016, API brought this legendary desk back as the API Legacy AXS (pronounced “axis”), revamping it with the powerful Final Touch Automation System and a host of other improvements.
Available with anywhere from 32 to 80 channels (in 16-channel “buckets”), the Legacy AXS can be configured to meet the needs of any medium to large studio.
Each channel strip begins with two 200 Series slots, which can house the API 212A mic preamp, 205A direct input module, 225A compressor, 235A noise gate, or 215A sweep filter. Each channel hosts a 500 Series slot for equalizers or other processors, as well as a Bus Assignment Module for extremely flexible signal routing. Like API’s other large-format consoles, the Legacy AXS features two independent signal paths for recording and monitoring.
The center section (or “Master Bucket”) houses the Final Touch Automation System, an API 2500C stereo bus compressor, bus and aux masters, stereo returns, monitor controls for 5.1 and stereo, a signal generator for speaker calibration, and more. The console can be configured with an onboard or remote patch bay.
In addition to their traditional large-format desks, API has a history of producing top-notch consoles in smaller form factors. These small-format consoles deliver legendary API sound in form factors and price points that make more sense for small studios, broadcast facilities, and even larger studios looking for a secondary “sidecar” console.
The API 1608-II is an updated reissue of the original 1608 console first released in 2008. This small-format desk is a favorite of medium to small studios because it delivers the classic API sound with plenty of functionality in a more streamlined and affordable format than the 2448. The 1608-II boasts an expanded feature set including a revamped center section with FinalTouch automation.
The biggest difference from the 2448 and other large-format API consoles is the lack of a “Small Fader” signal path. While it is still an in-line console, the 1608’s routing is a bit simpler than its larger siblings. However, it still features eight auxiliary sends, eight summing busses, four stereo returns, and 500 Series slots on every channel strip.
The console’s name is derived from the basic 16-channel configuration, but it’s also available in 32- or 48-channel sizes, making it perfectly suitable for large multitrack recording and mixing sessions. The standard configuration comes with 12 550A parametric EQ modules and four 560 graphic EQs, but these can be customized as well. If the 1608-II sounds like a good fit for your studio, check out our in-depth buyer’s guide just for this console!
THE BOX concept began as a compact four-input console and 16-channel summing mixer designed for DAW-based project studios where only a few preamps are needed. With THE BOX 2, API has doubled the number of preamps to eight, making this little desk far more useful for recording drums and small ensembles. If you crave the iconic API sound but don’t need a full-blown console, THE BOX 2 is the perfect option.
The eight channels on the left side each feature identical mic preamps to the 1608-II and 2448, as well as line inputs, high-pass filters, balanced inserts, aux sends, routing switches, and 500 Series slots ready to be loaded with your favorite EQ modules.
The right side features 16 summing channels for mixing and monitoring DAW outputs. While these channels don’t feature 500 Series slots, they each have the same balanced insert and aux sends as the left side. When mixing, the right and left-side channels can be combined for a total of 24 mix channels.
To top it all off, two built-in API 527 compressors mounted in the center section can be linked to act as a stereo bus compressor or assigned as inserts on channels 1-4. The center section also houses the master fader, monitor and headphone controls, aux returns, and talkback controls.
All in all, THE BOX 2 provides a ton of analog mojo in a small footprint.
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