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Post by Shadowk on Aug 13, 2024 4:00:08 GMT -6
As part of a trade-in cash back scheme I might have the option to get one of these, I certainly like the Shelford channel but I often never used the compressor or silk. Is the API the better option here?
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Post by Dan on Aug 13, 2024 7:37:35 GMT -6
Current API is its own thing. Totally different sound. I wouldn’t get the strip. No adjustable high pass filter (sometimes vocals might even want an 200 hz high pass ime) and you might not want the compressor, eq, or pre.
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Post by andersmv on Aug 13, 2024 8:02:10 GMT -6
I like API stuff, I've got a Box Console and had a few 500 slots filled with 550b's for a bit (that basically gave me a channel strip on at least 2 channels as you can route the compressor in the master section to channels during tracking). I did a huge video series when I first got the console comparing the console with the UAD plugins. My take away was that the hardware EQ's were pretty much interchangeable with the UAD plugin EQ. I sold the EQ's after that video. Preamps and Compression were a bit different, I still thought there was something special with them. The UAD channel strip and plugins for compression and preamps are a "little" different as they modeled the Vision channel strip, it's not a fair 1:1 comparison by any means. It all sounded pretty damn close in the end.
No complaints about the API stuff, I obviously am a big fan. I think the software stuff is getting pretty damn close to perfecting the API sound. There's SO many choices out there, and programmers have been at it with API designs for a while now. The Shelford is another beast all together, it's really colorful and obvious. If it were me (having owned the API stuff for a while and used the Shelford stuff fairly regularly at other studios), I would spend the money on the Shelford channel strip. It's going to be a lot more colorful than the API, and that's what I'm into these days when it comes to spending money on hardware. Nothing bad or wrong with the API channel strip, but I think your money is going to go a bit further with the Shelford. I think it's going to be harder to recreate that on the software side right now. You can also get a pair of used API Channel Strips for almost the same money as a new Shelford, it's a good chunk of money more than the API one...
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Post by Shadowk on Aug 13, 2024 11:55:45 GMT -6
Current API is its own thing. Totally different sound. I wouldn’t get the strip. No adjustable high pass filter (sometimes vocals might even want an 200 hz high pass ime) and you might not want the compressor, eq, or pre. I’ve got an Api 512V and an API 2500 so I’m not unfamiliar with the sound but I am contemplating selling off the 2500. I might go down the path of tracking and 2bus hw again. It was much simpler.. |
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Post by Shadowk on Aug 13, 2024 13:04:41 GMT -6
Oh and one last comparison, I’ve seen a B stock the strip for a very good price but there’s also the Newton channel hanging around for a similar amount of dosh.
Would ya?
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Post by notneeson on Aug 13, 2024 13:41:04 GMT -6
Haven’t used The Strip, but you can do pretty much anything quite well with the one channel of a Legacy AXS.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083 
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Post by ericn on Aug 13, 2024 15:07:16 GMT -6
My problem with modern API is really simple, every time I have picked up something, I end up changing the Opamps and iron to give it a more vintage API flavor, so now I just buy CAPI.
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Post by thehightenor on Aug 13, 2024 15:07:29 GMT -6
As part of a trade-in cash back scheme I might have the option to get one of these, I certainly like the Shelford channel but I often never used the compressor or silk. Is the API the better option here? Kinda chalk and cheese. The Strip is great - ALL of it is great - IF you dig the API sound. It’s a situation where I’d want to have both on hand as they’re both so great. I have the Neve thing covered already - if I had the budget I’d love to own an API strip. |
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Post by Shadowk on Aug 13, 2024 15:44:58 GMT -6
The Strip is great - ALL of it is great - IF you dig the API sound. I think I'm missing out on the party here or something, the "API sound"? From what's described I thought I was going to get some mid pushy, gritty fuzzbox. When I got the 512V with it's 2:1 tap it's pretty smooth, doesn't take anything away from the signal and I found it similar to the IA622 I have, just a very nice sounding amp with a bit of distortion if need be.
I agree with Anders though, the Shelford is gritty, in your face, obvious yet "hi-fi" and a different goliath altogether. So for me it's if you like the "Shelford" sound because whilst the API is a fantastic amp in it's own right it's not exactly extensively different to quite a few I've tried. I haven't used the API EQ and compressor in this strip but I do prefer the 2500 to the bridge diode in the Shelford if that means anything.
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Post by andersmv on Aug 13, 2024 16:10:33 GMT -6
You can push the modern API stuff pretty freaking hard, which is what I like about it. The older designs, like the CAPI ones, kind of just sound thick and nice right out of the gate and you don't have to monkey stomp them as hard to get the goods. Shelford is the same way, it just sounds nice as soon as you touch it...
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 13, 2024 16:18:52 GMT -6
The Strip is great - ALL of it is great - IF you dig the API sound. I think I'm missing out on the party here or something, the "API sound"? From what's described I thought I was going to get some mid pushy, gritty fuzzbox. When I got the 512V with it's 2:1 tap it's pretty smooth, doesn't take anything away from the signal and I found it similar to the IA622 I have, just a very nice sounding amp with a bit of distortion if need be.
I agree with Anders though, the Shelford is gritty, in your face, obvious yet "hi-fi" and a different goliath altogether. So for me it's if you like the "Shelford" sound because whilst the API is a fantastic amp in its own right it's not exactly extensively different to quite a few I've tried. I haven't used the API EQ and compressor in this strip but I do prefer the 2500 to the bridge diode in the Shelford if that means anything.
I feel like people really over hype the “API Sound”. Like they’re these super colored, speciality pieces that only work on drums lol. Mind you, I mostly hear this kind of talk from more amateurs and hobbyists. All the pros I know have their opinions but wouldn’t hesitate to cut an entire record in an API legacy console etc. But in the internet era I think people overplay, sometimes, the API tone. Like you, my opinion is that API is rather clean and smooth sounding. I think they have a tight low end as compared to a Neve, and a nice but not overbearing midrange. I don’t hesitate to use my CAPI’s on anything/everything. |
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Post by vintagelove on Aug 13, 2024 19:36:27 GMT -6
If I only had 1 nice recording chain, I would definitely go with the api.
The Neve has a good sounding preamp (doesn't sound like a vintage Neve, but it is good), the eq is good in small doses, but can get unpleasant in the treble, and the fixed values in a compressor just don't work for me.
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Post by hadaja on Aug 13, 2024 19:54:42 GMT -6
If you really want to try the API sound maybe just but a 3 piece 500 series in 19" form and and get some API/Capi 500 models and mix and match to make a 19" channel strip.
That way if there is a module you dont like just sell it off and you wont lose so much $$$ and you now have the ability to make your own flavour channel strip.
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Post by smashlord on Aug 13, 2024 21:43:52 GMT -6
So I had a Shelford strip for about a year and currently own a 3124+, 550As, and a 2500, so while I don't have The Strip per se, I have all the parts.
For my money, the API, hands down, no question. The Shelford has a great pre, low end band on the EQ is nice, but the mid band and top band are harsh, harsh, harsh. I could not get on with that EQ. The mid band always seemed too narrow for a console style EQ. Also, the compressor was just weird. It sounded good if you find a combo of the time constants that worked, but not having independent control over them was a major bummer and limited its use for me.
The 550A is a great EQ, the 527 has fantastic box tone and is very flexible and the pre is a great, utilitarian pre.
"BuT iT dOeSn'T sOuNd LiKe A vInTaGe oNe!"
Cool.....Who cares? They are still great and versatile (with the exception of vocals... still don't love em there). I used a 3124+ side by side with 4 racked 312s from one of the old RCA consoles for years. I did not find the old ones to be on this radically higher plain like message board hype would lead you to believe. Different, sure...but not "better".
and yes... CAPI stuff is cool... I got some of that, too, but currently, there is no CAPI channel strip. Recording sessions typically move kinda quick, so there is something to be said about the workflow advantages of having your pre, compressor, and EQ all in one.
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