To be fair in a modern age.. and in my experience if something is in small faders itโs a secondary audio source... eg shaker/tambo/ keys or fx which can more than suffice with ITB DAW automation. All the money channels get real faders and associated automation.
Best thing about New Console releases is that the previous generation(1608) will start popping up used for less expansive than ever...
Im waiting on the sidelines...
Weโre not taking about the same thing. The poster above me was considering trading his 1608 for a 2448 instead of getting a 1608 expander. My point was a 32 channel 1608 May have a better feature set than a 2448, in that you would have fader automation on every channel of the 1608 and also EQ slots on every channel.
If you plan on using the 2448 for inline tracking and monitoring, not having EQs and volume automation on the small fader section may not be a big deal. If you plan on using the 2448 for maximum inputs for mixing (ie all 64), it might be a bigger deal.
Other companies have various ways of addressing g this, including two EQs for larger and small fader, or in the case of some SSLs in this price range, a stereo EQ on each channel.
Donโt forget, automation isnโt just about moving faders. It also gives you instant total recall of all automatable parameters. If you plan on mixing on the small fader channels you are agreeing to manual recalls of all volume settings on half your board.
Yeah. These are valid points. Hmmmmm. Maybe some more used expanders will show up
Best thing about New Console releases is that the previous generation(1608) will start popping up used for less expansive than ever...
Im waiting on the sidelines...
I have a fully loaded 1608 if you are interested, PM me?
For the price, the SSl AWS 948 seems to offer more options including saving your EQ settings. It seems the API is more of just a Controller for faders, and pan with an analog console.
The API EQs are switched, recall is pretty simple. My buddy has a vintage DeMedio with API components. He opens an audio track in the DAW and goes through each channels EQ without even needing recall sheets.
Tony.. so say he has an api 550 HW eq he opens an EQ plug( hopefully) a 550! And replicated the HW settings in the plug and puts in bypass?
This way the bypassed plug is the recall source.. do I have you right?
No, he adds a audio track and talks into it. i.e. "Channel one plus 2 db at 10k, minus 4 at .8 plus 6 at 50, Channel two etc etc." He can go to recall, solo that track of his own voice and adjust each of the console's 24 [mostly] 550s.
I see this desk being more of a competitor to BAS Custom Series 75 but has the advantage of optional automation which the 75 doesn't have. Mind you I'd be more than happy with either!
You also need to add $2200 for Bus Compressor, $1500 for the Legs. So why would you want to do this over a fully stocked AWS 948?
You don't need to add $2200 if you already have a 2500 (lots of people do).
You also don't have to buy the stand - many people build their own furniture assemblies.
Options allow the buyer to fine tune the purchase to their needs (and maybe the SO's demands!!).
How well and how easy to use is a 1608 with automation as far as working as a protools controller? I wish there were scribble strips on each channel, but looks like track names come up on the main screen, and is that easy to navigate??
The API EQs are switched, recall is pretty simple. My buddy has a vintage DeMedio with API components. He opens an audio track in the DAW and goes through each channels EQ without even needing recall sheets.
But I just don't understand why API won't bring the 200 series to market with a proper rack! Then folks can build up to a console. Also making a console that adds a 200 series row to the 1608 or 2448 seems like a killer idea!!
Last edited by Salty James; 3rd March 2019 at 06:03 AM..
They actually have a unity gain bypass available for the small faders. If I understand correctly you can basically hit one button and they will all be at unity gain so you can automate them from your daw. I believe you may be able to also hit a button to have the large faders represent the small fader channel levels for mixing as well (need to double check this). Obviously all of this would require the automation package. I think 24 channels with EQ and 24 with inserts sounds great if you want more channels at mixdown in a small for factor. Leaves half the channels for outboard.
I just checked one out at the factory. It sounds amazing and the Automation is very slick and versatile. Lots of different operational modes that the auto can do. They really planned this out. And small fader automation is an absurd luxury. This day in age there are a million reasons not to add that. Aside from it making the auto package more $$.
The 2448 is larger than it looks in photos. And the sound has all that sweet API goodness.
API's success rate with their products is pretty impressive. They just make great stuff!
My understanding is, there's a button that sets small fader gains to unity - their input sources can then be automated ITB, but i don't think automation as such exists on the small faders. Please correct me if i'm wrong.
Other companies have various ways of addressing g this, including two EQs for larger and small fader, or in the case of some SSLs in this price range, a stereo EQ on each channel.
The SSL EQ is not stereo. When you split the EQ across both paths of a channel you also split the EQ. One path gets the main EQ the other gets high / low filters. Far from a stereo EQ.
Yes, I know they call it a stereo EQ.
The SSL EQ is not stereo. When you split the EQ across both paths of a channel you also split the EQ. One path gets the main EQ the other gets high / low filters. Far from a stereo EQ.
Yes, I know they call it a stereo EQ.
The website etc. says that they use a variation of the classic input stage - any idea what the difference in topology is between a vintage API and this one?
Obviously the 2520 won't be the same, but what about the rest?