What's in an API preamp? Vintage API 515 and 512c teardown

[@HomeStudioCorner]

This video looks and sounds amazing. Makes no difference that I understood almost nothing. 😂

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks Joe! Good to see you in these parts

[@jimrogers7425]

Paul Wolff originally worked with Saul Walker at API and learned that in circuit design there are three ways to do things... the right way, the wrong way, and the Saul way... and as a result, once he bought API from Datatronix (who had run it into the ground) he carried on the same design philosophy approach as Saul as he moved the company forward. I met Saul once when I worked for Otari in the early 00s (he was on the design teams for the Otari Concept One, Concept Elite, and Advanta digital consoles). It was quite amazing to hear the answers to my questions about his approach... Paul was right as every answer was the Saul way! Saul's approach is one of the BIG reasons for the "API sound." As a note, look at the "bottom" edge of the circuit board for the 512C... the rows of double dots on the circuit board are there so that the input traces to the transformer mimic a twisted pair of write as would be in a mic cable. The attention to detail was remarkable. That was always on the 512 circuit boards, but it doesn't appear to be on the 515 circuit board. I'm glad I stumbled on to your channel... great informative videos and I'm a geek (and a former audio technical engineer) so I love them.

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks for this great Saul anecdote! And thanks for subscribing, I really appreciate the kind words.

[@DMKahn]

That OP Amp in the 512 looks like a GAR2520, I’ve made a bunch on my CAPI kit builds

[@monkeyxx]

It sure does, Gary's op amps are *muah*, I like them better than the current issue API 2520s.

[@jmumper2]

Great video! Electrical engineer here with a hobby in audio. This explained so much big picture stuff that I wasn’t able to find anywhere else. Thanks!

[@eliemh]

Thank you so much for these videos! I've been watching every single one! The level at which you interact with these pieces of gear is really helpful and educational! Thank you so much for your time, knowledge, and care!!!!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Glad you like them! Thanks so much

[@homeworldmusic]

Dude, what an unbelievable deep dive, thank you SO much for this!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@monty4924]

I love this series, please don't stop doing these!!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

I won't!

[@searchiemusic]

@@PetersonGoodwyn i would kill for some stuff on equalization honestly

[@radicalfreq]

tear down videos are my favorite. Big props for DIYRE!

[@鄭華漢]

This world needs more creator like You! Bravo!

[@Wizardofgosz]

My friend Paul has 6 or 8 of those in a rack with phantom power added. I haven't had the opportunity to use them much so I can't comment on the punchiness. One of these days I am going to build some of the CAPI clones from Jeff.

[@midi_lizard]

"This aint CAD, baby"

[@Not-Only-Reaper-Tutorials]

Grant Bouvier yes .... he's too joung. Next time, I will repaint some Neve to get it more punchy🤣🤣🤣

[@DarrenForbes]

These videos are amazing. I wish there were workshops (live or digital) where you could learn how to build this stuff like you can do with tube amps. Not just a plug and play but actually learning the why you are doing it. I would pay for that.

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Wow you read my mind! Stay tuned... ;)

[@DarrenForbes]

DIY Recording Equipment awesome. Can’t wait.

[@imagesofstyle]

I love the enthusiasm you have for these. Great walkthrough and explanation, too.

[@Espresso101]

I'd love to see ypu break down a more budget API type pre like Warm Audio and see how they differ. Even better if you could get your hands on a Silver Bullet to see how it's API and Neve style pre differ from the originals.

[@monkeyxx]

that might be getting into, uhh, manufacturer conflict of interest but I like the idea! one obvious difference is the "big blocks" will be different. Warm will have Alctron or custom Cinemag transformers, don't know what LTL's transformers are. They will have their own versions of the op amp, Brad's is the "Rogue 5." It's a "little different" to an API 2520 but these tiny differences add up. And obviously there are feature differences, the Silver Bullet can be overdriven, the Warm gives you "fun switches" and so on.

[@spacey_face]

Please do videos like this on a whole range of gear - this was really cool!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

you got it

[@tbobbyelectric]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, Peterson!!!!!!

[@Thescribler]

So cool to see! I have an API 7600 and it's cool to have someone explain how it works.

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

ooo cool, that's the channel strip right?

[@Thescribler]

@@PetersonGoodwyn yeah it is!

[@paulmanley7999]

Your videos are great. I just ordered a 500 series Kit from you. Thanks for the lessons!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks so much!

[@natlove219]

Man, I really love your vids and vibes. Great presentation mate. 🤘🙏🤘

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks a ton!

[@beaueatbutterflyyummy4151]

u are a god send on learning this stuff thank you!!1

[@monkeyxx]

Brilliant insight and it's accessible too, really nice video style.

[@Synth2000]

Thick conductive tracks, 2 trafos, 2520 discrete opamp and a few good quality resistors and capacitors.

[@SoundSnakeStudio]

Amazing video, do the 1073 too please!

[@xqpaudio6667]

Peterson, I don't feel so bad now for picking resistor values based on the aesthetic value of the color bands.

[@nbl95]

I agree with your idea about the look of them. To me it's all a part of them being "American" the red/white/blue knobs and buttons, the punchy aggressive sound, it makes sense.

[@ramencurry6672]

Great video. If possible make a video about the Universal Audio 610 tube amp

[@zumazmusic]

Really cool breakdown! I like your style. Subscribed. 😎🤘

[@peterbrandt7911]

Yes, I enjoyed that very much!

[@QuiethouseRecording]

Excellent video, explanation, and production!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks! I'm learning how to use a camera little by little!

[@BradDollar]

Those 515's are sweet!

[@bjh3661]

Love your channel. It would be interesting to hear you explain the design of the DOA. To say the design is just transformer/DOA/transformer is only a part of the story. Fascinating channel, thank you.

[@annllane]

Fantastic! Pitched at just the right level. SSL?

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

thanks! working on it ;)

[@CharlesTsaiE]

Please make more video like this!

[@pierreduplan4927]

Very inspiring man! Thank you!

[@OrfinMusik]

What kind of electrolytic and other caps are in the originals?

[@DECIFERTHIS09]

Anybody got tech specs on input transformer, op amp, and output transformer, also where do you introduce your audio signal in this path? pretty sure ground can probably go to any ground, and you would probably want it after the input transformer since thats wall power?

[@G_handle]

FANTASTIC AGAIN!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Thanks again!

[@caminglis53]

Excellent video so good 👏❤️👌

[@JohnSummerford]

Great vid, thanks for that.

[@JohnSummerford]

Soft request for a SSL-style vid at some point. You could probably go thru most of the heavily trafficked projects. These vids are great for us illiterate diy'rs.

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Request received, thanks!

[@blashuvec]

QUAD EIGHT MM-310/MM-403 PREAMPS NEXT PLEASE!!

[@_Woo]

I enjoyed this, thanks.

[@davidsotomayor8713]

Anyone interested in DOA's should check out the Nelson Pass article on the subject (I believe it's called "DIY Op-amps.)

[@DaveyMulholland]

Sorry if this is an oft asked question. Do you ship to the UK?

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Absolutely! And we'll also be selling our entire catalog very soon through Thonk.co.uk

[@dandrehn]

wow, looks like the lovsick robo-clone squad really liked this one! :D (ref: first five comments)

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

haha I reported most of them but left a couple just so your comment would make sense :)

[@catface101]

5:34 That tropical fish cap looks like SpongeBob

[@jimmygigga6819]

Do a Trident A-range

[@brianjones3584]

Super cool!!

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@movus5]

Hola Peterson!!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

Hey dude good to hear from you!

[@topa1798]

😍😍😍😍🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@whittamps]

and what does API stand for???

[@ryancrawford9894]

Automated Processes Inc.

[@badmonkeymusicproductions3569]

Yeah, I always thought that how it looks (colors and shapes), and (sigh) how other people review it, is how I naturally associate how it sounds - good point. Its like a bunch of monkeys nodding their heads at a banana

[@thefreshprinceofbuckingham6096]

Hold up let's talk about the pre you're using on your voice.

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

I believe it was a Focusrite ISA828

[@searchiemusic]

why are they SO EXPENSIVE THEN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@nattyphysicist]

Have you tried replacing the op amp with a modern one and hearing what happens?

[@MervinRijo]

interesting!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

gracias pana!

[@Jargo1901]

great, but perhaps get a manicure or something. Stop biting your nails if you're going to do stuff like this, come on!

[@PetersonGoodwyn]

The idea is to look at the equipment, not my hands ;)

[@g.marion5888]

This comment reeks of narcissism. P!U!

[@zvotaisvfi8678]

what a waste

[@zvotaisvfi8678]

you need a second unit which fills in the functions of the unused functions