The API 5500 Equalizer Review

[@antiHUMANDesigns]

Scary how good this one sounds. It's so smooth that it's almost like you're mixing the music, rather than EQ'ing it.

[@soysir]

@doctormix , the api eq's Q (proportional Q) get tighter not wider when the gain is increased *** still love you guys

[@onclassical]

In fact!

[@siriusfun]

In the most deliciously musical way!

[@lawrencegreenwood4002]

1997 - 'Digital emulations are almost as good as analog hardware' 2007 - 'Digital emulations are almost as good as analog hardware' 2017 - 'Digital emulations are almost as good as analog hardware 2020 - 'Digital emulations are almost as good as analog hardware''

[@intervalkid]

In 1997 and 2007 EQ's certainly weren't. Digital software EQ's like the Q10 or REQ were so awful that the XP Windows media player EQ's were better! JUst replicate the settings and you'll see. Nowadays I've heard some pretty good ones and the statement 2017 - Digital hardware (I assume you meant software) is almost as good as analog hardware." Is fairly accurate. Don't get me wrong though I haven't used many of the new ones, I have just heard demos. I lost my studio back in 2008.

[@alexd0103]

@@intervalkid When you're out of the game everything sounds good!

[@fullalbums5675]

digital hardware? like what?

[@RealHomeRecording]

2020: you can now control audio Hardware from a plug-in or on a web browser...in near real time.

[@lawrencegreenwood4002]

@@likeyouiam5996 Thanks for the correction.

[@Wizardofgosz]

The more you increase the gain the NARROWER the Q gets, so more surgical EQ operations can be achieved.

[@cali3168]

I was just about to leave this same comment.

[@downpatmusic]

The EQ sounds great. Easy to use. And musical. Not at all harsh. Super open and transparent. Might be great on the mix buss for final sound. Or for tracking those drums. Wow!

[@a.gromov3889]

This is the first review on a hardware eq I watched on youtube and I'm blown away by how really musical it is. What a huge difference between vst and real analog gear.

[@RiggiMediaInt]

Invest in hardware and your studio will pay you dividends... otherwise, you'll compete in the 'race to the bottom' mentality...

[@RealHomeRecording]

Acustica Audio PINK sounds pretty darn good. But yeah...I'd love a real one. Edit: now thanks to services like mix analog and access analog I can rent real hardware "in the cloud" dirt cheap.

[@BILLYPATRON]

That piano example sold me. Trying to boost those frequencies with software would have sounded harsh and ringy. That just opened up with air and clarity. Seems like you can use this with anything. Was going to get the Motorcity EQ’s by Heritage but will probably get these instead.

[@exteriorsigns]

This sounds amazing. Buying this. Thanks for the video.

[@thearno2885]

If you have fantastic source material then it will always sound good when you apply EQ. It would be interesting to see how hardware EQ fares when used on bad source material. Maybe then we all won’t feel so bad.?

[@cueboyd8666]

Damn this thing sounds good, a very musical sounding EQ.

[@Doctormix]

+Cueboyd oh yes

[@new2dayuser151]

The holy grail of equalizers!

[@pepe7drum]

I mesn even you tweaking it like crazy it sounds great on every way, never distorts to a point where is awful and annoying, you can push it to the limit and it will give you something cool, amazing im in love with API lol

[@LeRitzFR]

Jeez... I had to Shazam the piece used on the mastering part. FUNKY !!! It's "Free Soul" by Sunlightsquare. Love it.

[@siriusfun]

2:39 "the more you increase the gain, the wider the Q becomes..." The exact opposite of this, actually.

[@graebs]

That’s what I thought. Higher gain = narrower Q

[@intervalkid]

Every setting sounds good and usable. Just a choice of what you want with this thing!

[@AngryMuffinMusic]

I always thought that this was the best eq I've ever tried. NEVER sounds harsh. Its a CHUNKMEISTER!

[@gregbradshaw7220]

Nice I use the sc307 monitors as well. I love them

[@bb-of3qz]

Have it and love it.

[@closerthanabrother9703]

Excellent. I think the more gain the narrower it gets tho, not the other way around

[@solar_genesis]

I heard that’s true for the 560 but are both statements true relative to which part of the bell curve you are looking at?

[@fuzzfizz]

wow that piano music is wonderful.

[@Doctormix]

Thanks! It’s one of my sunlightsquare albums, called: mutations for piano

[@audiokemestry]

Thanx for the review. Not many out there on this unit. Sounds great...but the dual use detented knobs seems like they might be a pit of a pain to work with over time....compared to something like the Kush Electra.

[@robb4340]

Thanks for the nice demo.

[@amonchhetri1053]

Hi how does the dbx 231s fare along with these?can it be used for professional re ording ?

[@cartofgiant]

Great demo

[@animageofsound5351]

man that sax track was sick!

[@bikesnbeerz]

Thanks for this. Killer review.

[@CalebCuzner]

If you could only have one outboard EQ and it was between the API 5500 and the Curve Bender, which would you choose?

[@MusicGearNuts]

Curve 5500

[@DarkTrapStudio]

Chandler

[@VinayaSutta]

Hello! great test! which ad/da was used?

[@orderflowdojo]

I NEED THISSSSSSS

[@tinovilla11]

Que "Loud" tan fino tiene este eq... Que precio tendrá? yo lo eh usado pero con la serie de waves audio y esta muy lejos de imitar su respuesta real... Increíble

[@LilEddMusic]

Wonder how this compares to the Maageq4M

[@shevyjohn9308]

the maag is very clean.the api will be better if mixing in the box

[@Getemprod.]

what converter are you using ?

[@noeguitarrista4725]

Como suena la Armonía del tema del 6.05 segundos. Me encanta tanto el tema como la Máquina en acción. API Audio

[@FamousTVvoice]

It's "nice", and no doubt has found its place in many studios and on many hit songs BUT to me it has none of what I refer to as the top end glitter or bloom and deep, dimensional sounding lows that something like a Pultec A1, Fearn VT-4 or even a classic Neve will impart. All subjective - I know. I wouldn't throw it away if you gave me one ... :)

[@professorwhaley]

Great sound and features. I just dont love the concentric knob design at all...too tiny and hard to rapidly dial in freq and volume to search for issues. The Kush electra knobs arent stepped but are much smoother and easier to dial in.

[@jungacayan7805]

how much is this 5500

[@MixingGBP]

jun gacayan about $3k USD with tax and shipping. Expensive, but the value is solid on this eq.

[@fredbu]

i apreciate if you turn bottons in a musical way , not just mess around with them , cheers !!!

[@johnc.4625]

If I could purchase this or the chandler 12345 which one would you get?

[@MixingGBP]

You can't go wrong with either. It's like asking which should I get first, the Lambo or the Ferrari. I have the API 5500, but I could totally see anyone, including myself, having both.

[@ernestbuckley8671]

Sounds great but just not into the API design... you need tweezers to adjust the frequency. I also prefer to control stereo from one channel and not have to adjust both sides. Little things like that make this inefficient.

[@tgholz1]

Do you guys own this unit

[@SiLoMixMaster]

Tremendous low end

[@RichieOtu-u6k]

why wold this be picked over the 500 series?

[@Punkdebutique]

Please do review the Manley Massive Passive if possible

[@djjoanrodriguez]

oh! como me gusta esa pieza de piano.

[@pjuliano9000]

I hear the epoxy the op-amps and eventually it causes them to fail from the heat. I know they are trying to protect their intellectual property but inebitably youlll have to replace them … but you can by high end third party repacements

[@SydneyValette]

Its the contrary the narrower the Q becomes.

[@Audiojunkk]

Fuuuuck i want one of these so badly. Just looked at prices for the first time in a while and seriously FUCK BREXIT they have shot up (along with everything else) due to the pound being in the toilet :-( Now gear like this is even more of an unrealistic dream for the average uk studio

[@Nullllus]

4:45 what's this piano piece called?

[@rcz2439]

Sunlightsquare - Mutations for piano

[@bachelorgamer8001]

Is this stereo?

[@MixingGBP]

Dual channel. You can run a 2 bus mix through it for mastering.

[@mariaulfah2813]

Like that

[@DJURBANBG]

seems to be pretty hard to move those knobs ..

[@ziggysturm7845]

Lol- only 1 ring!??

[@MixingGBP]

Can you use a different mic? The proximity effect is very annoying.

[@jimmyblack6401]

The most Trust Fund Kid EQ in Action . . ever . . go make some God dam music people / /

[@VVVV-zg8kw]

Why I need this when I have plugins??!

[@VVVV-zg8kw]

WTF!??!!! THIS DEVICE COSTS 3500€!!!

[@BigFatCock0]

No one is telling you you need it.

[@AngryMuffinMusic]

You are not hired.

[@MixingGBP]

Plugins just don't match up in this case.