A foray into the 500 series world.

[jim1960]

So this happened today...
A CAPI 11 space 500 rack and a pair of Neve 542 tape emulators.

[KevWind]

I had already acquired a good 2 channel Mic Pre by the time 500 really kicked into the pro audio world .. I still have it and love it and now have added a good 2 channel hardware reverb and 2 channel tube Mastering compressor for my 2 Bus. So I have never used any 500 unites.

That said:However
I always thought 500 seemed like a great option especially if someone is looking for multiple flavors.
Am I correct in thinking most 500 units are single channel ? I know a couple guys that swear by A Designs 500 series

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by KevWind

I had already acquired a good 2 channel Mic Pre by the time 500 really kicked into the pro audio world .. I still have it and love it and now have added a good 2 channel hardware reverb and 2 channel tube Mastering compressor for my 2 Bus. So I have never used any 500 unites.

I'm in the same boat. I don't really NEED this so much as I WANT this. I'm not even sure what I want to put in those empty slots and I'm in no hurry to fill them. I'd like to get a two-bus compressor at some point.. just not sure what I really want. I'm also hoping someone does a decent Curve Bender clone. I mentioned it to the owner of Audio-Scape and he seemed a bit intrigued by the idea, so fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by KevWind

That said:However
I always thought 500 seemed like a great option especially if someone is looking for multiple flavors.
Am I correct in thinking most 500 units are single channel ? I know a couple guys that swear by A Designs 500 series

Yes, I think they're all single channel. The A-Designs Pacifica was a pre I wanted for a long time, so I wouldn't mind checking out the P1. But I'm trying to resist filling this rack up with pres as I already have four outboard two-channel units.

Getting this rack simply gives me more options down the road.

[gwlee7]

Must not read this thread. Must not read this thread.

[hazmuz]

Originally Posted by gwlee7

Must not read this thread. Must not read this thread.

same here, same here ...

[jim1960]

The water is fine. It really is.

[Brent Hahn]

I'm a pro engineer who (being old) started out old-school and got into the 500 stuff maybe 10 years ago. I recommend it highly and will probably never buy non-500 hardware ever again if possible. The CAPI brand (see OP) is a very good one, and their main thing is API-inspired 500 gear in kit form. Great stuff, and they've also done us all the favor of instilling the Fear of God in the actual API company, whose own gear has only gotten better and better.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

I'm a pro engineer who (being old) started out old-school and got into the 500 stuff maybe 10 years ago. I recommend it highly and will probably never buy non-500 hardware ever again if possible. The CAPI brand (see OP) is a very good one, and their main thing is API-inspired 500 gear in kit form. Great stuff, and they've also done us all the favor of instilling the Fear of God in the actual API company, whose own gear has only gotten better and better.

CAPI is a recent discovery for me. The 500 thing is something I could have pulled the trigger on years ago but I could never make a decision on which rack to buy. I'd read up on the usual suspects and find complaints about one thing or another and it would put me off that unit. I'd been reading quite a bit on the brand in general lately and I wasn't able to find any serious complaints about this CAPI rack so the idea of jumping into the 500 stuff started bouncing around my brain again.

Putting that kit together didn't seem like a fun project to me. I got into a conversation with a guy on another forum who assembles DIY kits and sells them on Reverb. It's a small forum but we're both fairly active there and he gave me a nice price for the assembly.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by jim1960

CAPI is a recent discovery for me...

Don't know about the CAPI rack, but their other stuff seems great. Mine's a first-generation API. It's fine but it doesn't have a db25 connector on the back, which is handy for using with one of THESE if you haul your rack around to other studios.

[jim1960]

I remember back in the day that there were complaints about some 500 modules not working in certain racks and some racks being under-powered. Reading it all made taking the leap feel like a bit of a crap-shoot. Then there was the expense of the initial leap which also made me reluctant. I was able to jump in at a reasonable price point with the CAPI and the Neve 542 pair ...and I've been curious about the 542 and that's probably what made me finally order the rack more than anything else. Right after I ordered the rack, I found someone selling a used pair of 542s on Reverb and I made an offer that he accepted.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Am I correct in thinking most 500 units are single channel?

Originally Posted by jim1960

Yes, I think they're all single channel.

I have to correct myself. As I'm delving deeper into the 500 offerings, there are some two channel units. The SSL G Compressor and Elysia karacter are two that I've run across. There are probably others.

[jim1960]

I recently added an elysia xfilter stereo eq to the new 500 rack.
I also bought the Kush Clariphonic MS parallel eq. Kush has b-stocks they're selling for $1300 as opposed to $2k retail. I looked mine over. No idea why it's a b-stock.

That dbx preamp is not a preamp I use. It's something I bought to test the 500 rack. When I installed those used Neves in it and used it the first time, it lost power and I had no idea why. It could have been the Neves were bad, or the rack was assembled incorrectly by the third-party assembler I used, or the psu was bad. I didn't want to fry the Neves if they were okay, so I picked up that dbx for about $100. If I'm going to fry a unit, let it be a cheap one. Anyway, turned out it was a bad psu. All is good now.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by jim1960

I recently added an elysia xfilter stereo eq to the new 500 rack.
I also bought the Kush Clariphonic MS parallel eq. Kush has b-stocks they're selling for $1300 as opposed to $2k retail. I looked mine over. No idea why it's a b-stock.

That dbx preamp is not a preamp I use. It's something I bought to test the 500 rack. When I installed those used Neves in it and used it the first time, it lost power and I had no idea why. It could have been the Neves were bad, or the rack was assembled incorrectly by the third-party assembler I used, or the psu was bad. I didn't want to fry the Neves if they were okay, so I picked up that dbx for about $100. If I'm going to fry a unit, let it be a cheap one. Anyway, turned out it was a bad psu. All is good now.

[IMG]

Hey glad you got it working OK.... I have never heard it but UBK has a great rep. The Audioscape is their take on an LA2A ?

[Andy Howell]

There are two channel 500 units out there - sometimes take two spaces in the rack!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Andy Howell

There are two channel 500 units out there - sometimes take two spaces in the rack!

Yep looks like his Elysia is stereo and double space