API The Box 2 Recording and Mixing Console

Product Description

The API Audio BOX 2 is a compact analog recording console and summing mixer that delivers the iconic sound of API's large-format desks in a desktop footprint. This new version of The BOX console features eight channel strips, each equipped with a discrete mic preamp, line input, high-pass filter, and an open 500 Series slot for you to add your favorite modules. In addition, The BOX 2 offers 16 additional summing channels, a stereo bus compressor, an expanded center monitor section, and comprehensive rear panel connections. Built for streamlined studios and modern hybrid workflows, The BOX 2 handles tracking, summing, and monitoring in one console with the punch and dimension that only API's discrete analog circuitry provides. Discover how this combination recording console and summing mixer bridges the gap between digital workflows and analog sound.

EIGHT INPUT CHANNELS WITH MIC PREAMP, LINE INPUT AND HIGH-PASS FILTER

The left side of The BOX 2 features eight fully featured input channels built around API's 548B preamps with the same API 2520 discrete op-amp used in every API console. Each of these channels is equipped with a mic input providing up to 65 dB of gain as well as a line input, and channels one through four also feature instrument inputs for DI guitar and bass recording. All eight channels offer phantom power, pad, and phase switches; mute, solo, and pan controls; a 50 Hz high-pass filter; and a 100 mm fader. A switchable direct output gives you the option of pre- or post-fader output for tracking and mixing.

EIGHT 500 SERIES SLOTS

All eight input channel strips include a dedicated 500 Series slot, giving The BOX 2 eight bays for API 550A EQs, 527 compressors, or compatible modules from other manufacturers. The slot sits in the channel's signal chain after the preamp, and can be bypassed at any time for quick A/B comparisons. API's signature modularity means you can upgrade or modify your console as your studio grows or your workflow changes, rather than being locked into stock EQs or dynamics processors.

ONBOARD STEREO BUS COMPRESSOR

The BOX 2 includes a stereo bus compressor derived from API's classic 527 design and capable of anything from gentle mix bus "glue" to aggressive pumping effects. The compressor can be assigned to the stereo program bus or to input channels one through four, so you can use it for tracking in one session and mixing in the next. That flexibility lets you enjoy genuine API dynamics on every session while saving precious rack space in your studio.

16 SUMMING CHANNELS AND 24 CHANNELS DURING MIX

The right side of the console holds 16 summing channels equipped with faders, pan knobs, mute and solo switches, a stereo cue send, an aux send, a four-segment LED meter, and a 0dB button that takes the fader out of the circuit. Normalled TRS summing inserts sit on every pair for easy stereo grouping, and the insert send stays active whether or not the return is patched, so it doubles as a direct out for external processing. Combine these 16 summing inputs with the eight mic/line channels, and the BOX 2 gives you a total of 24 channels of analog summing at mixdown.

FULL-FEATURED MONITOR SECTION

The BOX 2's monitor section supports two stereo monitor systems with level, dim, and mono switching, plus four stereo returns. Solo modes include PFL, AFL, and Solo-In-Place with a dedicated stereo solo bus and a Solo Clear button that resets all channels. A built-in talkback system enables communication with a live room or vocal booth, while the stereo program bus provides a master fader, VU meter, stereo insert for your favorite bus processor, and an external input. The PGM Sum connections let you expand the console with an additional summing mixer as your studio grows.

STEREO CUE SEND/BUS AND HEADPHONE SYSTEM

Alongside the stereo cue send, the BOX 2 recording console provides two mono auxiliary sends, giving every channel three routes for headphone feeds and effects. The stereo cue bus drives a dedicated headphone system with its own level control and source selection, so performers get a balanced mix without tying up outboard cue hardware. Because the cue sends are available on both the input channels and the summing channels, you can build monitor mixes from live sources and DAW stems at the same time.

SIGNATURE API SOUND

The BOX 2 is favored for its punchy midrange and fast transient response courtesy of API's discrete 2520 op-amps and proprietary output transformers. Use it purely as a summing mixer for a touch of API flavor or push the front-end hard for controlled saturation that never sounds brittle or harsh. That combination of headroom and character is why The BOX 2 works equally well as a tracking front end and a mix bus destination, and why it remains one of the most requested compact consoles in professional studios.

ABOUT API

API Audio began in 1968 building consoles for broadcast, and its designs quickly became studio standards adopted in world-class facilities like The Record Plant, Ocean Way, and Sunset Sound thanks to innovations like the 2520 op-amp and computerized console automation. More than 700 classic API consoles remain in service worldwide, a record few manufacturers can match. Today, API Audio builds The BOX console alongside the Vision, Legacy Plus, 1608-II, and 2448, using the same components and circuit topology across the entire line.