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API 1608 16-Channel Console (Used)
API Audio

API 1608 16-Channel Loaded Console #548-0324 (Used)

API 16-channel loaded console.

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Product Description

Like new example of this console, loaded with 12 x API 550a and 4 x 560 EQs!

The API 1608 is used in professional and project studios the world over, including Blackbird Studios in Nashville (who purchased the first one), and over a hundred others; from larger studios like Telefunken USA, Signature Sound, University of Michigan, and WAX Ltd ...to smaller project studios like Dan Auerbach's Akron Analog and Steve Miller's home studio. What these venues all have in common is a desire for simplicity, flexibility, reliability, and analog warmth, and they all get it with their API rig.

Numerous albums have been made on a 1608, including the Foo Fighters latest #1 record "Wasting Light" -- tracked and mixed in Dave Grohl's garage on an API 1608.

Building on API's rich heritage of extremely high quality recording consoles, the Model 1608 is a full featured small format recording console based on the vintage API 1604 console, which has held its demand and value for over three decades. The API 1608 gives all of the advantages of the 1604 Vintage Consoles while adding new, modern features valuable to today's Engineers, Producers and Musicians.

The 1608 is built to the same exacting API build standards as our Vision consoles, Legacy consoles, and modular products.

Details:

  • Headroom is +28dBU
  • 16 channels mic/line
  • 500 Series slot per channel (8 spare, can be normalled to FX return or patchable)
  • 16x 312 vintage style mic pre’s (as in 3124+)
  • 4x 560 graphic and 12x 550a included
  • 24 line return at stereo mix
  • Access to stereo line in at mix
  • Discrete classic 2520 op-amp design
  • Legacy type logic throughout
  • 8 buss
  • 8 aux
  • 8 FX return
  • 5.1 monitoring
  • 3 position speaker selector (dim, dim volume, mute, mono)
  • Inserts on all input channels and mix buss
  • Direct line inputs per channel like 512/3124+
  • 16 channel expander (up to 32 channel total, links via Elco multipin)
  • Dimensions: 38” wide x 34” deep x 18” high at meters
  • Built like a tank

Question 1: "Can you describe what’s balanced, what’s unbalanced, and what has transformers?"

Answer: Line in: active balanced discrete API 2520 amplifier Pre-amp out transformer balanced EQ in isEQdependent (the 1608 motherboards are setup to accept a 2510 balancing amp card which is NOT stock, as you would only want them if yourEQis unbalanced in): 560 is balanced, 550a is unbalanced, 550b is unbalanced. EQ out: transformer balanced Insert return: active balanced discrete API 2510 amplifier Direct out: transformer balanced Multi Bus Outs: transformer balanced Multi Bus to PGM Bus assign: Passive resistor balanced assign PGM summing amp outs: transformer balanced PGM Insert returns: active balanced discrete API 2510 amplifier PGM Outs: Transformer balanced Echo Sends: transformer balanced Echo Returns: active balanced discrete API 2510 amplifier CR outs: Transformer balanced Oscillator out: active balanced output

Question 2: "Has the summing design changed? If so, why?"

Answer: The old 1604/2488 summing busses were not balanced, and therefore much noisier than the New 1608, so it's not the same as the old consoles, it's tons better (it's certainly not cheaper, it's more expensive, but it's the right thing to do...). The 1608 uses discrete 2520's and transformers for the summing amplifiers, just like all the old API's do, but with balanced summing buses.

The standard fit of a 1608 Console is: (16) 548B Inputs with Mic/Line and Direct Output (12) 550A Equalizers (4) 560 Equalizers (8) Echo Returns (1) Complete Center Facilities Section (16) Manual Faders (1) Stereo Fader


TECHNICAL DETAILS

DIMENSIONS 38x40x42 (with furniture)
COSMETIC CONDITION RATING 10
LIST OF COSMETIC FLAWS None
WORKING ORDER RATING 10
LIST OF MAJOR WORKING FAULTS None
DIRECT OUTS Yes (not transformer balanced)
MODIFICATIONS None
LAST SERVICED It's pretty much like new, has not needed service yet.
SPARE PARTS None

FEATURES

MODEL NUMBER AND QTY OF MIC PRE/EQS 12 x API 550A, 4 x API 560
MODEL NUMBER AND QUANTITY OF COMPRESSORS 0
AUX SENDS 4
PHANTOM POWER Yes
AUTOMATION BRAND None

ACCESSORIES

PATCHBAY BRAND None
BRAND AND LENGTH OF CABLING None
STAND Yes
PRODUCER'S DESK No

DOCUMENTATION

ORIGINAL MANUAL No
COMPLETE MANUAL No
TECH REPORT No