Control Surfaces Topics:
» What Is "500 Series" Gear?
» The Benefits of Using 500 Series Components
» An Affordable Way to Build Your Studio
» Workflow Advantages
» The Chassis
» Preamps, Dynamics, EQ

Affordable Studio Tools with Impeccable Credentials Looking for the ultimate in flexibility for your studio's "front end" gear, and the same flexibility for your analog mixdown processors? Then you definitely want to check out the incredible array of 500 series gear that's available! 500 series gear lets you pick and choose, mix and match to create a rig that's space-conscious, modular, flexible, configurable, customizable, affordable, and that offers the best of the best in analog sound quality!

What Is "500 Series" Gear?

It all started with API, who developed a system for mounting compact modules into a tabletop or rackmountable chassis. The modules included mic preamps, compressors, and equalizers. Recording engineers immediately recognized that these handy and affordable modules made it easy to build a simple, compact rig that could be easily taken to a session or a remote recording location.

Once the format took off, other manufacturers came onboard, offering their own modules, often versions of full-sized rack units that were downsized to fit the about 1/3-rackspace module size. Today, the 500 series format has exploded! A long list of manufacturers are offering an incredible array of different modules of all types. You can select exactly what you want for your rig, whether you want preamps and processors for tracking or compressors and EQs for use during mixdown (or both).

The Benefits

The number one benefit to using 500 series modules is flexibility. You can pick and choose whatever assortment of modules you want - preamps, compressors, EQs, de-essers, re-ampers, direct boxes, and more - then load them up and have them instantly at your fingertips, in far less space than full-size rack boxes would take. Find that you don't need as many preamp modules as you have or want to swap out a tube preamp for a solid-state preamp? Just pull out one module and drop in the replacement. Fast, easy, and you don't even have to disconnect any cables!

An Affordable Way to Build Your Studio

Then there's the price issue. In most cases, 500 series modules are less expensive than the equivalent full-sized rack boxes. Of course, you also need a chassis, but the cost of that is spread out over however many modules it contains.

Workflow Advantages

Then there's the ergonomic aspect. Having all of your preamps and processors lined up in a single unit keeps all the controls in one place, making it fast and easy to get around in your studio and to dial up whatever settings you want or need.

The Chassis

All of those modules have to live somewhere...and that's where the Lunchbox (a trademarked term of API) or chassis comes in. The chassis will have slots for two or more 500 series modules. It provides not only a slot for the module to live in, but also power for the module, and inputs and outputs for getting signal in and out of the module.

And, some chassis take it even further than that. A chassis might offer extra routing options for easily patching and connecting modules to one another, stereo linking, even audio summing capability for creating a mix of the outputs from the modules in the chassis.

Some chassis are tabletop units, others mount into racks. They range in size from 2-slot (which can hold two single-width modules or one double-width module) up to 10-slot, which can hold up to 10 single-width modules or a mix of single- and double-width modules.

Preamps

There are tube modules, solid-state modules, modules that duplicate the circuitry in vintage units, and units tuned for special applications. Whatever type of mic preamp you want, it's probably available in a 500 series module. Most of these preamps provide 48V phantom power, and most include a hi-Z instrument input. You can choose between transformer or transformerless designs, and tube or solid-state models. Some 500-series preamps add EQ and dynamics processing, becoming true channel strips.

Dynamics

Many 500-series compressors are based on classic models, which are redesigned to fit the 500 series format. You can choose from a number of types, ranging from opto to VCA to FET models. Some compressors include side-chain capability. Many feature VU metering, despite the compact size of the units. All the controls you'd expect are present on these compressors: threshold, attack, release, makeup gain, and ratio. Almost all models are mono, but when stereo needs come about, you can just link two units together. Many offer de-essing capability.

EQ

While most 500 series EQs are parametric, you can also find graphic EQs that fit the chassis format. (Parametric equalizers are most widely used in situations where very fine control over the audio signal is desired.) You'll find mostly 3-band and 4-band parametric EQs in 500 series formats. Many include low- and/or high-frequency shelving to handle cuts and boosts of signals above or below a specified frequency. In general, parametric EQs offer up to 12dB of boost and cut, which should handle just about any situation where EQ is desired.

Many More Modules!

In your studio, you use more pieces of gear than just Preamps, Dynamics, and EQs. Fortunately, a 500 Series Chassis can be packed with additional modules like:

• Impedance-matching guitar interfaces
• Direct box modules
• Phase adjusters
• Effects and insert loops
• Re-amp modules for feeding line-level signals into guitar amps, pedals, etc.