Love

Yes, I am in love with an inanimate object. Sigh.

Awesome Pre!!

I absolutely love all of my API pres. I use these on all of my drum tracks. I really like the sound of acoustic guitars miked with a KM184 or U67 running through this Pre. Bass guitars sound good too! This is a do it all Pre. And it being a 500 series Pre makes it even better! If you want this Pre just go ahead and get 2. Because you will want a second one.

Best 500 series Mic Pre in its class

The API 512c has incredible amounts of gain sounds more transparent than other mic pre's built very well. I tried my R84 Ribbon Microphones with two API's vs. two RPQ 500's I was actually more impressed with the API's. I suspect two or one condenser microphone would knock my socks off but if a ribbon mic can sound wonderful with this item then it would only be even better if you used a dynamic or condenser microphone.
If you want a really good yet inexpensive mic pre for your lunchbox, then by all means don't look anywhere else.

Solid Pre!

I recently purchased the 512c for my lunchbox and there is no mystery as to why they are so loved amongst engineers. I have used it on Snares, Guitars, and even Vocals. It is fast, clean, wide open and huge. It is one of the hotter preamps I own but is in no way a flaw. It would be nice to have some type of filter/eq... but I am not gonna knock it just because of that as eq is not needed on most things going through this bad boy. I look forward to grabbing a couple more of these (at least)!

MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT

I had a chance to check out this Mic Pre and first off I've tried about every mic pre in existence so I have a pretty good feel for what most of them are all about. Anyhow I suspected that the Gain on this Mic Pre wouldn't be too hot definately not for ribbon mic's, however using it mic'ing my 2x12 cab the dial on the mic pre although small packs a big punch. My waveforms were a really good size not too big not too small. Everything sounded right. As a matter of fact, I am selling my Great River MP-2NV Mic Pre and getting two of these API mic pre's. and besides how could you go wrong with API?

Great Pre....

After 2 hours play around with this, suddenly I found my kick sound was BIGGER!! Snare was punchy,and guitar just rock!!!
The only thing,,this is very hot pre,,,easily clipped my SM57,,,but after I tweaked it,,,it was just great..I Have two btw,,,enough explained???

My favorite aggressive pre.

I admit, I've been lusting after a few of these for awhile, and after spending many sessions with them at a studio, I found that it definitely had its place. I ended up only using it sources that worked well with how driven it can sound at the input. On sessions where I needed a clean RnB vocal, I found that coupled with several different mics, it still wasn't as clean as other pres, even the 6176. Even my musicians could hear the drive on the upper frequencies through their headphones! On the other hand, it is incredible for rock music, especially with a vocalist that needs to have that edge! Snare, bass, and electric guitar are also favorites.