This thing is a tank!! I did not expect to be receiving gear that feels so durable and rugged. I barely found out about lunchboxes not too long ago and there was a pre amp I wanted to get that was only available in the 500 series. This unit takes care of the job without causing any degrade in recording quality. Such a sweet piece of equipment!

This Lunch Box came out as I was working with another company. I wanted that box so bad because I could get the pre's and EQ's and compressors that I used in my final at college. For the final I could use the API Legacy 24 track, the SSL total recall 32 channel or a massive NEVE 128 track with a recording room made for a full orchestra to be recorded. I chose the API and was the only one but it was what it sounded like that kept me in that room.

After winning the contest for best production and mix then I wanted the EQ's and the Pre's especially. I went and looked up API before you could just Google everything and it was located in my back yard, okay so a mile away but it's still crazy close so I called and the man who answered the phone seemed stern but the more we talked the more he relaxed. He was Dan, one of or the owner. I told him I would "work for gear" and told him what I was interested in and he asked me why so I shared the story from college winning the contest using API and No one else used that studio so I loved it and he LOVED hearing it! He took me on a full tour and showed me the 96 channel legacy style board they just finished wiring and played music for me on it with nice monitors and they had p&g automated faders going into this board which back then in 2007 was new for analog consoles. He then took me to the production room and line and I saw what the workers were doing and thought,"great, I can solder, this will be easy". Well I got to his office and started to negotiate the money side of the deal and he asked if I worked now, I said I did as a journeyman plumber and he went,"oh boy", and when I asked why he said that he asked "if you don't mind what do you make". I told him and he said that's what I was afraid of, I can't afford you! So I said I would take it home and do it on the weekends and evenings when they are not open. He said it wouldn't work and I felt bad. Then he asked what exactly did I want, so I told him ,(because they just came out with the lunchbox so I couldn't afford the 10 space rack so I told him), I wanted the lunchbox and I wanted it full! I wanted 2 of the 512c preamps, 2 of the 550A parametric EQ's and I wanted 2 525 Compressor/ limiter. And he asked what $ I was working with because Christmas was almost there so he said "how about I discount the gear and because you own your own company we can do a donation to you for your review etc. Well, I most certainly didn't have the lunchbox given to me but I can say that given the right circumstances I think that the owners are very personable! I paid thousands but would have paid much more if not for him saying, you know what it's Christmas so we are taking 20-40 off the whole order so you can pay me the $$ you have put up now and then when you leave today you will not have to come back to pay for anything! How's that? BRAVO API!!! And Dan from API! This lunchbox has lasted all these years even with the people who bring drinks into the console and spill stuff but it's a workhorse and does very well fitting into the sonic landscape! I have just started to put the listening/ control room together for the new house so here is a picture of the API lunchbox with I believe the Shadow Hills Mic Pre in the place of one of the compressors. It's a TANK and will last FOREVER! Buy one and get the true API experience by filling it with API modules for preamp, EQ and compressors. If it's solid and sounds better than the quality of it being built like a tank it's API!

Regards,
Matthew

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I'll tell you what, I was thinking about getting all pre amp stand alone units, then, I thought about it for some time and decided to go with a lunchbox instead.... I am really glad that I went this route, so versatile and instead of putting it in the rack cabinet (you can with rack ears) and just sitting it on my workstation desk top, sure brings some connivence...The nice thing is, it's totally portable, you never know when you want to do a vocal track in the bathroom... hahahaha... The API lunchbox is built like a tank too and made in the U.S.A..... You can't go wrong with any API product.... Thanks to my main man Will Newbill, he always takes care of me.... Mike

The build quality is amazing and it looks great in my rack! I'll be getting their 10 slot soon. After getting a few 500 series units I know I will be getting more! Way easy to pop them in and out too!

Great item as recommended by my Sweetwater Rep Tony Dayton. The API 500 does what it's supposed to do and it also gives me other options to play with. Sometimes when you don't feel like spending a gazillion dollars on mic pres and what not... the 500 series gives you cheaper options, but still with great sounding hardware. The API is very strong and of good build.

Great for home recording studios. Solid build. Does what it supposed to do flawlessly. Never had any issue with power or module incompatibility. Portability is a plus. Great piece.

Really good looking hardware.... very well built.

Just got my Lunchbox last weekend. I could not believe how solid the build on this thing is!
Rack ears are on the way, couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Just trying to figure out why I waited so long to take the plunge!!!

This lunchbox is my first foray into the workd of API 500-series gear. I'm glad I took the plunge. This thing is really handy and easy to use. Pretty much just plug-and-play. Build qulity seems to be very good. The DB25 connector and the 2 extra ins and outs are awesome. I can patch my FMR RNP into the lunchbox and just run a DB25 snake to my AD converter. Very slick.

Absolutely Fantastic. The added D-Sub I/O and 2 additional XLR I/O makes this perfect addition to my 500 series collection. I know patch in my outboard rack gear that I was considering selling. I will probably get a second LB to accommodate my future purchases as the 500 series modules are springing up everywhere.