What Makes API Gear Sound So Good? With Jeff Steiger of CAPI

05/12/12 • -1 min

DIY Recording Equipment Podcast

Jeff Steiger of CAPI and I get nerdy about various vintage audio and DIY topics, including:

Why create a company dedicated to vintage API gear? Why not Neve, SSL, etc.?
Will we ever see ClassicAPI kits in a 1RU rack format, instead of 500-series?
Why does old API gear sound so good when it's specs are so bad?
The sonically stunning Gar2520 opamp
Jeff's new, two-stage preamp design, the VP28
How Jeff tried to cram a full API console strip into one 500-series slot.
"Inventory management is a bitch."
How DIY gear is beginning to penetrate the big-budget recording world.
Are we seeing a return to the early days of recording when many engineers built their own custom gear?

Download the mp3 file or listen on iTunes . Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the show, subscribe to the podcast!

Jeff Steiger of CAPI and I get nerdy about various vintage audio and DIY topics, including:

Why create a company dedicated to vintage API gear? Why not Neve, SSL, etc.?
Will we ever see ClassicAPI kits in a 1RU rack format, instead of 500-series?
Why does old API gear sound so good when it's specs are so bad?
The sonically stunning Gar2520 opamp
Jeff's new, two-stage preamp design, the VP28
How Jeff tried to cram a full API console strip into one 500-series slot.
"Inventory management is a bitch."
How DIY gear is beginning to penetrate the big-budget recording world.
Are we seeing a return to the early days of recording when many engineers built their own custom gear?

Download the mp3 file or listen on iTunes . Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the show, subscribe to the podcast!

Previous Episode

DIY Condenser Microphones with Scott Helmke

Today, I discuss the ins and outs of making your own condenser microphones with Scott Helmke, creator of the popular Alice Microphone project. Scott walks us through how he designed the Alice microphone, including some practical tips for making your own mic bodies and headbaskets. Download the podcast Topics discussed:

How Scott developed the Alice mic
The brilliant Mic Builders Yahoo group.
The Transound TBS-165A condenser capsule
What happened when Scott swapped electrolytic for film capacitors in the Alice circuit.
Tips for DIY mic bodies and headbaskets. The McMaster-Carr store is your friend.
What to look for in a headbasket mesh material.
"Somewhere between sculpture and audio."
Scott's most recent project: a linear microphone array for piano.

Next Episode

"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Audio Electronics" Answers Podcast! (pt. 1)

Last week, I put out the call for you to ask "Everything you always wanted to know about audio electronics, but were afraid to ask." The response was awesome, and a tad overwhelming: almost 50 questions! I want to sincerely thank all of you who posed questions, we got some great stuff. On Saturday our volunteer expert, Duncan Gray, joined me to answer your questions podcast style.

Download the MP3 file or subscribe via iTunes

Here's what we covered in chronological order:

How Duncan got into audio electronics (as usual, it involved breaking something)
Circuit talk:

What does class-A mean? Why is it desirable?
How do I measure the total current draw of modules in a 51x rack?
How do I choose the right power supply for a given DIY project?
What's the difference between an LC and RC filter?
What happens to the Q, or bandwidth, in a swinging input EQ topology?
What's the simplest way electronically to make a noise?
Why do parts of a circuit go to ground?
How should I ground inside the box?
What is star grounding?

Coloration talk:

Is there really a difference between NOS and new transistors?
How do you know if a device needs recapping?
Discrete vs. monolithic opamps?
How close can we get to replicating vintage gear?
What does a good preamp do that I can't just do in post production?

How do I get my foot in the door doing audio design?
The incredible learning resources at HyperPhysics

Again, many thanks to Duncan and those who asked questions. Stay tuned for pt. 2, when we'll talk about troubleshooting, safety, reference levels, and impedance.