API TranzFormer LX. how are you using it?

[HobbySatanist]

Hello everybody!

I had a great experience with an API 512c few years back
plugged my bass into my pedalbord and from that into the 512c
it sounded magic and the overdrive signal from the pedal just had brand new yoga pants.

now my setup is a bit different
pedalboard consists of darkglass hyperluminal compressor/vintage microtubes/EventideH9 for all other effect like delay rotary and so on.
signal goes from the pedalboard into an OrangeAD200B and Ampeg8x10
mic'd with Beyerdynamic M88 into Neve1073 Preamp.

and now the magic question: how would you configure the API Tranzformer into that equation? post or pre pedalboard? or get rid of the Neve1073 and mic the instrument input on the tranzformer?


id love you hear your thoughts?
and sorry for the hassle.
Svavar.

 

[thumbslapper]

When I had a API Tranzformer I had it at the end of my chain (before final volume pedal). The EQ is great on that unit - very usable. I didn't find the compressor as useful but mainly because of hte volume change when enabling/disabling it, but if you like hte sound on all the time then it works well.

For your question depends if you want to have the distortion from your amp and 8x10, I always go with a DI post-effects and a mic'd cab, sometimes that mic'd cab track fits in the mix better, most of the time i end up with 2/3'd DI and 1/3 mic'd...

Those old classic preamps work great as a DI - 1073, API mic pre, V72, Manley, the AMS Neve mic pre/eq units..

 

[bassbrad]

I have been blessed to try most of those Classics and re-released wonders both the pedals and 500 series and all were quite nice but personally I am still sold on the Ictineo or the Submarine Designer the tonal options are so musical.

 

[Real Soon]

If you've got a Neve 1073 preamp channel AND an API Tranzformer, I'd just work out which really works to taste for your DI signal vs preamp/cab/mic signal, and wire them up for that. That's some tremendous recording character right there, especially with judicious use of the HL and Microtubes to do a bit of leveling and controlled grit.

If it were my setup, I'd first try going API's XLR out to the Neve via DI and the API's instrument output to the cabinet/mic. Assuming you've got an interface that'll take signal from both the Neve and the mic simultaneously.

 

[HobbySatanist]

thanks alot for your input guys

@thumbslapper ill try how it sounds with both the overdrive and clean through the mic
last time i used a clean signal into the mic and
i had an Orange thunderverb guitar amp for overdrive through the DI. the results were pretty good

@bassbrad thanks mate ill check out that little pedal

@Real Soon we got 3 modules of neve1073 in a lunchbox available so i can experiment with 3 signals simultaniously
might be an overkill? or not?

 

[Real Soon]

@Real Soon we got 3 modules of neve1073 in a lunchbox available so i can experiment with 3 signals simultaniously
might be an overkill? or not?

Not sure how you're stopping playing with those long enough to type anything! Esp with the Hyper Luminal settable such that you can have two Neves living on either side of the clipping threshold, blended to taste. Oh my

 

[Bassist30]

Interesting piece regading the API LX....How id the compressor in comparison to its EQ?

 

[Bassist30]

UPS said it's being delivered today. Looking so forward to it.

 

[scubaduba]

@Bassist30 Interested in hearing your comments. Tell us about this one over here: The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

 

[Bassist30]

Being the situation we are experiencing, the unit is delayed delivery....hopefully tomorrow but I will give my opinion on it