Austin’s yellow DOG Studios, home to independent producer and engineer David Percefull, recently outfitted Studio 1 with a 32-channel API 1608 console, including API 500-Series modules.
When purchased, Studio 1 came with no console at all, just outboard gear stitched together to work with virtual mixes. Among the studio’s plethora of mic preamps were twelve channels of API 3124s.
“I’ve worked on a lot of large-format consoles, but I had very little experience with API,” said Percefull. “When we decided we wanted to purchase a small-frame console for Studio 1, we surveyed our fairly limited options.”
“But I kept coming back to the sound of the 3124s, which I had fallen in love with.
That, together with the adamant recommendation of my friend and fellow engineer Chris Bauer and the API 1608’s ability to accept 500-Series modules from any VPR manufacturer, sealed the deal.”
In the short time that yellow DOG has had the 1608, Percefull has already recorded half an album with Brandon Jenkins, an EP for Calling Matthew, started a new project with Phil Marshall and is mixing an album for Mike Kelly.
The API 1608 interfaces with Pro Tools HD, with AD/DA conversion and clocking by Apogee, and a restored MCI two-inch, 24-track analog tape machine.
“If I had to summarize the 1608 in one word, it would be punch! – with the exclamation mark,” laughed Percefull. “It’s the real deal. It’s a modern classic as far as I can tell. I can turn every preamp and fader all the way up and there is no noise at all. It has tons of punch and openness at the same time. I know I’m not a Grammy-winning engineer, but I’ve recorded literally hundreds of albums on a ton of gear, and the 1608 is an absolute gem.”
