API AUDIO The Box 8 24-Channel Analog Mixing, Summing, and Recording Console

Pro-Level Performance for Smaller Spaces and Budgets

The Box is API's small-format solution for any studio where space or budget is limited. Using the same circuitry and components as all other API consoles (including the Vision and Legacy AXS), The Box provides the signature analog sound and performance users have come to expect from API.

Designed and optimized for the digital era, The Box handles all the functions needed for production not provided by most DAWs, including mic preamps, input signal processing, high-quality mix bus, cue sends with talkback, monitor control, and more. Most importantly, The Box offers the legendary API sound in an efficient, cost-effective package.

Compatible with 500-Series Modules

Improving upon the previous iteration of The Box, The Box 8 sports eight slots for installing 500-series / VPR-approved processing modules into the console, enhancing FX processing capability. These slots are supported by eight balanced 1/4" TRS input and output connections in the rear of the console.

These connections allow you to use your installed modules as FX sends and returns. Combined with the summing mixer section, this makes the The Box 8 an extremely versatile and customizable mixing and recording console.

Main Input Channels

The eight primary input channels feature both XLR and 1/4" balanced inputs and the following controls and features:

• Selectable mic/line inputs (instrument input also selectable on channels 1 to 4)
• Selectable 48V phantom power
• Polarity inverter
• -20 dB pad
• Gain control (up to +65 dB of gain)
• Routing controls (compressor, meter, and direct output routing)
• 50 Hz, 12 dB per-octave-slope high-pass filter
• Aux/cue sends with on/off switches and pre/post-fader routing
• Stereo pan-pot control
• Output assignment (stereo program bus)
• Solo Safe switch

Built-In 527 Compressors

The Box 8 is equipped with two complete API 527 compressor/limiters in the master section of the console. These compressors are assigned to the program bus by default for mixing, but can be routed to the input channels 1 to 4 while recording or mixing. They can also be linked via the Link button for stereo processing.

Input Channel Aux/Cue Sends

The Box 8 is equipped with two mono auxiliary buses (1/2), one stereo auxiliary bus (3/4), and a stereo cue bus. Accordingly, all input channels are equipped with two mono aux sends (1 and 2) and one stereo (3/4) aux/cue send.

The stereo aux send feeds stereo aux bus 3/4 by default, but can be routed to feed the stereo cue bus instead. Each pair of aux sends has pre/post-fader routing and an on/off switch. In common practice, post-fader sends are often used for effects sends and pre-fader sends are typically used for headphone feeds.

Meter and Meter Routing

Input channels are equipped with an 8-segment LED full-scale meter. The meter displays the post-fader output from the channel by default, but can be switched to display the output of the preamp. A calibration trim-pot is provided, so 0 dBFS on the meter matches 0 dBFS in the connected DAW. The console also sports:

• 5-segment gain reduction LED meters for the two compressors on the master bus
• Two illuminated analog VU meters for the master left and right channels
• 4-segment LED meters on each summing input channel

Summing Inputs

The Box 8 provides sixteen summing input channels on the right-hand side of the console that are optimized for mixing in a DAW environment. All sixteen summing inputs are identical. Each summing input has two sections: summing inputs and faders.

In recognition of the signal processing power of most DAWs, the summing inputs do not contain filters, equalization, or dynamic processing; however, they do provide the essential elements and flexibility needed for mixing on an analog summing bus.

• 0 dB fader bypass
• Balanced insert with switch
• Two mono aux sends
• One stereo aux/cue send
• 100mm fader and mute
• Pan-pot control
• Solo and solo Safe
• 4-segment LED dBFS meter
• Program bus assignment

Solo Modes

The Box 8 features three primary solo modes:

• PFL: pre-fader-listen mode is the default solo mode and only provides the solo'd signal before any fader attenuation
• AFL: after-fader-listen mode can be selected to listen to a channel with the fader affecting attenuation
• SIP: solo-in-place mode is a destructive solo mode in which all non-solo'd channels are automatically muted when a solo is engaged

Safe Solo Function

The Box 8 is equipped with a solo-in-place function (SIP) that mutes input channels and summing inputs when solo is engaged on another channel or input. Engaging solo Safe prevents that channel from being muted when a solo is engaged in SIP mode.

Headphone Amplifier

In addition to the two control room monitor controls, The Box 8 is equipped with a separate headphone amplifier and associated controls. The system supports a single stereo headphone feed to two headphone jacks, one on the rear panel and one under the armrest.

The cue feed is typically routed to the headphones while recording, and the control room source (program bus) is sent while mixing. The headphone amp is fed from the C/R Source selectors by default. This feed can be replaced by the output of the cue master by engaging the Cue to Phones switch. To support headphone feeds (cue feeds) while recording, talkback can be added to the cue master output before it is routed to headphones.

Key Specs

Mixer

Signal Processing

Performance

Connectivity

Power

Physical