API / 505 DI

This modular microphone preamp is compatible with the API 500. Its design minimizes pickup loading and allows direct input from guitars, basses, and keyboards. It also includes tone controls for customizing your sound.

■Discrete DI
■API 500 Compatible
Like the console-based API 205L, the 505-DI is specifically designed to allow direct input from guitars, basses, and keyboards while minimizing the loading effect of high-impedance instrument pickups. Additionally, the 505-DI's gain control is used to normalize the instrument's input level to a +4dBu output level. API's unique tone control reduces potential low-end ""mud"" in the audio signal. The bright switch can be engaged to add additional transparency when needed. Various combinations of the tone control and bright switch can eliminate the need for a separate EQ during recording, maintaining a short, pure signal path. This minimal signal path eliminates the need for typical direct boxes, which require a microphone input, equalizer, and fader to achieve a recordable signal. The 505-DI can boost the level of any instrument up to very high line levels without additional amplification. The 100K/400K load switch allows you to subtly change the pickup's tone, brightening or darkening the high-frequency content. When inserting line-level devices such as the built-in preamp, samplers, or keyboards into the 505-DI, the 505-DI offers a 20dB PAD switch to reduce the level without overloading the unit, maintaining the integrity of the input signal.


- 55dB wide-range gain control
- Front panel Hi-Z input
- Front panel through routing
- Tone control function for sound customization
- Bright switch for enhanced clarity and presence
- 10-segment LED VU meter for output level monitoring
- Output LED peak indicator
- 20dB pad switch for mic/line/instrument use
- 100K/400K selectable load switch
- Traditional API fully discrete circuit design
- Uses API's original 2520 and 2510 op amps

*Cannot be used with the power supply chassis input