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Key Features
Product Ref: 61098
The range control feature within this unit gives you an increased degree of control over the equalizer. The amplitude controls can be reduced to 1/2 or 1/4 of their scale, giving you an expanded control over your levels. This makes the 5500 ideal for mastering and mixing applications.
As is typical with many API products, the 5500 has no integrated circuits in its signal path, meaning the gain comes from two 2520 Op-Amplifiers in each channel. The balanced input is processed by a 2510 Discrete Op-Amplifier. These components contribute to API's signature console sound capable of delivering 30+dBm before clipping.
The beginnings of the 5500 circuit can be traced back to the original 550 equalizer designed by Saul Walker, the founder of Automated Processes Inc. The 550 was designed as a console equalizer, which uses an unbalanced input due to the architecture of the recording console. Because the ergonomics of a console dictate that the controls take up little space, sometimes the number of included functions can be limited. The 5500 is specifically designed to address these limitations; it has a balanced input, a true straight-wire bypass, an integrated power supply with noiseless muting and a range control that expands its versatility to mastering applications.