Product
Description
The A2D represents
a landmark achievement for API; it is the first product ever produced
by the company with an integrated digital output. Recognizing
the desire for a high quality solution to raise microphone signals
to a workable line level, we engineered one of our most popular
mic preamp designs into an enclosure with our new proprietary
analog to digital conversion. The result is a complete package
- a pair of superb mic preamps feeding an A/D section with a set
of standard digital interface outputs, multiple sample-rate choices,
and internal or external clock options. Precise control of both
the analog gain as well as the level feeding the digital section
means that the mic signal can be maintained super-clean if desired,
or driven harder on the analog side for that whallop and impact
that can only be achieved by driving the transformer into saturation
for that historic API sound!
The A2D analog
section consists of the circuitry contained in two API 312 mic
preamps, or one half of the popular 3124 quad mic preamp rack
product. A level control pot with an expanded 20-segment metering
system shows precise mic gain levels. Control switches include
polarity, 48v phantom power, input pad, 2:1 transformer routing,
and Mic/Line select. Each analog input contains a balanced low-level
XLR connector and a high-level line input on a 1/4 inch jack.
The Digital
section of the A2D includes two level pots to adjust the feed
to the A/D converters, each with a corresponding 20-segment calibrated
meter. A multi-position switch selects the desired sample frequency.
The External Sync LED will light when an external clock signal
is used.
Rear panel
Analog connectors include an XLR input and output for each channel,
as well as a balanced 1/4" TRS insert to the A/D converter.
This allows the A2D to have external analog processing devices
inserted in the audio chain (EQ, compression, etc.)
Digital interface
connectors provided are SPDIF single ended RCA connector and AES
digital out on XLR. A coaxial BNC accepts external "Super
Clock" which will illuminate the front panel EXT SYNC LED
when locked.
In addition,
there are a pair of 9-pin D-sub connectors which allow the linking
of multiple A2D units, all operating off the first sample-rate
clock in the chain.
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