API® Preamp
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Get the hit-making color and tone of API's iconic 212L preamp.
From Fleetwood Mac’s classic, Rumours to Radiohead's In Rainbows, API preamps have shaped hit albums with stunning punch, presence, and color for over 50 years.
Now, you can easily add that same clarity, character, and musically complex tone of this proven, hit‑making mic preamplifier in a simple Unison‑equipped plug‑in, perfect for Apollo owners.Get the world’s only authentic plug-in emulation of the legendary Class-A, API 212L mic preamp, with added features from API’s flagship Vision console
Record "through" the legendary API preamp in real time using Apollo interfaces, with low DSP use
Easily color your tracks with musical punch, clarity, and character with an unequaled emulation of complex, nonlinear circuit behaviors
Control Apollo mic preamp gain staging and impedance directly from the API Preamp plug-in via Unison™ technology
Capturing a Legend with Unison
The classic API 212L preamp's forward attitude, low‑end punch, and detailed‑yet‑warm high end is famous for giving vocals, drums, and more a satisfying tone with rich character. Harnessing UA's groundbreaking Unison technology, the API Preamp plug‑in is the only complete emulation of API's hallowed preamp circuit, giving you the vintage hardware’s gain staging “sweet spots,” and nonlinear circuit behaviors. The secret is Unison’s bi‑directional control and communication from the API Preamp plug‑in to the mic preamps in Apollo interfaces.
Give Your Tracks the Sound of Legendary Albums
Like the original sought-after hardware, the API Preamp plug‑in adds characteristic punch and musical definition. Plus, you get the same features found in API's flagship Vision Console, including a Mic/Line switch, dedicated cut filter, and ‑6 dB Line pad. Simply drop the API Preamp into the Unison slot of Apollo's Console software or LUNA channel strip to add instant character to vocals, acoustic guitars, drums, and more with the hit‑making tone that can only come from API.
Add Punch and Character to Any Source
Of course, the API Preamp plug‑in isn’t just for Apollo interface owners. UAD hardware owners can harness the color of the API Preamp plug‑in for mixing and tone shaping — without ever leaving the box. Thanks to its lower DSP usage, you can easily place the API Preamp plug‑in instances across multiple channels, turning your favorite DAW into a classic API analog desk.
“The accuracy of the UAD API plug‑ins is incredible. I'll turn up the preamp gain to drive a guitar, or simply add some clean gain if I’m tracking Alicia Keys' piano. So versatile!”
– Ann Mincieli (Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey)Customer Reviews
J. Browne
March 29, 2023
API Preamp
Adds a layer of fluidity and transparency to recordings. Fantastic product
Read MoreD. Amatori
January 28, 2023
No other plugin can't compete
wonderful .. ijust like the real one bit at affordable price .. bring life to every signal that pass through it... Can't live without it
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Features
The first authentic emulation of API analog summing
Adds power, clarity, and mid-forward punch to your mixes
Per-bus Headroom and Trim controls for professional tone sculpting over your entire mix
Sum individual channels or your entire mix through API's hallowed bus or master summing modules
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Customer Reviews
API Preamp
J. Browne
API Preamp
Adds a layer of fluidity and transparency to recordings. Fantastic product
A. Rosario
Thumbs up
Good preamp with low DSP usage.
c. rosario
Love Pre-amps
Great preamp for different applications
R. Bradish
Nice Preamp
kick snare overheads....here we go
K. Didvalis
Great preamp!
Great color.
D. Amatori
No other plugin can't compete
wonderful .. ijust like the real one bit at affordable price .. bring life to every signal that pass through it... Can't live without it
L. Brown
A+
A+
D. P.
very impressive
the api preamp is a real salvation for fast and precise recording. Adjust gain, adjust output and record your setting from crystal clear over analog to saturated sound. For me the perfect different pre to the Neve 1290. simple but essenziell
J. Tornay
Great preamp
I use this preamp on all my Unison slots in Console, brings a punchy mid forward sound a bit less colored than a Neve. Love it!
T. Stankiewicz
Sounds perfect
It's perfect for vocals and sound incredible on acoustic guitar.
Š. Kominko
Excellent preamp
Excellent character on drums, vocals and bass. I recommend.
UAD User
Vale la pena
UAD User
Magnifico
Maravilloso producto
G. Goodwin III
UAD Killed it on this one!
I have a lot of UAD stuff. I like all of it, some of it I absolutely love. All the API stuff is among the 'I love it' crowd. It is really, really well done. Good work UAD!!!!
J. Berthier
Perfect to be used on multiple tracks for an API console emulation
I had the API Vision channel strip which sounds great but is too dsp intensive to be used on multiple tracks with my little Apollo Duo. This preamp only version allows me to put it on every tracks and to recreate a great sounding API Console (it uses just 9% of dsp per instance).
L. Spilger
Great sounding preamp
For a long time I always preferred the neve tones as they are more coloring to my ears. But I recently tend to opt to the several API emulation for it‘s more subtle coloration paired with clarity and punch. This is what this preamp delivers if you ask me!
N. Hassling-Offrell
Great preamp!
Really nice punchy sound!
G. Żabski
Really great audio plugin
Good sounding and solid preamp for Unison technology. I really like to use it to recording guitars or vocals in my studio. The best one !
A. Cambon
API Vision owner why did I pay again ?
Should be a give for api vision owners
t. eighty-four
Up, Front, and Punchy
This was a nice addition to the 1290 preamp plugin I had purchased earlier this year. I found that the 1290 was better suited for my setup as a vocal preamp. The 212 on the other hand is indispensable for tracking out my synths and samplers. The tone is up, front, and punchy. That has made the 212 a go to for tracking.
