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API 1608 Installed in Paris Studio

Paris, France - Nov. 2011:
A testament to API's growing global market appeal, one of the company's renowned 1608 analog consoles has recently been installed in the Paris recording facility STUDIO K. Owned and operated by French musician, composer, engineer and producer David Chalmin, STUDIO K resides in the very center of Paris and offers recording and mixing services to artists from all genres.

"When I decided to invest in a new console, I knew right away that I wanted something with a distinctive sound," said Chalmin. "I was going to invest a lot of money, and I didn't want my console to have a 'transparent' mixer; I can reach transparency in the digital world. I wanted analog. When you think of analog, you think of color — and when you think of color, you think API. I knew the 1608 had the color I loved: warm and crisp," he said.

Chalmin, who has worked with acts such as Nadeah, the Labéque Sisters and Nicola Tescari and Sophia Charaï, has been part of the French music industry since joining Beatles "re-elaboration" contemporary, rock band B for Bang in 2006. He is also a guitarist for Nadeah and member of two other groups — experimental/improvisational rock band Dimension X (guitarist) and rock duet Red Velvet (singer, guitarist). Developing a passion for recording, producing and engineering through a makeshift home studio, Chalmin officially opened STUDIO K in 2009 and soon after decided he needed a top-rated console — the API 1608.

"I also chose the 1608 for its modularity," Chalmin said. "Being born in the digital era, I'm used to having a lot of different EQs [through plug-ins], and, to me, it was great being able to have a console that allowed me to choose different flavors through EQs and other processors. With the 1608, I can evolve the mix along with my tastes or change it by using different modules depending on which project I'm working on."

Expandability was also a key reason Chalmin chose the console for STUDIO K. "I designed the console's furniture to fit an expander, which I hope to welcome someday soon. The fact that the 1608 allows you to build upon it little by little makes this top-quality board really affordable.

"It has exactly what I need and not a thousand things I don't," Chalmin said. "It's simple and comprehensive. And it's the most beautiful console, isn't it?"