VPR Approved Modules Include: Manufacturer Module API 512c Mic Preamp 525 Compressor 527 Compressor/Limiter 550A Equalizer 550A Saul Walker Edition Equalizer 550b Equalizer 560 Equalizer A Designs EM-PEQ EM Blue Mic Preamp EM Gold Mic Preamp EM Red Mic Preamp EM Silver Mic Preamp P1-500 Mic Preamp Audio Maintenance Limited 5003d Mic Preamp Avedis Audio Electronics E27 3 Band Equalizer BoZo Electronics MPA3 Mic Preamp Buzz Audio Elixer Mic Preamp* DACS MicAmp 500 Danfield MX20 Mic Preamp Electrodyne 501 Mic Preamp 511 2 Band Equalizer Elysia Audio xpressor 500, Discrete Class-A Stereo Compressor Empirical Labs DerrEsser Model EL-DS FiveFish Audio Janus Active DI/Shift EQ MX5-mk500 Mic Preamp PEQ-503 Equalizer SC-501 Mic Preamp X-12mk500 Mic Preamp X-72mk500 Mic Preamp Forsell Technologies SMP-500 Grace Design M501 Mic Preamp Great River Electronics MP-500NV Mic Preamp Inward Connections EQ2P JCF Audio Levr Summing Amplifier JDK Audio V 14 Equalizer J-Lab Studio Electronics JLA3 Transformer Balanced Optical Leveling Amplifier LaChapell Audio 583s Mic Preamp Maag Audio EQ4 Equalizer PREQ4 Mic Preamp Mooktronics Research PDI 500 Nixer, Ltd. London Mic Amp NIX00205 Broadway Mic Amp NIX00220 Vanguard Mic Amp NIX00230 (Available Summer 2011) Pete's Place BAC-500 Compressor Roll Music Systems, Inc. Tubule RMS5A7, Microphone Preamp Safe Sound Audio P501 Audio Processor Shadow Hills Industries Dual Vandergraph Stereo Compressor Skibbe Electronics 736-5 Mic Preamp S&M Audio EQSM1 Speck Electronics ASC-V Equalizer XQP 531 Optical De-esser 535 Program EQ 545 Optical Disrupter * Maximum 2 units recommended per lunchbox

API Audio's VPR Alliance is a program of standardization and consistency guidelines for approved manufacturers wishing to design products for API's 500-series rack format. The program provides complete design specifications for manufacturers interested in producing third-party modules that physically fit and electronically conform to API's rack specifications.

See Success Stories.

The creation of the VPR Alliance was encouraged by the overwhelming popularity of API's 500-series racks, including the 10-space 500V and the six-space lunchbox®, which led to a proliferation of third party modules that fit the API format. Typically installed into API racks, these third party modules had raised issues of warranty and interaction with API-manufactured modules in the same rack.

Because of the variables related to those third party modules, API had previously been forced to declare that inserting any third-party modules into a 500V or lunchbox voided the warranty on that rack. Through the VPR Alliance, API is now able to eliminate confusion as to which third-party products definitively do and do not void the API warranty. The VPR Alliance is a straightforward resolution that saves the company time and money while promoting goodwill to API customers.

Our customers benefit from the VPR Alliance with the knowledge of exactly which products are approved for placement in API racks; customers have a wider range of module choices for their racks that have been tested by API staff for specification compliance.

VPR-approved manufacturers benefit by earning the right to sell API racks and power supplies at dealer pricing to support sales of their products. Alliance membership additionally eliminates third-party research and development costs and production expenses associated with creating an alternate rack solution.

Members can further benefit from the exposure API generates by promoting the VPR Alliance through the strength of the company's various advertising, marketing and public relations channels, including the listing of all members on API's website. Members are encouraged to reciprocate by displaying the VPR Alliance logo on product information, public relations materials and websites.

Manufacturers wishing to join the VPR Alliance should contact API's managing director, Gordon Smart (gordon@apiaudio.com) for a program application. If approved, API will send the manufacturer copies of the 500 Module Series Specifications and instructions on the review process. Additionally, members will receive recommendations regarding competitive issues and pricing guidelines.

 

 

From the outset, we decided to make sure that the London Mic Amp was a VPR-compliant device because of the many advantages a VPR-approved unit brings the end user; one of the most notable advantages being that the API lunchbox® warranty stays valid. The process of becoming a VPR Alliance member turned out to be very straightforward, completely free and involved filling out and submitting an application and, later, sending a completed prototype to the API offices for compliance testing. Upon testing our initial prototype, API found that the unit's inrush current was too high. They shipped the module back to us to amend, and in the end we actually ended up with a much better final product. Nixer Ltd. would like to thank all of the engineers at API for their help and advice. We look forward to working with them again on our next unit. Nick Fletcher, Managing Director Nixer Ltd.

 

The VPR Alliance is what tipped the scales for me to decide to bring an old product — the optical de-esser — back to the market as a 500-series module. The idea that API would go to the trouble to insure that other manufacturers' products are safe to use in their racks still strikes me as very generous and noble. Everyone at API has been a pleasure to deal with. The application process is as simple and easy as it could possibly be, and the turnaround time is remarkably quick. Dane Tate, Product Specialist XQP Audio