Aphex made the first 500 series module that wasn't created by API in the mid 70's. It was the EQF-2. Aphex was also the first to create a 4-slot rack for 500 series modules around the same time. Years later Aphex created the 9000 series racks and modules. These were bigger modules that allowed for more buttons and knobs and the racks  provided more power to the modules. Time passed and trends changed and Aphex stopped making those products.

Fast forward to 2010, Aphex is purchased, and a new product team is hired. We were very impressed with the sound of the preamps in the 1788A and 188 multi channel, remote controlled preamp products. These products have been used almost exclusively for large, live sound events. The recording market is completely unaware of them. So we start thinking about making single channel 500 series  versions of these preamps. We should also make a modern re-issue of the original EQF-2 500 series equalizer! Let's put the Aural Exciter/Big Bottom processor in a 500 series module too!  Pretty soon we're putting together a whole line of new 500 series products.

Our National Sales Manager says "We should make our own 500 series frame too."

The product team answers "Why? There's plenty of frames available on the market. We make rackmount products but we don't sell racks! There's simply no reason for this."

We move forward with the modules all the while thinking that we don't need our own frame.

I get to work one morning and I see a press release for the new Radial Engineering  Workhorse Cube. A cute, little 3 slot 500 series frame. That makes sense. You can load a mic pre, compressor and EQ and it's small and portable. Good thinking Radial! We should order some of these for our sales team to show off our 500 series modules.

Meanwhile, we're working on making some USB 2.0 audio interfaces with our great preamps, compressors and headphone amplifiers.

Inspiration strikes!

I download an image of the rear panel of that Radial Cube, open it up in Photoshop and paste a picture of a USB connector on it.

I  push the button on my speaker phone and say "Hey Jim, could you come in here for a second?"

Jim enters my office. "Take a look. Do you see where I'm going with this?"

Jim looks. His eyes open up wide.

Jim says "That's the best product idea I've seen in years! It ties everything together! Vintage analog with modern DAW workflows. Draw it up! Make it 4 slots though!"

Rick McClendon walks in.

Rick says "Hey, did you guys see that new Radial Cube? We should order some of those for our sales team to show off our 500 series modules!"

Jim and I look at each other and grin.

We pretty much had the spec done by the end of the day and started working on it immediately. We showed the prototype at NAMM a few months later. It won the ProSoundNetwork BEST IN SHOW award.

December 2014 the USB 500 RACK wins Newbay Media's MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT AWARD.