I worked for the original Quantum Audio Labs when I was in High school in 1969. It was started by two unknown audio engineers, Carl Jacobson and Bill Wyatt. They were contracted with Don Sciarotta to build mixing boards for him and others that he sold them to. I was a board assembler working for Carl and Bill. Donny "Don" was one of the coolest guys I ever met, and one that inspired me as much as anyone in my life to follow your heart and pursue your dreams. Don had Quantum Recorders and Quantum Electronics. Recorders was the recording studio and electronics was a retail store. I ended up working for Donny delivering T.V. and stereo gear all over southern California during my junior year in high school. Howard came along as Chief Engineer after Bill and Carl decided to move on. I remember his first project for the studio, he built a digital timer for the control room. Really high tech at that time. Donny was very well connected, I owe him the opportunities I had to meet Gary Puckett, Kenny Rogers, Andy Williams, and my favorite, "Wolf Man Jack when we installed a Quantum Mixing Board in downtown L.A. for XERB radio (the mighty ten ninety). Got to set up the sound at the Wishkey A Go Go and at the Teen Age Fair at the Palladium in Hollywood. I also got to work on the installation at Filmation. I remember when they recorded "Chick-A-Boom" at Quantum and it started playing on the radio. It was quite at time in my young life. I owe Howard for getting me to move onward into other things, I'd probably still be there otherwise. Don was very family orientated. His brother Ross ran the electronics store. His secretary Phylis, was a model for what I have tried to seek in my secretaries. His family was involved in the Torrance local government, I think it was his dad or another brother that was the mayor. (I will never forget when Don got his Corvette, I knew he was the coolest guy I ever met.)
Anyway
Quote:
Originally Posted by vince @ speck  Quantum was started by Don Sciarrotta and Howard Steele. Howard was the circuit/product designer and Don was an engineer/producer that owned a recording studio in Torrance, CA by the name of Quantum Studios.
The first mixers were made in a small building in Torrance. I ran the mixer company for a short period while I was getting my company (speck) going. The early mixers used early IC's like the 709 (don't ask), mic transformers, and had inductors for the EQ circuits. The mixers were painted sort of a cream color. They were, in my opinion, one of the first budget recording mixers made.
Howard was also a well known Hollywood engineer and co-owned a studio by the name of Studio 55. I don't know if the building is still there. Don added a second room to Quantum studios (That I helped design) and got very busy. Both Don & Howard lost interest in the mixer business and sold the company to a guy named John Pritchard (I think). He moved the company to Burbank, CA and with the help of local design talent, created a second generation of mixer that was mostly targeted to the broadcast industry. John passed away, the company went out of business. |