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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. |
That explains why Studio 55 had the two biggest Quantum boards I ever saw. I owned the one from Studio B for a bit. Great sounding as were all the Quantum consoles, tho the faders were a bit on the cheap feeling side.
The site where Studio 55 (the original Decca Studios) stood is now a parking lot on the Paramount film studio lot. Both the studio and the wonderful Nicodells's resturaunt next door got razed many years ago. tw the one building remaining on that side of the block opposite Lucy's Restauamt is the site of the original Capitol Studios before they built the tower on Vine St.......