Does this exist?

[timmetje]

I think the D&R Airlab is a (partially) digitally controlled mixer that is fully analogue in the signal path. Quite popular for radio-broadcasting. Not a studio mixer though.

Not sure if there are any studio mixers that work that way. I guess the SSL AWS and Duality might be considered 'digitally controlled analog' in a way, but then again - they are not. Those are more 'hybrid' desks with both an analogue and 'digital' signal path...

[SurferRosa]

Yeah - it's studio thing I'm looking for. And afaik the SSL ones really just have DAW control, whereas I'm looking for something where I can hit a button and completely return to my previous mix (I currently have a Sony DMX-R100 so that feature is amazing, just wish it had analogue circuitry!).

[timmetje]

Originally Posted by SurferRosa

Yeah - it's studio thing I'm looking for. And afaik the SSL ones really just have DAW control, whereas I'm looking for something where I can hit a button and completely return to my previous mix (I currently have a Sony DMX-R100 so that feature is amazing, just wish it had analogue circuitry!).

Well, effectively, automation is a big step in that direction.

Total Recall (which i think is what you are looking for) does not exist in the analogue domain, as far as I know.

Besides, even if you had the mixer set up to do that, you'd still have to recall all your outboard gear...

[SurferRosa]

Agreed on the automation - it's the total recall that is the most useful feature of my desk though. The ability to jump straight back into a project / mix is really great. It is a hassle to recall the outboard, but it's only a 4 minute job to do half a dozen compressors, as opposed to an hour for an analogue desk!

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Snapshot automation? Or full automation? Live consoles like the Midas XL4 etc have snapshot automation.

[SurferRosa]

I'm looking for full automation of faders and cuts, but snapshot of the entire desk. The Midas XL4 is an analogue desk with fader and cut automation isn't it?

[Drumsound]

Harrison made at least one console like that. It was called the something 12...maybe series 12?

[NEWTON IN ORBIT]

There once were these:
Trident Di-An

Good luck finding one. Or one that works.

There was also this:
0 TACTILE TECHNOLOGY M4000

And others...

DAW has killed the market for these wonderful beasts.

john

PS The Tac Tech was a good console, but it had too small of caps in places, and there are better IC's now. If you hunt one down and mod it up, it could be a freaking amazing mix platform for it's size. Stock it's sound was good, but anything made to meet a price point can be improved.

[soypancho]

The Matrix has this with all faders and most of the routing. The pots must be recalled manually but it tells you where they need to be with a multicolor LED. It's an absolutely amazing board to boot.

[kosty]

The Neve Genesys can be customized with Full Recall and digitally controlled analogue EQs.

[Marogru]

Originally Posted by timmetje

Well, effectively, automation is a big step in that direction.

Total Recall (which i think is what you are looking for) does not exist in the analogue domain, as far as I know.

Besides, even if you had the mixer set up to do that, you'd still have to recall all your outboard gear...

...not all

[Matt Syson]

Hi
Calrec made some assignable desks in the early 1980s which are fully analogue with 'computer' memory. These were used at a few of the london broadcasting studios.
Audix was working on one in the early '80's too, but I am not sure if it got 'released'.
Neve also produced something, as I think did SSL although by the time the RnD work was done 'digital audio' was just around the corner so it all fell flat as a 'good idea but not economically viable'.
AMEK made several desks which have the 'screen to show you where to reset the pots should be' on the same lines as SSL's recall, some even had the dulcit tones of 'Rupert' telling you what to adjust.
Matt S

[bassjam]

Neve Genesys

[SurferRosa]

Ah yeah - I did look at the Genesys a while back, and it does seem to do it all if you buy all the options. I did also work out that once you'd bought recall, automation and the digital control over eq & compression then you'd spent pretty close to £100k (with a 24-fader configuration). That's pretty crazy money, and if I had that much I'd be tempted to buy a decent condition VR or G-series and I could still afford to service it for life!

Those older ones people have been talking about look cool though - especially the Harrison. Shame they stopped making it really, I'm sure it's not just me that wants to mix analogue but with the instant recall-ability that we're getting used to, and at somewhere around project studio prices.

[bassjam]

Originally Posted by SurferRosa

Ah yeah - I did look at the Genesys a while back, and it does seem to do it all if you buy all the options. I did also work out that once you'd bought recall, automation and the digital control over eq & compression then you'd spent pretty close to £100k (with a 24-fader configuration). That's pretty crazy money, and if I had that much I'd be tempted to buy a decent condition VR or G-series and I could still afford to service it for life!

Those older ones people have been talking about look cool though - especially the Harrison. Shame they stopped making it really, I'm sure it's not just me that wants to mix analogue but with the instant recall-ability that we're getting used to, and at somewhere around project studio prices.

If you PM me I can get you a good deal.

[unit7]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

Harrison made at least one console like that. It was called the something 12...maybe series 12?

Yep, Series 12 (my avatar is from one of the displays). Owner here since 4yrs (almost on the day 4yrs since I collected it at Twickenham studios UK!). Started a thread about it when I was about to buy it. Harrison Series 12 console There's also a few more pics in my user profile.

Total (instant) recall (snapshot or whatever) + full automation on everything incl pan, eq, aux, comp/gate on every channel, pre/post sends, etc etc. Quite powerful feature for an analog desk...

Re outboard, except for 2 Bricastis (settings saved via MIDI) I use plugins for effects = saved with the PT session, finally all external outboard are filmed (filming and talking/explaining certain things) mostly when printing mixes (to not waste time), and film are saved in session folder. Worked out a good flow for this, and able to recall everything in 1-10 minutes. Has been working perfectly!

[Kingtone]

Yeah, the Harrison Series 10 as well as Series 12.

[Bassmankr]

Add Otari to the digital controlled analog list to do more research on. Motorized faders and switch setting automation via separate PC needed to run mixer (full automated recall of fader/mute/routing). Some models had snapshot recall of the analog pots (auxes/EQ) where you could recall a knob by led indicator (twisting knob physically until Led light told you it was back in position).

[Kingtone]

Originally Posted by Bassmankr

Add Otari to the digital controlled analog list to do more research on. Motorized faders and switch setting automation via separate PC needed to run mixer (full automated recall of fader/mute/routing). Some models had snapshot recall of the analog pots (auxes/EQ) where you could recall a knob by led indicator (twisting knob physically until Led light told you it was back in position).

I don't think this is quite what the OP is asking after.
The consoles that have been suggested (Euphonix, Harrison etc) have all the analog circuitry controlled by a digital 'control surface'
The Euphonix CS series and Harrison 10 and 12 for example, have all the analog processing done in a rack away from the actual console.
The op wants to hit a switch and have ALL the analog recalled in an instant.
The situation and style you mentioned is more like the traditional recall of a computer moving faders but a human needing to reset everything else.

[Bassmankr]

Yep the Otari's are not a control surface, the analog is the mixer itself. It does have one button total recall of faders/mutes/switches/routing but all the analog pots in each modular strip has to be snapshot recalled by hand. Some desks don't have motorized faders either so they would have to be snapshot recalled by hand too. Some of the Otari's assist with snapshot recall of those pots with the LED indicator of when you have moved it to the right position. They still meet the definition of a digitally controlled analog desk but not to the extent of the other desks mentioned.

[Kingtone]

That doesn't make it a digitally controlled desk. It's the same as say an SSL or any other console with full recall. The computer senses where the pot voltage is etc and then tells you when it is back at that spot.
(Someone may be able to correct me on my terminology, but you get my point)

[Bassmankr]

Just different understandings of the phrase "digitally controlled analog" which is no big deal. To me if you press a button on the desk that sends a digital command and it resets all the analog motorized faders (analog audio signal goes through that fader) or the analog audio signal gets muted or the analog audio signal gets routed differently then you have "digitally controlled analog". What is probably more important to the OP is what each desk will specifically do related to recall regardless of our definitions and is why I listed what the Otaris will actually do. The lines get blured with many devices. I once had a Roland JX8P synth which was an analog synth with all digital controls. Recall was just pressing a key for a preset but editing was either pushing buttons on the synth itself (digital) or using a separate PG800 controller which had a couple dozen analog sliders (analog converted to digital) to change the same parameters. I'd call that "digitally controlled analog" but in the case of editing using the external controler it was in fact "analog controlling digital controling analog". There just is lots of overlap with this kind of a thing and why I have a looser definition of that phrase than you do. If we could just train those small monkeys or interns to do a full recall of all the analog only gear in under a minute that would really take care of all of this lol.

[Kingtone]

I'm not getting all caught up on definitions... I'm trying to stay on topic and address what the OP asked.

[andychamp]

I remember the Amek Big, but that was a live desk.
But you had recall of all faders and pots, and Rupert Neve's (unverified) voice telling you stuff like "Channel 3 gain down" and "Stop" when you'd hit the spot.
Made for longer changeovers than with a cue sheet...

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by andychamp

I remember the Amek Big, but that was a live desk.
But you had recall of all faders and pots, and Rupert Neve's (unverified) voice telling you stuff like "Channel 3 gain down" and "Stop" when you'd hit the spot.
Made for longer changeovers than with a cue sheet...

Big was a studio desk wasn't it? The one I used at Uni had a tape path and changeover mode for mixing etc.

[dualflip]

Originally Posted by SurferRosa

Does anyone know of any digitally controlled analogue consoles out there? I guess like the old Euphonics idea - total digital control (and so totally recallable) but a completely analogue signal path.

Any suggestions (other than 'Euphonics' - I know that one) would be gratefully received.

Cheers

SSL or Amek

[superburtm]

The Matrix crossed my mind

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Big was a studio desk wasn't it? The one I used at Uni had a tape path and changeover mode for mixing etc.

Could well be.
I only know it from a live setting, though.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by dualflip

SSL or Amek

Ssl don't make a digitally controlled analogue console, matrix isn't close to the same as the euphonix.