Helios, once again!

[chrisso]

A guy in Germany has a pretty nice one.
He posts at Gearslutz. Search the site and ye shall find.
I tend to think part of the magic in Helios is the mic/pre however.
Perhaps not the 100% magical desk for mixing.
Nice desk all the same though.

[BrianK]

Not what you're asking, but....

One of the premier Helios desks (Strawberry Studios' desk: of the band 10cc) is being fully restored and placed into an exciting new studio for http://www.audities.org. This is in Canada, near Calgary. They also have a stellar collection of super-rare instruments and a 10 channel Helios from The Manor.

Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!

[C. Schleiwies]

Hej Simon,

I have a 32 Channel Helios console in my private producer studio in Munich Germany..
It is the former "Hansa Studio" Berlin console (the David Bowie stuff was redorded on it- Tony Visconti and David Bowie signed the Bord)

You can go to www.the-private-room.com and send me an Email.
I´ll send you my equipmet list, because the website is not ready yet.

[SimonN]

Thankyou for yor comments, both BrianK and chrisso! It´s excellent to get quick response like that, it told me right away that the forum is alive and active!
If I ever go to Canada, I´ll be sure to check out the studio in Calgary.

Mr. Schleiwies, I will look into your and send you a mail first thing as I get off this
mixpass! Hear from me soon!

Best to all
Simon

[Arny]

Originally Posted by SimonN

Hi all.

I´ve been trying to sift through all the Helios-posts for a clue, but couldnt find the info I was looking for, so here´s the question:

Any mixrooms in Europe with a Helios-desk that are up and running today?

I am aware of Helioscentric, it seems like a fantastic place for recording, but it doesnt really fit what I´m looking for in a mixsituation in terms of outboard (FX), automation and environment.
(No offense to any of the guys at the studio, I would LOVE to go there with a different project!)

I have read that Keith Grant has one in working condition, anyone know if that is true?

Thanks, best regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,
There is a great studio, that one of my engineers travels from
Koln to Hamburg to mix his latest productions because of the great sounding Helios Peter has.

Here is Peter's details
tel 00 49 40 513 16 551 home
PWeihe@t-online.de

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)

Home

[tomdarude]

Last thing I heard was Peter sold the desk...curious

[dan alexander]

"Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!"...

well thats nice, except ramport had a neve 8088.......which ended up at bearsville, and im not sure where its gone now.....ask mark mckenna....

and I know for a fact that keith grant doesnt have a whole console, and the parts he does have arent from a helios per se, but from a custom desk that Swettenham built before Helios existed....(he was one of the techs at Olympic before he built Helios #1 )

[dannycurtean@yah]

Originally Posted by C. Schleiwies

Hej Simon,

I have a 32 Channel Helios console in my private producer studio in Munich Germany..
It is the former "Hansa Studio" Berlin console (the David Bowie stuff was redorded on it- Tony Visconti and David Bowie signed the Bord)

You can go to THE PRIVATE ROOM and send me an Email.
I´ll send you my equipmet list, because the website is not ready yet.

I can help you get up and going with your website if youd like. I am independent so I can work out something that is great for both of us. Let me know.

[Paul EQ]

Originally Posted by dan alexander

"Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!"...

well thats nice, except ramport had a neve 8088.......which ended up at bearsville, and im not sure where its gone now.....ask mark mckenna....

and I know for a fact that keith grant doesnt have a whole console, and the parts he does have arent from a helios per se, but from a custom desk that Swettenham built before Helios existed....(he was one of the techs at Olympic before he built Helios #1 )

Funny but the Helios website differs... with pictures

Here's a link of the text :

Helios Electronics Ltd

Picture :

Google Image Result for http://www.helios-electronics.com/Townhouse_Ramport_Brownie.JPG

[Arny]

Originally Posted by Paul EQ

Funny but the Helios website differs... with pictures

Here's a link of the text :

Helios Electronics Ltd

Picture :

Google Image Result for http://www.helios-electronics.com/Townhouse_Ramport_Brownie.JPG

Dear Paul,
Sorry but the "Big Brownie" was not originally part of The Who’s Ramport Studios, but I do understand why it is a bit confusing so I hope I can explain.

"Big Brownie" Type79 was built especially for Richard Branson of Virgin and was first installed into Townhouse Studios, Goldhawk Road, London, 1979, Virgin sometime later, purchased Ramport Studios, Battersea London, which they moved Big Brownie from Townhouse 1, to Ramport, and sold off the original Helios Ramport Consul and renamed Ramport Studios to Townhouse 3, later I purchased "Big Brownie" for £8,000 and Virgin replaced this Helios with, ( I think), a Neve 8088.

Here is part or another of the original Ramport Consuls which now I believe is most likely the only Original Helios still remaining in the UK.


control
Room at Ape Studios
or
http://www.helios-electronics.com/html/where_are_they_now.html

Although;
In 1996 we did make a New Helios Consul under our old name "Courthouse Facilities", for Elvis Costello & Chris Difford, this consul was made up from two original Helios frames left over from the Alvin Lee Helios, and one of the Island Helios Consul's, which all modules were sold to Vintage King.
Why, if I may say so, all who used that consul (Which were many) preferred the reliability and the open sound of our re-issues, we appointed Cyril Jones, to design and manufacture the Monitors and the Grouper modules, our employee Mike Tupper did most of the building work, on this now known as another classic Helios Consul, which still remains in the UK called Helioscentric Studios.

Colin Fairly was the manager of Helioscentric, here is an interview, I worked with Colin on some Rory Gallagher Material at my Studio, and he was great to work with, and a real Scottish Gentleman.
http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_colin_fairly_helioscentric/

Here is Picture showing the original Helios in the Ramport Studio Control Room



Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
www.helios-electronics.com

[Arny]

Originally Posted by tomdarude

Last thing I heard was Peter sold the desk...curious

Dear Tom,
No he still has it, I doubt whether Peter would ever sell that lovely consul, he has put a lot of work into it, and Gary tells me how great it sounds

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[Arny]

Originally Posted by dan alexander

"Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!"...

well thats nice, except ramport had a neve 8088.......which ended up at bearsville, and im not sure where its gone now.....ask mark mckenna....

and I know for a fact that keith grant doesnt have a whole console, and the parts he does have arent from a helios per se, but from a custom desk that Swettenham built before Helios existed....(he was one of the techs at Olympic before he built Helios #1 )

Dear Dan,
I,m sure we have spoken a lot in the past, we have mutual friends in Don & Tony Larking and most likely Peter Duncan, you were interested in some ex-broadcast gear I had.
Anyway.
I do not think that Ramport had a Neve, Virgin the new owners, installed a Neve after Ramport had been renamed "Townhouse 3".

I still do business with Pete so I could ask him, in the meantime I will send him this picture I have put together.



Legend has it, that the ash from Petes Fag, was the secret of the "Who's" sound, like we would add a dash of salt to our Fish 'n Chips.



Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[tomdarude]

Originally Posted by Arny

Dear Tom,
No he still has it, I doubt whether Peter would ever sell that lovely consul, he has put a lot of work into it, and Gary tells me how great it sounds

Best Regards

Tony

I hope so, that would be great news indeed!!

[baikonour]

Originally Posted by BrianK

Not what you're asking, but....

One of the premier Helios desks (Strawberry Studios' desk: of the band 10cc) is being fully restored and placed into an exciting new studio for The Audities Foundation. This is in Canada, near Calgary. They also have a stellar collection of super-rare instruments and a 10 channel Helios from The Manor.

Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!

Amazing collection!

[Arny]

Originally Posted by baikonour

Amazing collection!
"The misinformation on this site is really approaching legendary proportions." Fletcher

Dear baikonour,
I know of another site that is so mis-informed I do pity the mail anyone would recieve if they tried to construct a Helios Story from the material placed on this Forum.

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[chrisso]

Ramport? Townhouse 3?
It was the same studio/building.
The ownership changed, the name changed and so did the gear, but I recorded there when they had a Helios and it was owned by Virgin (named Townhouse 3 at the time).
I think a second time I went back they had the Neve.

[Arny]

Originally Posted by chrisso

Ramport? Townhouse 3?
It was the same studio/building.
The ownership changed, the name changed and so did the gear, but I recorded there when they had a Helios and it was owned by Virgin (named Townhouse 3 at the time).
I think a second time I went back they had the Neve.

Dear Chrisso,
Correct, exactly what I said, the building was originaly Ramport, was purchased by Virgin, changed to Townhouse 3 was on a Housing Estate, in Battersea London, you will have recorded on the Helios "Big Brownie" consul on your first visit, and on the Neve 8088 during your second visit.

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[chrisso]

Yes, correct.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by dan alexander

"Just found two channel strips of The Who's old Ramport desk from them, can't wait to use them!"...

well thats nice, except ramport had a neve 8088.......which ended up at bearsville, and im not sure where its gone now.....ask mark mckenna....

and I know for a fact that keith grant doesnt have a whole console, and the parts he does have arent from a helios per se, but from a custom desk that Swettenham built before Helios existed....(he was one of the techs at Olympic before he built Helios #1 )

Actually you're half right... They did own a custom Neve with black/ day glow 1095's... But, it was not an 8088... it actually was a completely custom console from Neve, and is now in possession of Neil Finn in Australia.

[Arny]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Actually you're half right... They did own a custom Neve with black/ day glow 1095's... But, it was not an 8088... it actually was a completely custom console from Neve, and is now in possession of Neil Finn in Australia.

Originally Posted by Arny

I purchased "Big Brownie" for £8,000 and Virgin replaced this Helios with, ( I think), a Neve 8088.
.

Dear Tony
If you consider my first post on this subject, ( I think), a Neve 8088. then your mathematics are not quite accurate, in other words you state that I am only half right = 50% right, I'll give a little and agree to 5% wrong, making my post 95% right, until anyone else has other views, because I am always willing to learn.
I was there while the Neve was being fitted but never took much notice of its model, I was slightly misguided by Dan's Post.

In my second Post I missed out the words ( I think),Typographical Error.

Thanks for the correction though, I now know what the Neve was and where it is now.

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by arny

dear tony
if you consider my first post on this subject, ( i think), a neve 8088. Then your mathematics are not quite accurate, in other words you state that i am only half right = 50% right, i'll give a little and agree to 5% wrong, making my post 95% right, until anyone else has other views, because i am always willing to learn.
i was there while the neve was being fitted but never took much notice of its model, i was slightly misguided by dan's post.

in my second post i missed out the words ( i think),typographical error.

thanks for the correction though, i now know what the neve was and where it is now.

best regards

I'm not sure why you're responding to me... It's pretty easy to tell that I quoted Dan's post in my previous comment.

[Arny]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I'm not sure why you're responding to me... It's pretty easy to tell that I quoted Dan's post in my previous comment.

Dear Tony,
Sorry, please forgive me, stupid of me, and of course your calculation of 50% was most likely correct.
I'm not quite up to the mark when it comes to forums, I,m still trying to get my chosen image to show by my name, and placing a link, I sometimes have a problem with, so I hope you understand.

Again thanks for your update, I always wondered what Model the Neve was.

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Arny

Dear Tony,
Sorry, please forgive me, stupid of me, and of course your calculation of 50% was most likely correct.
I'm not quite up to the mark when it comes to forums, I,m still trying to get my chosen image to show by my name, and placing a link, I sometimes have a problem with, so I hope you understand.

Again thanks for your update, I always wondered what Model the Neve was.

No worries.

[lambro]

gotta love that pic of Entwistle, thanks Tony


ps I love my type 69

[Arny]

Originally Posted by Arny

Dear Tom,
No he still has it, I doubt whether Peter would ever sell that lovely consul, he has put a lot of work into it, and Gary tells me how great it sounds

Best Regards

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

Dear All on this Thread,
I try to keep contact with as many Helios Consuls or other Helios hardware, as I can to include in the Helios "Where are they now" page", which I hope will help Producer/Engineers/Musicians like Simon to find any Helios Consuls in their area, but sometimes it is difficult for me to keep up.

Where are they Now

If any past information I have given has caused any inconvenience then I apologise.

Peter has sold the console to his friend Detlef Petersen, who was the pianist, composer, and founder of the band "Lake". Detlef will be producing a new Lake record and he wanted to have the best possible analogue console for it in his studio. As Peter was only using ten channels and two of the twenty four groups for his guitar recordings, Detlef convinced him that the Helios would come to full glory with all channels, groups, and monitors being in use in the course of such a classic analogue band
production.
Although Detlef bought the Helios from Peter, he said he was actually only borrowing it and insisted on Peter keeping 2 channels for his acoustic guitar sound.
Manfred Reckmeyer, Peter's technician, will continue to service the Helios, so it will be kept in perfect shape.

Best Regards,

Tony
Tony Arnold (Director)
Home

[tomdarude]

Hey Arny, thanks for taking that time!!! very cool

Where are they Now

.....and awesome what a small world this interweb-thingy makes out of the studio nerds


I´m just beeing curious about the recent states of the few great consoles we have left in germany, great to hear that Peter´s desk doesn´t get far out into nowhere land!!