remote consoles

[ToneLux]

Pick me! pick me!

I have worked quite a bit with the SACD stuff, and after working with Ron Prent at Galaxy and the fine people at Philips, I designed the API Vision, which is VERY surround. I think DSD could be the next viable recording format, (Sony had a machine, but they just dropped it. Offered it to me at one point, but wanted too much) and wish that SA-CD had the same success.

My Tonelux line is designed with high resolution in mind. Check it out and let me know what you think. I have 2 new op-amps, one of which is a very close to class A design. I am looking for clear and clean, with the option of the famed transformer outputs too, as a choice.

[hollywood_steve]

Its nice to have a gear designer / manufacturer so actively involved in a thread, so we might as well take advantage of it. Ok Paul, AES will be the first chance any of us have to take a look at your new line - here's a few questions? (no disrespect meant; but we've all had strange experiences with new lines)

1. will you have working units at the show, or "prototypes" that look like the product, but are still under development?

2. if we are blown away by the display models, how long until we can actually go purchase a rack full of modules?

3. and just so there is no wiggle room around that last question, how long until all modules are available for delivery?


My point with all this has to do with timing. If someone wants a working mini-mixer for the busy holiday season of live recording, will the Tonelux line be in the hands of customers, or will actual deliveries be some time after the 1st of the year?

Thanks!

(and yes, a major goal for me with this mixer will be to produce analog mixes of sessions recorded directly to DSD format. One conversion to analog for simple summing via this mixer and then a final conversion of the stereo mix to whatever PCM format the client requires. Currently, I am forced to use the GX9000's onboard PCM mixer to create the PCM format stereo mix. An analog mixer will facilitate the use of all of my analog processing gear. )

[ToneLux]

1. will you have working units at the show, or "prototypes" that look like the product, but are still under development?

2. if we are blown away by the display models, how long until we can actually go purchase a rack full of modules?

3. and just so there is no wiggle room around that last question, how long until all modules are available for delivery?

IT's a perfectly good set of questions.

1 The units at the show will be production models. I have been getting prototypes made for the last few months. The EQ is on #3, the AUX1 was a no brainer, the 2 mixers are at #2 and the MIC Pre is also at #2.

2 I am hoping to have them available directly after the show, barring any manufacturing problems. I have been buying parts in the thousands just to make sure. For example, by first knob order was for 1600 knob sets, which is enough to make about 200 of everything. They take a month to get. I ordered 5000 of the fancy back lit switches and 10,000 custom clear buttons.

3 The modules shown on the web site and the rack will be available. The summing modules will be ready about the time the show is ending. The control room module will be available before the end of the year. I am trying to get a recording pack first that can mix.

I am not kidding around about the Tonelux line. I have wanted to do this for many years, as even when I owned API, I wanted to be able to do this, but I had to stay within the "restrictions" of the API history. For example, there are places that an IC will be acceptable, such as solo, effects sends, etc. That leaves the discretes to mic pres, eqs and summing. It helps with the costs and there is no reduction in quality.

I think I have a good track record, and will continue to make the best sounding products out there.

[hollywood_steve]

That 200 series rack is a steal at around $200 per module, but I just can't figure out what I'd use the gate modules for, especially 6 of them. But one of you rock guys is gonna get a helluva deal.

[ToneLux]

Those gates are the fastest around. If you set the gate, then switch to expand, they act like noise reduction. The on time is so fast that a snare will rip your head off. I designed them to be the real deal.

[Remoteness]

Hey Paul,

Where did you get the inspiration for your new product line?

[ToneLux]

I was getting tired of being locked into the API product "restrictions" of the 2520 and transformer. Don't get me wrong, I am not degrading the line at all. It is one of the greatest lines out there.

I just had to make sure that anything I did was true to the sound, or I would get cornholed and compared to the 550A.

One thing I noticed several (many several) years ago, was when you called and wanted to buy a ton of mic pres. Your concept was renting an almost empty truck with snakes and mic pres (more than that, but it sounds more romantic). It was a strange concept, and it always stuck in my mind.

Then, of course, there was the picture of you standing next to 9,348 mic pres stacked up, which also stuck in my mind. (something was working for you)

I've always liked doing live recording, as it is a good way to eat what was left of one's stomach. Did the last 2 Woodstocks, and many more with Kooster. When the hard drive recorders came to be, I started doing remote recordings with Bill Plummer (Tinderarts) for Jazz festivals and things like Bonnaroo. The remote part was becoming more and more compact and was slowly turning in to what Steve had been doing for years. Flight Packs.

As the same started happening in studios, with DAWs as recorders and mixers, there was a hole that needed to be filled. I had been building summing mixers for DAW users as they, as most find out, the digital summing is OK at best. I think the Otari Advanta was the only digital mixer that actually sounded good.

Of course all of this was going on while I either owned API or worked for the new owners. I presented them a new product idea called the 8200 and the 7800. At the first trade show that featured them, we took pre orders for 50 units.

I then realized that the studio model was changing forever and that larger consoles would be a good market, but no in the quantities of yesteryear.

Bla Bla Bla, I decided to leave API to start Tonelux on June 1 of this year. I wanted to provide the industry with a reasonalble priced array of modular products that had high value, more features, higher module count per rack and was either fully or partially discrete, which could now be MY CHOICE... I have learned a lot owning API, so have no fear, I won't screw you guys out there.

Seeing what Steve had, I figured that he would be good for another 6,000 mic pres, but took it to the next level and decided to make it motorized and able to be controlled by a laptop from anywhere in the world that had a TCP/IP address.

The EQ is a design that is parametric, but has a similar feel as the 550 series, where it is broad when boosted a little, and gets tighter as it is boosted more. It also has a 1/3 oct switch that locks it so it can be used as a tighter EQ.

In addition, there was a need for a monitoring mixer that could do confidence mixes, pre checking and then be able to play back when the client wanted to hear something. At the same time, with the reality of the economy/model of recording, this mixer also needed to be good enough that it could be taken into the studio and used to mix the tracks with a great tone.

So that is where I am today, trying to keep music sounding better and help to keep food on the table of those of us that do this.

I think whether or not Steve saw it coming, he postioned himself in a position that is where a lot of owners of a lot of equipment wish they were now. Provide the front end and let the client hook it up the way they want. Like I said in the beginning, I always remembered (and wondered) what he was doing.

I guess I could be called the step father of american EQ... I tried to keep raising it correctly and tried to keep it out of jail, and decided to leave that relationship and start a new one, have a few kids and raise them my own way... One of them looks just like Fletcher...

[Ol' Betsey]

What about something like this?

http://www.purpleaudio.com/Product/super8.html

Can't tell from the diagram but it looks like the mic amps MIGHT be optional and could be used as line level mixer only?

Probably wrong but...

R.

[ClickTrackAudio]

After seeing Paul's post and new website, I did some more investigation into his Tonelux line. We ended up chatting on the phone for a bit. Having a background in electrical engineering, I can say that the design ideas Paul mentioned are solid and I like where he's going with it. Besides which, we already know the heritage of Paul's work which speaks for itself!!!

For my money, at this point, I'm very interested in his line. I'm designing a mobile truck from the ground up and was searching for remote controlled pres of that would sound good too at a reasonable price. His pres have made me stop and revisit my pre selection.

I won't be able to attend AES, but lets just say that after AES, I'm hoping to work somethnig out where I can do a shootout of the new tonelux pres. If I like what I hear, you may be hearing more from me about this new line!

Cheers
Click.

[ToneLux]

Originally posted by hollywood_steve
[i]

The new Tonelux line (www.tonelux.com) seems to be the closest thing to what I really need. 8ea of the MX2 modules and a stereo master module and I'd be all set. (I just wish I could get mine without any of the 4 Aux sends per module.)

I've also looked at some of the larger "film" sound mixers from Cooper, PSC, Sonosaz, etc. But finding one with 8ch is not easy and much of the cost goes towards features that I do not need, from mic preamps to battery power.

Right now the Tonelux is looking good, but I've learned the hard way that being one of the 1st customers for a new product is not always a good idea. I have no idea if the Tonelux line is ready to ship or still just a great idea. In any event, this year's AES show should offer the best selection of new hardware every available - I can't imagine coming home without making some kind of deal.

You can drive your (any of your) truck over my head if this stuff doesn't do the job for you. It all showed very well at the AES in SF, so it is officially no longer vaporware...

[kidtexas]

Originally posted by hollywood_steve
That 200 series rack is a steal at around $200 per module, but I just can't figure out what I'd use the gate modules for, especially 6 of them. But one of you rock guys is gonna get a helluva deal.

Could you elaborate on this? I'm looking for used 200 series items. It sounds as if you are referring to some on sale, but I can't quite figure out who is selling...

[Remoteness]

KidTexas,

Paul Wolff had some up for auction on eBay...

He may have more available. Ask him or PM him at Tonelux.

[ToneLux]

Sold them to a guy in Indonesia. None left. Liquidated my studio to finance Tonelux. Made a lot, and things are moving forward well.