Hi there,

Watching the Tonelux line of products I ask myself if this could be the future for many advanced DAW studios, who feel the need for an analog console:

http://www.tonelux.com/

Expandable consoles in 8,16,24,32 etc. frame sizes with as many Eq / dynamics modules etc. as you want...
This totally makes sense to me since you can expand your studio exactly in the speed, which you can afford to.

Especially the 100 mm faders bring in an important feature, which most summing boxes are lacking: EQ & dynamics are PRE Fader and not POST fader again.
Which exact type of faders are they ?
Can these faders actually BOOST levels or just CUT ?

This leads me to the question: Will there ever be an automation available for the faders ? In the kind, SSL use for their AWS desk - automation, which follows your Pro Tools automation BUT POST ANALOG FADER...
...Very important question...

The other question is: I heard rumours, Empirical labs will release their distressor as a module for the Tonelux series. Any infos ? Schmusing with Rupert Neve on their website....any Neve modules in sight too, hmmm....?


If the answer on my 2 last questions is YES - Tonelux would make me VERY horny for their gear...and attract many people for whom the SSL AWS desk is out of reach finacially at one moment.

Next stupid question is:

What about keeping my trusty & and fantastic sounding spl mixdream for summing and buying additionally 16 of these faders for it´s inserts ?

mixdream insert send -->Outboard comp./EQ-->tonelux fader with boost/cut-->mixdream return....

PRE FADER compression, where art thou...?

I believe I remember Paul saying that they were working on a moving fader system that would be able to be controlled by the DAW somehow....So I think the answer is yes, but he'll probably pop up at some point to explain it better and regale us with some of that patented Paul Wolff humor......

...And another one....regarding my future tonelux/spl/empirical labs - 16 channel console fitted with 16 Wunder PEQ pre amp modules, 8 Neve EQ modules, 8 tonelux Eq modules, 16 distressor modules, 2 alan smart summing comp modules & 8 green & 8 yellow 100 mm faders....

Wouldn´t it be intelligent if you have only ONE power supply and cascade the single modules with power cords á la Wunder Audio PEQ-1R....? At least modules of the same kind like EQ´s, dynamics & pre´s ?

O.K. enough unpaid ideas for today - I expect a cheque from Paul Wolf until I´m outing more design sketches heh
Sh.. Shaman, you just can´t control your mouth......

I guess in 7 years from now tonelux will release a developers´catalogue with 100 pages....and no one will remember it´s been me, who gave them the right ideas at the right moment... heh

If I rember correctly when I asked Paul about the faders he said they were passive.

You go Shaman.....................

im still waiting to go analog console when dave hill makes a cranesong desk... flamingo>ibis>trakker>hedd [channel strip], obviously digitally controlled for instant recall [and one would need a AC unit JUST for the console]

Moving the master fader on my spider allways again is an erotic experience and makes me want 31 more of it.
It just feels sooo smooooth

If the tonelux faders are anywhere near this, ACTIVE & automate with Pro Tools......they´re darn bought

Well, prepare your boners...

Yes, ELI is doing a distressor Jr for the TX series. We are also talking to 3 other high end manufacturers and will announce in a few weeks.

We are working on moving faders and manual faders, 100mm. The moving faders will allow audio through them but use the DAW software. We are trying to get it into an open format so all OTB manufacturers will use the same format.

We are building consoles, so far, we have sold 2, and one is a 48 channel surround console going to Germany. We can do anything from a single Vrack with 32 inputs to a complete console with faders, inputs, eqs, mic pres and buss assign. The beauty is that the DAW sits in the middle, it doesn't cost a lot and it sounds great. We can supply the racks and you build your own console, or we can make it look like a normal console.

Our power supplies power 2 racks. On larger systems, a single power supply is an option. We also are offering a complete patchbay system.

Right now we are building a minimum of 250 of everything. As of this week, just about everything is pre ordered and sold.

We are trying to offer an open platform, while at the same time, inviting good companies to join us so it doesn't turn into a ****fest. I want an open system to allow engineers to buy a few racks and not have to stare at 3 different racks with 3 different types of blank panels in them. More to come.

Paul

Holy Nevegod 1073......... ...praise the age of individualism....your concept is the best, I heard for AGES heh thumbsup

Do tell me, where that console sits in Germany..........I wanna see pictures, I wanna hear details, I wanna know who´s the german distributor, I wann know eeeeverything bout your consoles...........

Peter Schmidt bought it. More details in a few days.

excellent. congratulations!

I'm saving as fast as I can...

Not as affordable as I'd like, but being a fully modular/expandable system, it looks fan-f'ing-tastic. Hopefully, the consumer level home studio market won't become so prevalent that an approach like this - which is the way it should be done - will fall by the wayside.

I guess we gotta go "Speck" if we want it more affordable, but then it won't sound as good.

This:

http://www.tonelux.com/products.html

would go nice with this:

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


while this:

http://www.rupertneve.com/porticoconcept.html

would go nice with these:

http://www.ams-neve.com/prod/1073.htm

http://www.wunderaudio.com/home.html

http://brentaverill.com/neve_rak/

http://GreatRiverElectronics.com/MEQ-1NV.html

http://www.phoenixaudio.net/drs1.htm

http://www.speck.com/mp50/mp50.shtml
http://www.speck.com/asc/asc_2.shtml


But these:

http://apiaudio.com/500v.html

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

http://brentaverill.com/api_rack/

http://www.oldschoolaudio.com/products.html

would be cool too... formats multiply again.

When I say "****fest" I mean we have a proprietary motherboard (8 layers) with a lot of power. The companies that MAKE THEIR OWN stuff and is of quality are working with us and we are providing them with the pinout. This will eliminate the "****" from making "****" modules and using our nice rack.

Paul,
one more question about the faders (motor or not). I did not get it. Can they be used with any insert on a rackmixer or summing box?

Thanks!

Paul, if you really need to "prepare your boner", you should "ask your doctor if Viagra is right for you."

love,
w2

ps, still waiting for the all stepped switched EQ's {g}

Paul, this looks really great, I can't wait to hear it. FWIW, here's the list of modules in my Tonelux console.

Preamp modules:

4 Wunder PEQ
2 mdp-1 a
2 mdp-1 b
4 MP-2NV
2 tg channels
2 dakings
2 martech's
2 funkenwerk v72's
4 gml
2 DRS-1

2 TD-100
2 Valvotronics
2 evil twins

Compressors modules:

4 distressors
4 Trakkers
4 STC-8's
2 CL1b's
4 C2
4 Atomic Squeezbox
2 es-8
2 ocl-2
2 ear 660
2 VT-737 (kidding)


EQ modules:

4 massive passive
4 IBIS
4 GML
4 EQ-2NV
4 550
4 560
2 295
2 DW Fearn


Does that work for you?

When I say "prepare" I mean that you need to clear anyone that might get hurt while it ascends.

The EQs are stepped. There are 3,485,768 steps. Very fine adjustment. You would like the TILT control.

....

(OT)
Something like this:
click

This implies that on occasion it DESCENDS.

I will stop there...

really smart move.

You're just no FUN anymore.

You could steal the Pfizer advert idea:

"Remember that mixer who used to be such a devil? He was ready to record in an instant? He could mix all night? Well, he's baaack.... ask your audio-gear-dealer if Tonelux is right for you"


one word: STEPS

Sorry to awaken this beast from slumber but... Any news on this, Paul? Maybe my head's up my butt but I haven't heard anything so would love to hear more about how those deals with "quality manufacturers" worked out, where things like the modular Distressor etc are at in the development process, and so on... If you can spill the beans...

OK OK, we both stretched the truth a bit... Both of us are doing "console solutions" but we are not actually building them...

The new modules from our "guest" manufacturers are almost finished and we will make an announcement in the next few weeks. You will be very happy...

As far as Tonelux goes, we are shipping, and the word is that is sounds pretty F-ing great...

Paul

Sweet...

Do you plan to release any more remote-controllable products? Like EQ, or dynamics processors?

Also sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, but is the remote control API (EDIT: I mean "application programming interface"... ) open as well? I.e. is it possible to create custom software applications to use it?

Thanks Paul!

Ha ho he. May you get bathed in a gallon of sweat from a monkey...

API, SSL, LS/MFT, all those.

Like Fivel says, "never say never"

I like the fact that Empirical Labs is making modules for it... I am definitely buying a frame (as soon as Empirical labs officiallly 's aboard)!!!