20 l December 2013


www.psneurope.com SOUNDBITES Studio UNITED KINGDOM


Solid State Logichas announced that Paul Savage has upgraded his Chem 19 Studios with an AWS 948 Controller. The studios have played host to artists including Calvin Harris and Deacon Blue. Savage claims the AWS has already helped “drive his commercial success”. www.solid-state-logic.com


Acclaimed engineer David Bottrill has been using Radial Engineering’s new Cherry Picker and Gold Digger units, which the maker claims will increase efficiency in the studio, for his latest project in Vancouver. Bottrill, who spent nine years working in Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio, says, “We used [them] to select mics and preamps. So easy to use!” www.radialeng.com


iZotopehas released a new digital guide entitled Audio Repair with RX 3: Tools, Tips, and Techniques. The reference guide, available free of charge in the iTunes store and through iZotope’s website, outlines the most common types of audio problems in recordings. www.izotope.com


Ocean Audio surfaces


Former Trident man Malcolm Toft continues to ride a wave of engineering success with a new company and a raft of new products, writes Erica Basnicki


“WE’VE ACHIEVED a lot in the first year,” says Malcolm Toft of his latest venture. Known in the industry as the man behind the venerable Trident A-Range and Series 80 consoles, Toft formed Ocean Audio in January 2013 after numerous years consulting for Trident parent company PMI Audio Group. “I basically decided I wanted to be back in control of my own destiny if you like,” said Toft, and with that the company launched two 500 Series modules (an EQ and mic pre) followed by The Ark 516, the first analogue recording console designed to support 40 individual 500 Series modules. “We launched it at the


Frankfurt music show and it was really well received,” said


Toft (right) and producer Tony Visconti at AES in October


Toft. “In fact we had a whole load of other manufacturers looking over it to see what it was about. Since then it’s started to grow in interest and we’ve actually sold a few consoles so far, so it’s all quite exciting.” Each of The Ark’s 16 input channels provides two slots for 500 Series modules and a fully modular input channel with independent line and monitor


inputs, six aux sends and bussing to groups and master outputs. Toft’s design philosophy for The Ark was to make it as transparent as possible, with the flavour of the sound coming from the 500 Series modules “That’s what really excites me


about The Ark. You’re no longer down to people saying ‘what does the console sound like? What does the EQ sound


like?’ It sounds like whatever EQ you want to put in it.”


The console began shipping in


July and according to Toft the reaction has “exceeded expectations. We were always hoping that The Ark would catch people’s imagination – and it really seems to have done – and we’ve been very gratified by the response that it’s had and by how quickly the word has spread.” A sub-£12k pricetag puts The


Ark at a fairly reasonable price- point, though Toft does acknowledge that adding 16 channels of 500 Series mic pres and EQs can drive that up. To that end, he says that Ocean


Audio is “considering doing a lower-cost mic preamp and EQ so people can populate The Ark with our modules, without it costing too much to have a fully- equipped console. They will probably be our next products.” Beyond that, Toft won’t say.


“We’ve got our eyes on the marketplace and all I can say is watch this space, and look on the website from time to time, and I’m sure you’ll some see exciting things happening.” www.oceanaudio.co.uk


For the latest studio news www.psneurope.com/studio


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