Telefunken Custom

Here is a very interesting console I just saw on ebay. Its essentially a Telefunken, well sort of because it was made by Hans Becker. See the text that follows. It was originally made in 1974 for film composer Klaus Doldinger, check out the clip below for some early-80s synth soundtrack work done on this very desk

This auction is for a very cool vintage ABE custom recording console. This was designed and built in 1974 by Ex head designer of Telefunken Hans Becker after the close of the company. Hans tells me that this was one of only two recording consoles that he built and was made to the highest specification. This one was made for the award winning film composer and Jazz musician ‘Klaus Doldinger’ (Das Boot, Never Ending Story, Air Force One). It was then sold to WEA Germany and spent some time at their studios before coming to the UK.

This console is the centre point of my studio. It has been fully refurbished and is fully functional. It has a very punchy API sound and is extremely versatile. Fat drums, bass and punchy guitars.

This desk has allowed me to track to protools or to my 16 track analogue tape machine or bounce between the two without patching which is very handy if you are using tape to warm up your DAW.

The console has a very comprehensive list of features:

28 main inputs

24 monitor inputs

4 groups

Mix Bus Compressor/Limiter x2

RTW Plasma meter (L/R)

Ernest Turner PPM Meters (L/R) (ex BBC added by myself)

Full jack patchbay (left side of console)

Talkback (beyer)

24 multitrack/tape sends

Stereo master out

Monitor out

Group outx4 with inserts

28 of each of the main inputs feature:

Mic input 80db stepped with 10db fine adjust pot (very punchy API sound) Beyer transformer balanced.

Line input

Mix input (from tape/protools)

Tone input (direct from tone generator for line up)

3 band EQ :

3k-16k with 20db cut/boost Pull up the freq sweep knob for tight Q

500hz-8k with 20db cut/boost Pull up the freq sweep knob for tight Q

40hz-600hz with 20db cut/boost Pull up the freq sweep knob for tight Q

80hz/120hz low cut filter

L /R send

4 group sends

4 Aux (aux 3+4 selectable AFL/PFL)

Pan

Phase reverse

AFL/PFL/SOLO

Direct out

Insert

Direct to tape (on ch 1-24)

24 of each of the tape monitor (right hand side) section inputs feature:

Pan

Level

Cut

I have been using the monitor mixer for protools summing and is the best sounding summing mixer I have heard. Extremely rich and punchy sound-almost like tracking to tape.

The Studio monitoring section:

Speaker1-4 select/phones

Mono/Stereo switch

Phase 180 switch

L/R R/L switch

Volume

Talkback select

The console will come literally ‘plug and play’ with every loom (all OFC cable) to connect to your outboard fx/tape machines and protools converters etc!

Circuit diagrams and big box of spares included. You should also note that Hans Becker still holds some spares for this console.

Very compact - Dimentions are: 62 (long) 46 (to top meterbridge) x 35 inches deep

Removes from the stand for transport.

Please note that my telephone and 3m autolocator next to the talkback mic is not included in the sale as belongs to my m79 tape machine. I have the blank panel to go where it currently sits.

Examples of songs recorded and mixed on this console here:

http://www.myspace.com/rainmakerstudio

Or listen to the ‘Das Boot’ or ‘Never Ending’ story soundtracks!

Located in Southsea UK