[RMoore]

Wasn't aware of those Hardy drop in pre cards  - looks great!
The info is going to brighten the day of a couple MCI and SONY users I know,
Kool,

[thedoc]

Eric, they had two rooms, and I am not sure if the plan was to put 990's in both consoles.  If my memory is correct, that would be one API, and one Q8.

[compasspnt]

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

[Greg Youngman]

Hey Bob.  You mentioned John Sands.  Is he still around and kicking?

[Bob Olhsson]

I was hoping someone knows more about John's whereabouts than I do! I last saw him at Capitol around 1985.

[Brian Kehew]

I have a lots of experience with older Quad Eights. I own the Pacifica, which is a 1976/77 era console, the type The Wall was mixed on. It is very similar to an API, but cleaner, less colored. The EQs are quite similar (designed by the same API guys), but less powerful, more for gentle adjustment. That being said, the EQ's NEVER sound bad at any setting.

The Pre's are warm and smooth, but not sizzly bright. Overall, I'd say it does not sound as "wide" as a Neve (like the API more bandwidth limited in a nice musical way) but I prefer the subtle smoothness in the Quad 8 to Neve.

I have not recapped most of my board (1977), only a few on the Main Stereo Bus. Why? Because I cannot imagine a console that sounds any better than this. Seriously. If you offered me a Neve 8078 or old API in trade I would turn it down. This console (Pacifica) is warm and clear, punchy like an API, but smooth like a Neve. The transformers are all Dean Jensen-created to go in there, and they are LARGE, physically as big as they could possibly be and still fit in the console. Excellnt quality Bourns pots are used throughout, the only issues I ever have with my 30-year old console is dirty switches, sometimes.

Older Quad 8 (as mentioned before) are astounding sounding modules, but you're unlikely to find any console with more than 8 or 16 channels, as it was "that era". The later 80's consoles (Mitsubishi/Westar) are good sounding, but not in the same league as the older stuff. Considering you can get a 70's Qaud Eight for between 15 and 30 thousand, it's unbelievable.

Quad Eight was the desk for most of Capitol Tower, Motown LA, Producer's Workshop, many more... Certainly, as people say, "as good as API or Neve".

[Brian Kehew]

And, yes, you can run signal at +25 through the console and it will NOT clip! Amazing.

[Bob Olhsson]

Brian Kehew wrote on Wed, 23 November 2005 13:37

And, yes, you can run signal at +25 through the console and it will NOT clip! Amazing.

And what a sad statement about how far we haven't come!

Almost every old Q/8 I ever saw, other than on a Foley or ADR stage, was a 20 input. John Windt came up to San Francisco to expand Wally Heider's studio A for use with a 24 track. Wally also had outboard API-550as normaled to every channel! I was so impressed that I bought a pair to lug around with me.

[dcollins]

Bob Olhsson wrote on Fri, 18 November 2005 20:00

I was hoping someone knows more about John's whereabouts than I do! I last saw him at Capitol around 1985.

Last I heard he had a company called "Points of Presence" doing internet stuff.

DC

[bigaudioblowhard]

Brian Kehew wrote on Wed, 23 November 2005 12:36

. Quad Eight was the desk for most of Capitol Tower, Motown LA, Producer's Workshop, many more... Certainly, as people say, "as good as API or Neve".

Ian Gardiner at Boutique Audio has just finished racking my QE MM61S modules.

All fixed up and checked out by a Mr. John Hirsch (sp?). Apparently he's some kind of QE guru.

I'm picking them up maybe tomorrow. I'm so damned excited, letcha know. bab.

[RMoore]

heres the full tape op article online at cinemag

http://cinemag.biz/electrodyne/electrodyne_part_1.html

[tmiller]

I've been working on a QE Coronado since 1981.  This is a 78 vintage.  The QE pre-amps have stood their ground in blind tests on different occasions when we brought in the 'heavy weights' to compare them.  I think they are some of the best made.

We actually bought a spare console so we could have the AM-10's and parts to keep ours up and running. The sound of these consoles is amazing and it's a wonderful thing not to have to use a magnifying glass just to read the knobs.  

[scot]

I worked at Sound Labs in the 70's anyone know how to contact John Sands? If so scotmorgan@cox.net, Thanks, Scot

[iCombs]

bigaudioblowhard wrote on Thu, 24 November 2005 14:37

Brian Kehew wrote on Wed, 23 November 2005 12:36 . Quad Eight was the desk for most of Capitol Tower, Motown LA, Producer's Workshop, many more... Certainly, as people say, "as good as API or Neve". Ian Gardiner at Boutique Audio has just finished racking my QE MM61S modules. All fixed up and checked out by a Mr. John Hirsch (sp?). Apparently he's some kind of QE guru. I'm picking them up maybe tomorrow. I'm so damned excited, letcha know. bab.

Probably would have been Ken Hirsch from Orphan Audio/Quad Eight Electronics.  I've got a pair of my 12 MM310B's at his shop at the moment and am incredibly excited to get them back and play with them.  I mean...there's 3 good sized x-formers in one 310 module...plus the inductors in the EQ...hell...the KNOBS are metal!

I'll be sure to check back once I get them in and start flogging them!

[Matt Allen]

Great thread from years ago!

I get to enjoy a Quad Eight Coronado, same one that is mentioned above by t miller.
Hands down some of the best recordings I have heard.
Almost as if the console is perfectly matched with our recording space.
The Sphere's come in a close 2nd. Not really the same sound, but equally incredible.

The QE Mitsubishi Westar really shouldn't be in the QE category. It was the answer to Sony's 3000 series console, or vice versa.
Seemed like a "digital clear, crisp, bright, correct" kind of sound. blah!
just my old 2 cents