Roots Archives Forum

Does anyone know what mixing board(s)/desk(s) they used at Channel One?

Four track API desk according to the info on my Channel one cd 'Maxwell Avenue Breakdown Dubs And Instrmentals 1974 - 1979' on Pressure Sounds.
That is what the Hookim brothers started out with. I would have thought that they would have upgraded as technology progressed and they hit their stride.
Good question as well. Every now and then I still love to crank their rhythms out loud!

API 1604 or 1608 console, can't remember which - the primary difference is just the output bussing (4 outs or 8 outs), all the API modules (preamps, EQs, etc.) are interchangeable.


most of the KIngston studios had very respectable (and expensive) top-of-the line custom consoles in the early/mid 70's - since Federal and Dynamic were busy commercial facilities with professional staff, they pretty much set the bar for everyone else who wanted to be a serious contender. i believe the Hoo-Kim brothers spent something close to $30k USD just for the API, which was some pretty serious money for 1972-73.

I have a vague memory of reading around the time all the Showdown albums came out that they had by then upgraded to a 16 track board - which seemed a bit strange considering the stark minimalism of those productions and re-use of some seriously old rhythms.

I'm really curious about the board they used in the early 80s.

Return of Jesco wrote:I have a vague memory of reading around the time all the Showdown albums came out that they had by then upgraded to a 16 track board - which seemed a bit strange considering the stark minimalism of those productions and re-use of some seriously old rhythms.

Yes, in the late 70's Channel One upgraded from their 4-track to a new 16-track board. The LPs you mention were recorded and mixed on this board. I forget the brand, but it's probably discernable on some photos we took there.

THanks Davek - for once memory not playing up!

the API console was in Channel One the whole time... it never changed, although they went from 1/2" 4 track tape to 2" 16 track, just like everybody else.

BBJ

A 4 track-board allows for 4 discreet channels, and a 16 track allows for 16. They originally had a 4 track, and then
upgraded to 16 in the late 70's. It was very common practise to record at Channel in 16 tracks (2" tape), and then mix it down to 4 and take it to Tubby's, who only had a 4 track until he completed his studio shortly before his death. I am quite certain of this, as I have been there many times, and watched engineers govern 16 discreet tracks, not 4.

Davek, not knocking your observations at all.... but the console was the same throughout the era of Channel One, only the tape decks changed. the console always had 16 inputs, either input channels or tape return channels. API never built a 4 input console, and certainly not for $38k USD in 1972. but, it had more than enough flexibility to handle tape machines with increased track counts.

Bunny Lee was the first to do a session there (he always made himself a guinea pig for new studios or bands) in 1973 with Delroy WIlson, but Channel One had serious glitches for a couple of years before they hit it big in 1975, a lot of engineers apparently did not like it at first - Syd Bucknor was the first of a number of engineers that passed through.

http://forum.dancehallreggae.com/showth ... hannel-One


the Channel One API console was actually a 1608 - 16 inputs, 8 buss out, and 16 channels of tape monitoring .... same API console bought in 1972, but Channel One later upgraded the tape decks, as read below. supposedly the console sat in Jo Jo Hookim's carport for a number of years after Channel One was permanently decommissioned.


"They recorded to 1/2 inch Ampex 440, although they did have a teac 3340s 1/4 inch 4 track just for echo, it used to sit on that little table by the wall, but Joe hated the sound of it.Later they got the 1/2 inch Studer 4 track ( Balistic Affair was done on that).They would usualy record drums on one, base on two, rythm on three and vocals or horns on track four.But if they needed more tracks then they would bounce to the 2 track and add the vocals.

The API was a 16 input by 8 out with 8 subgroups and a very complex monitoring system.It had 16 550A eq,s with 16 API pre,s based on a 512.It also had a couple of 525 compressors and that famouse tone generator for test tones.It also had a producers desk originaly on the right but changed to the left when they installed the console.
For reverb they started with an old Fisher spring line ( bit like Tubbys )you can hear it on those early Diamonds tracks.
But then around late 75 Joe got a AKG BX10 and that legedary splash on the drums started.
I remember it used to sit under the console, later during the Scientist era Joe got the bigger BX20 with the remote control but I think that sat out in the cutting room."

Martin Campbell



the 16 track deck was a big clunky Ampex MM-1200, added sometime in the mid 70's after the Teac and Studer 4 track decks.