ABOUT THE Trident A-RANGE ABOUT THE “A” Range
TridentTrident Recording Studio’s started operations back in the 1960's as a recording studio. Many things came out of the Recording Studio’s started operations back in the 1960’s as a recording studio. Many things came out of Recording Studio that led tothat what Audio Developments is today. is today. the Recording Studio ledTrident to what Trident Audio Developments Recording Studios recorded legendary like David Bowie, The Beatles, James Taylor, Queen, SuperTridentTrident Recording Studios recorded legendary bandsbands like David Bowie, The Beatles, James Taylor, Queen, Supertramp, tramp, Mott The Hoople, Bad Company, Free, Rush, Elton John, Manfed Mann, T-Rex and so many more, we Mott The Hoople, Bad Company, Free, Rush, Elton John, Manfed Mann, T-Rex and so many more, we simply dosimply not have do not have the space to list them all here. These recordings were done by incredible recording engineers like the space to list them all here. These recordings were done by incredible recording engineers like Roy Thomas Baker, Roy Thomas Baker, Ken Scott, Tony Platt, Tony Visconti, Adam Moseley, Dave Hentschel, and many others. Trident Ken Scott, Tony Platt, Adam Moseley, Dave Hentschel, and to many others. Trident Studios was the place Studios was the Tony placeVisconti, known by the very famous bands as the place record in London. known by the very famous bands as the place to record in London.
Trident studios was the first studio to acquire the first ever 8 Track from Ampex. No one in London had an 8 Track… even EMI. When Trident got its first 16 track recorder, they decided to buy a new recording console but simply Tridentnot studios was the first studio to acquire the first ever 8 Track from Ampex. No one in London had an 8 Track…not could not find any commercially available console to do 16 track recording with the feature set they needed. It was even EMI. When got itstofirst 16Trident track recorder, they decided to buyengineers, a new recording but simply could decided byTrident the powers be at that between the recording and theconsole technical staff under the not find any commercially console to doattempt 16 track feature set they needed. It was decided by the direction of Barryavailable Porter, Trident would torecording build theirwith ownthe custom console.
powers to be at Trident that between the recording engineers, and the technical staff under the direction of Barry Porter, firstattempt console to was designed purely for Trident Studios and was designated the ‘A’ Series. It was hand built to TridentThe would build their own custom console.
the need of the facilities and designed to be ergonomic. In those days, the integrated circuit (i.c.) had not been invented, so all of the circuits used individual transistors (known as discrete design). This and the use of inductors The first console purely for Trident Studios and designated the Series. was hand built to the need in the lowerwas anddesigned upper mid equaliser sections are said to was account for much of'A' the uniqueItsound of the ‘A’ Series. thisand firstdesigned successfultodesign was borneInTrident Audiothe Developments Ltd, which on to become a leading of the From facilities be ergonomic. those days, integrated circuit (i.c.)went had not been invented, so all of manufacturer of music recording consoles. One of the company’s earliest advertising slogans was ‘designed the circuits used individual transistors (known as discrete design). This and the use of inductors in the lower and by upper recording engineers for recording engineers’.
mid equaliser sections are said to account for much of the unique sound of the 'A' Series. From this first successful designThis wasbecame borne Trident Audio Developments Ltd,the which wentSound’ on to become a leading manufacturer of music a key component of what made ‘Trident unique. As a recording engineer rather thanrecording an consoles. One of the company's earliest slogans was 'designed recording engineers for arecording electronics engineer, Trident Audio advertising Developments was designed by the by engineers ears, rather than text bookengiof design, and it is this, coupled over years experience that enabled engineer Trident Audio Develneers'.electronic This became a key component of whatwith made thethirty 'Trident Sound' unique. As has a recording rather than an opments to develop its Audio own ‘philosophy of sound’ that is Trident’s electronics engineer, Trident Developments was designed by thetrademark. engineers ears, rather than a text book of electronic design, and it is this, coupled with over thirty years experience that has enabled Trident Developments The “A” Series eventually led to the development of the “A“ Range Console, which became the Audio console everyone to develop its own 'philosophy of sound' is Trident's trademark. wanted to work and record on. Thethat “A“ Range was quickly labeled as the best sounding console ever. Today, PMI Audio has created a two channel version of the A Range Mic Preamplifer and the “A“ Range 4 band EQ of the con-
and eventually housed it in a 2U 19” development Rack unit. Thisofnew channel unit is an exactbecame replica of original all discrete The “A”sole Series led to the the dual “A“ Range Console, which thethe console everyone wanted transistor circuitry, and it faithfully follows the original electronic circuit design to the absolute degree. So much to worksoand record on. The “A“ Range was quickly labeled as the best sounding console ever. Today, PMI Audio has that it has taken three years of circuit analysis and testing by PMI Audio’s designers and many of its former created a two channel version ofthe themammoth A Range Mic and “A“ Range 4 band EQ of the console and housed it engineers who undertook taskPreamplifer of recreating thethe original’s designs. Needless to say, Trident Audio in a 2UDevelopments 19” Rack unit. This new dualare channel unitpleased is an exact ofoffer the original all discrete and PMI Audio extremely and replica proud to this unique piece oftransistor recording circuitry, history. and it faithfully follows the original electronic circuit design to the absolute degree. So much so that it has taken three years of were only thirteen A Range consoles ever and builtmany back of in the 1970’s, engineers and almostwho all ofundertook them havethe been rebuilt circuit There analysis and testing by PMI Audio’s designers its former mammoth andare still in use today, despite being nearly forty years old. This says a lot about the heritage of these iconic task ofitems recreating the original’s designs. Needless to say, Trident Audio Developments and PMI Audio are extremely of recording equipment and the artists that have used them. pleased and proud to offer this unique piece of recording history. We hope you will enjoy the A Range as much as we have enjoyed designing it.
There were only thirteen A Range consoles ever built back in the 1970’s, and almost all of them have been rebuilt and are still in use today, despite being nearly forty years old. This says a lot about the heritage of these iconic items of recording equipment and the artists that have used them.
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Trident A-RANGE Owners Manual
We hope you will enjoy the A Range as much as we have enjoyed designing it.
