Categories: Connecticut Audio History

LOFT recording consoles circa mid 1970’s: UPDATE

Pictured above is the very first recording/mixing console made by LOFT (Loft Modular Devices, Inc.). It is a model 440. LOFT was a manufacturer of Pro Audio equipment in Manchester Connecticut active in the 1970s. In 1980 LOFT became Phoenix Audio.

Here’s a close up shot of a Loft model 440 console. From the first picture, the Tascam 80-8 mounted in the desk to the right tells us that these were boards aimed at the professional project studio/demo studio market.

Another close-up image of a 440, this time a series 2. These images, and all that follow in this post, come courtesy of LOFT founder Peter Nimirowski. Peter got in touch with PS after we ran this earlier post which mentioned some of the LOFT outboard gear. Peter has this to say about LOFT’s consoles:

“Loft … made two series of mixing desks. The 440 Series used a Microtran Transformer in the mic pre-amp. This console was probably one of the first low cost professional desks. My understanding is one is in use in CT another in Calif. (Regarding) the 800 Series: we only made a handful of these boards. This was at the crossover point from Loft Modular Devices to Phoenix Audio. (We) tried to make the leap into the pro studios. The first console used Allison’s Trans-Amp in the pre-amp circuit. Consoles after that used our own transformerless pre-amp design. John Roberts was responsible for all Loft and later Phoenix Audio circuit designs. A truly brilliant designer. The consoles were manufactured mid to late 70’s. By 1980 LMD had become Phoenix Audio which did not manufacturer any consoles. When I together with Richard Federman started LMD it was a result of wanting to build a recording studio, not a manufacturing company. At that time except for API, Quad 8 and Maybe Neve, there really wasn’t much of a choice in affordable mixing desks. As far as technology, the first IC op-amp the 709 had just been developed. PC boards where just coming into existence. LMD manufactured all PCB in house. I designed and built the etching system. Everything was done in house.

Thanks for getting in touch Peter. Here are some images of the later 800 series console, again from Peter’s archive.

chris

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View Comments

Jim McGee says:

10/25/2011 at 4:04 pm

I bought & rebuilt an 800 console at an early studio I had in Allentown, PA. Long since sold....but I really loved the sound of that board. Lots of maintenance thought, dirty pots, switches, connectors. Was running it with a Tascam MSR-16 1" 16-track
Jim McGee says:

11/13/2011 at 3:57 pm

I owned one of these in Allentown, PA. Rebuilt parts of it. Sounded pretty darn good with my Tascam 1" 16 trk analog.
Bob Lee says:

04/17/2013 at 7:30 pm

I modified a 16×8 Loft Series 400 board so it could monitor a 16-track by adding eight inputs, each with level (rotary knobs instead of faders, because of space limitations on the short blank panels above the submasters) and pan, into the summing buses. This was at Amphion Recording in Rockville, Connecticut, in about 1981. As I recall, another studio, The Gallery in East Hartford, had a metal punch that the owner, Doug Clark, graciously lent the use of to Amphion's owner, Ed Adams, for punching the pot and switch mounting holes on the panels. It really was a great board, with features you'd only expect on a much pricier piece.
jon-michael engard says:

03/28/2014 at 11:30 pm

I recently "lucked" into a Loft 440 Flanger/delay. It does need a bit of servicing. I am looking for a competent technician who would not be intimidated by a unit like this. I would welcome and suggestions. Thank you.
- Peter Nimirowski says:
  
  11/19/2014 at 7:50 am
  
  Contact Larry Smetana owner of Accutech in E Hartford, CT 860-290-8979
  Larry was my tech at Loft and Phoenix Audio
Bob Lee says:

05/18/2015 at 6:09 pm

I second contacting Larry Smetana at Accutech.

That top photo looks like it might be a studio that I once recorded at, on West Middle Turnpike in Manchester, Conn. I think it was called Eastern Recording.
Christian Rubenbauer says:

03/22/2018 at 8:02 am

I met Peter through a varied list of mutual friends. Peter visited my shop in Colchester, Connecticut sometime in the Mid-2000's. ( I was entertaing the idea of Producing a MI Combo Amplifier, with Telefunken in South Windsor, Connecticut.) As you had mentioned earlier in this piece, Peter had turned on his heel from the Audio Industry. Last I knew, Peter was remodeling Bathrooms, in Central Connecticut. Although, I have never seen any of his Remodeling Projects. I can only imagine his attention to detail and high standards of material usage. My impressions were then, and still are as follows. Peter's mind is a shining example of American Entrepeneurial Spirit. God Bless him. I was honored to meet and speak with him.
- Peter Nimirowski says:
  
  12/29/2018 at 5:27 pm
  
  Thank You for the kind comments. I enjoyed speaking with you. I dabbled a bit 20 years ago and built a studio/console in the basement of my home. It all sits idle. Maybe my Grandson's will use some of the equipment.
john rivers says:

03/28/2019 at 12:43 pm

i have a 10 reel with a Federman sticker on it and paperwork from the loft. where are you now, when your gone, low down, leave you in the past ,are the songs on it . but who is the band?
- peter nimirowski says:
  
  12/13/2019 at 8:07 pm
  
  I would love to hear from Richard. Do you know were he lives now.
Jess says:

03/06/2023 at 4:51 pm

oh this is neat, so only the first Loft 800 had the TransAmp?
I have a mic pre card from this, and it is far different from Valley People’s own MP-1000 with ferrite beads and 2.2nF film caps along with a rectifier to direct the input into the fully differential Trans amp with the TL072 on the output buffer of the Loft, where the MP-1000 has the TL072 as an input buffer and TL082 as output buffer. It would make sense that these would sound so much like early Neotek consoles, because they all have a bunch of TL072’s. Even the TransAmp is a few transistors and another TL072 potted together

Anybody know of a schematic for the Loft 800’s? the mic pre gain and phantom power switch are a bit puzzling