Mark Ernestus: "Mixing consoles are one thing I was never happy with in the past. I've checked many different things, and even though there are hundreds of mixers around now, I couldn't find one that was really close to what I wanted." Ernestus was in search for a mixing console with a consistent analog approach for a realtime workflow. While fully featured vintage mixers generally are huge and still only have stripped down stereo channels, not to mention noise or maintenance issues, Ernestus likes working with a lot of effects and therefore needs flexible routing options and more effects sends than usual. The problem - many mixers only have four or less and often not the best sound quality. These very basic criteria were very hard to find in one mixer. Some are found only in vintage consoles, and the other ones are found only in modern ones. Ernestus: "Then I also had fantsized about some more specific features, that I didn't even expect to see commercially available anywhere."

Mark Ernestus came across a vintage mixer on sale online that was "relatively close" to what he was looking for, a mixer manufactured by the german company Zähl. Without finding much information on the product thus having a few questions, Ernestus encountered Michael Zähl, who provided all the information. After being sure to buy the mixer Ernestus visited the seller to find the actual product in a very bad shape. After consulting Michael Zähl, to consider if the mixer was restorable, he asked Ernestus to give him a few days time to think about it.

Ernestus remembers, "It was about two days later I received a call from him. He told me that he had been thinking about getting back to making audio mixers again, and maybe my feature wish list could be a good starting point. Of course, I was electrified." In 2009 the collaborative project to develop a new mixer kicked off. Zähl: "A mixer is the main tool for an engineer who often works with it day in day out. Engineers mostly have very personal preferences concerning technical features, handling and sound quality, but also concerning size, look and feel.“

It took almost a year to finalize the basic concept for a product fit for general users within an affordable price. Zähls emphasis was always on pure analog. Good analog sound doesn't go well together with digital controls. If you have computer and analog mixed together in a big system like a mixing desk, there is interference in high frequency, distortion and other effects. However, with a workstation on one side, high quality outboard multichannel D/A and A/D converters as a ‚bridge’ and a pure analogue console on the other side, it makes sense again. It is a good time to develop a mixer like AM1.

Instead of trying to duplicate vintage mixers, Zähl and Ernestus designed it new from scratch to fit the computerized studio environment of today. For example, old mixers used to provide fader automation and total recall functions, but now these can be taken over by the computer software. So by separating the functions of computer and mixer, they knew which features had to be emphasized. This was the most important point they took into account in order to develop AM1. Ernestus: "Sometimes 'analog' is equated with 'retro', but that's not it. I prefer analog due to my work flow. I use it for realtime mixing. Your default settings and arrangements, you program them in the DAW prior to the mixing. Then you use the console for hands-on realtime mixing. With AM1, everything is placed within the reachable range of two hands, yet still compact and easy to control. For example, we chose toggle switches instead of pushbuttons for many functions because you could switch it more fluently. When you actually use it, you feel the difference. All the controls are laid out to be logical and self-explaining."

The great thing about AM1 is that you can make your own configuration to fit your needs. Most notable features include the two band parametric EQs on the master return channels which is so useful when you want to manipulate the returned reverb, for example. The sound quality of the EQs is amazing too. Good EQs do more than just adjusting levels. It's almost like another instrument! 'Prepare' function is also very convenient. When you want to make a dramatic change with effects at a break during your live mixing, there are limits to what you can do with just two hands. At these occasions, you could preset and save the change to Prepare, and set it off with Set button all at once. There are more useful functions such as Zero-Cross Sensing switch which minimizes clicks, or Insert function which enables you to do parallel manipulation, various mid/side stereo conversion features, AM1 has all the features needed for artists such as Ernestus who work with a mixer like a musical instrument.

The story behind AM1 is told but history is in the making. Stay tuned and take a closer look at the AM1-Details and the preview of the CV Stereo Channel Module.

Text is based on the interview by Yuko Asanuma
Original Version (in Japanese) published by
Sound&Recording Japan April 2013