Welcome to AMI, the home of TAB Funkenwerk,
custom transformers and Oahu products! Our mission is to research vintage audio design and manufacturing techniques,
understand how it achieves its quality of sound and then use that knowledge to create new products based on the needs
of today's audio engineers. For example, talking with the original engineers who designed the transformers
that drive the quality of sound in the historic Telefunken equipment, we refined the knowledge to build our own
custom transformers to meet the needs of a specific or new application. That's how we can achieve 76 dB of gain
out of a historic V72 circuit that typically yielded 34 dB (our V77M Ribbon Mic Pre) and how the Lucas CS-1 achieves its tremendous "reach" with less proximity effect
than the historic C-12 microphones. We will continue to explore vintage technology and collaborate with working
engineers and producers to create products that solve their problems, while delivering that special, vintage sound with
parts that can be readily built or replaced.
The Historic U47: Everybody Wants You...
Historic Telefunken U47
Was Billy Squier singing about a girl
or a U47? It could have been either as the U47 has been the “go to” choice for recording guitar
amps and cabs since the 1960’s. Design for the U47 started around the end of 1945 and culminated in the
first showing of this mic in 1947. From that point forward, the U47 set the bar for excellence in studio microphone
design. Despite it's uncomplicated circuit, the U47 delivers one of the most sought after sounds in the recording
industry. This month’s article
looks at the mic that helped shape Frank Sinatra’s sound on his greatest hits of the 1950’s and 1960’s and
has become a “must have” tool in every professionalstudio.Truth or hype?That’s a matter of opinion, but there is no denying the fact that the U47 is the most sought after and copied
microphone design in the world.
AMI at 129th AES Show
The 129th AES Show
will be in San Francisco, November 5-7 this year and AMI will be there!We are in booth 522
across the aisle from our friends at Latch Lake Music! We will have production units of the TAB Funkenwerk V72M,
V77M,
and V78M
mic pre-amplifiers and the V71DI.We’re also shooting to have theproduction prototypes for both the U73M
compressor and the V76M mic pre at the show. For Lucas, we will have the CS-1
and CS-4
mics on display along with any prototypes of future mics that are ready in time for the show.Oliver Archut
and Terry Manning will be at our booth ready to field questions or just say “hi”.Come on by and check
out what we have in store for the future! We hope you can make the trip.
It's Official: Lucas CS-4 Ready
for Ordering
The new Lucas CS-4 is officially launched. Inspired by the historic U47 mic design, this modern update has its own unique character and
features. We started with what is generally considered the best recreation of the original U47 capsule, the Thiersch
PVC M7, which has been customized for the Lucas CS-4. We then went out and secured a large quantity of high-end NOS
Telefunken tubes and are using our own custom made transformer. The body is constructed from the same Lucazite™
as the CS-1. The Lucas CS-4 combines the polarity patterns of the historic U47 and U48 mics, placing the controls on
the power supply like the historic M49. Incorporating a relay into the mic's circuitry allows the power supply to completely
shut off the back half of the capsule creating a true cardiod pattern. The goal was to create a mic that captures the
essence and intention of the historic U47 and U48 microphones while incorporating technology and materials not readily available
when the historic versions were designed and manufactured. We believe that the Lucas CS-4 will be as warmly received
as our Lucas CS-1 has been. You can go here to read more about the story of this mic and to order yours today as this production run will be limited just like the Lucas
CS-1.
Special Deals for Members Only...
AMI has been offering to the members of our mailing list special
offers. Some are items offered first to those on the mailing list before the general public, while other deals
may be exclusive to mailing list members. These offers will vary. For example, we may offer scratch and dent sales
on our front list products directly to consumers. Or we may put together a do-it-yourself mic kit with a mic body, NOS
tube, transformer and schematic directions. Or we may have some vintage gear or parts that we no longer have a use for
in our business and know that someone else could put them to good use. No matter what the deal is, you won't know
about the deals unless you're on our mailing list! To join, go here, sign up and check "yes" that you want to be on our mailing list. If you think you're already on our mailing
list but have not received any of our e-mail newsletters (last one went out on August 22, 2010) then you will need to re-sign
up with us here. We won't share or sell the list to any third parties. We just want you to get up to date information on
our products and promotions.
