Paul Wolff (audio engineer)

Paul Wolff is an American electronics engineer and entrepreneur, who is a designer of professional audio recording equipment. He designs recording consoles including immersive and audio mixing equipment for professional recording. He has been associated with companies including Datatronix, API, Tonelux, and Fix Audio Designs. His customers include Jim Messina, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Startec Studios, among others.

Paul Wolff
Occupations
Known forDesigning recording and audio mixing equipment
Awardsinducted into the NAMM TEC Award Hall of Fame for the 1985 API Audio Lunchbox 500-series module housing

Wolff was inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame for his creation of the API Lunchbox.[1][2][3] He is a frequent speaker on panels for AES.[4]

Early life

Wolff was born in Traverse City, Michigan the son of Gene and Pat (née Kasler).[5] He has a brother Glenn and sister Lisa.[6][7] Both his parents were musicians.[8] His paternal grandfather, Albert Wolff, served as an artilleryman in World War I.  He was part of a military review of 250 of the tallest American soldiers chosen to form an honor guard for King George V and received a personal letter of commendation from the King upon his return to America.[9]

Pat Wolff wrote "I Ran Away With An All-Girl Band" a book about her time in the all-female swing band Victory Sweethearts.[10]

He began his career as the Sound Engineer front of house sound engineer for the Washington, D.C. night club The Bayou, for performers including Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Dire Straits and others.

Datatronix and API

In 1978, Wolff began his start in the console business at Datatronix just after the company had acquired Automated Processes, Inc., known as API. In 1985 Wolff, purchased API, the audio assets of Datatronix that were put up for sale. Upon its acquisition, for legal reasons not being able to use the original name of the company, he renamed it "API Audio Products".

Among his customers was Startec, Washington, D.C., who opened a new 24-track facility in 1983 with a custom built API console.[11]

Manufacturing consoles, in 1987 as President of API, Wolff announced successful conversion of manufacturing the 2520 op-amp to an automated assembly "drastically reduces costs without affecting the sound at all".[12][13][14]

In 1999, upon the sale of API Audio Products to the ATI Group, best known as manufacturers of public address consoles, they incorporated under the original "Automated Processes" name.[15]

Galaxy Studios API Control room, Mol, Belgium

In 2003, as director of engineering Wolff designed the Vision console with input from Galaxy Studios' head engineer Ronald Prent, upon Prent's request for a custom-built six-channel version of API'S two-channel 2500 mastering compressor. In August 2003, the first Vision Surround Mixing Console was installed in Belgium's Galaxy Studios.[16][17]

Lunchbox

Around 1985 after Aphex discontinued the 500 series rack, Wolff, as new owner of API, received approval from Marvin Caesar, president of Aphex, to make the 500 series Lunchbox. At that time, the Lunchbox was in a 4-slot format. The name "Lunchbox" was coined by Art Kelm as he had been buying the original boxes from Aphex and calling them lunchboxes.[18][19]

Tonelux

Wolff founded Tonelux Designs Ltd, manufacturing modular recording equipment and became owner and designer. He subsequently sold the company to PMI Audio Group in March 2010.[20][21][22]

Fix Audio Designs, Slate Media

Wolff joined Slate Media Technology Team as a Hardware Design Specialist on the RAVEN Multi-Touch Console series, Slate Monitor Controller and VMS-1 Mic Preamplifier.[23][24]

In 2015, Wolff created Fix Audio Designs.

Work with Jim Messina

In September 2015, Wolff co-produced and recorded Jim Messina's live shows for his "In The Groove" album. Recording locations included the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California and the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande, California.[25]

Wolff was quoted as saying "I streamed it live with HD video, while mixing front of house, while mixing front row seats, while mixing mono mix for the monitor guy, while mixing side fills, while tracking. We took two nights and mixed for three months...."[26][27]

References
  1. "2017 TEChnology Hall of Fame Inductees | TEC Awards". www.tecawards.org. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  2. "TEC Awards Voters Guide" (PDF). www.TECAwards.org.
  3. "API Audio Lunchbox 500-series module housing | TEC Awards". www.tecawards.org. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  4. "AES Section Meeting Reports » Los Angeles - February 27, 2018". www.aes.org. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  5. "Local Drivers Enter Endurance Race". Traverse City Record-Eagle. 7 Jul 1972. p. 19. Retrieved 6 Nov 2022.
  6. "Oversize Lemon". Traverse City Record-Eagle. 29 Dec 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 6 Nov 2022.
  7. "Outstanding Art Exhibit". Traverse City Record-Eagle. 6 Jan 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 6 Nov 2022.
  8. "'Jazz Americana' to Benefit N.M. Symphony". Traverse City Record-Eagle. 9 May 1962. p. 14. Retrieved 6 Nov 2022.
  9. Averill, David (13 Mar 1973). "TC soldier received a letter from King George V". Traverse City Record-Eagle. p. 1. Retrieved 6 Nov 2022.
  10. Wolff, Patricia (1999). I Ran Away With An All-Girl Band, My life on the road with the Victory Sweethearts. Stone Hut Printing. ISBN 0967573203.
  11. "R-e/p, Studio Update, December 1983, page 91" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. December 1983.
  12. "1988 AES Convention The Experts Speak" (PDF). Billboard. November 5, 1988. p. 0054 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  13. "Billboard, Pro Audio/Video, Sound Investment, Steven Dupler, December 26, 1987, page 136" (PDF). WorldRadioHistory.com. December 26, 1987.
  14. Fay, Mike (February 1992). "Technology Update: API Discrete Series Console" (PDF). REP Pro Audio Applications Magazine: 0036 – via WorldRadioHistory.com.
  15. Alexander, Dan (2021). A Vintage Odyssey. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 137. ISBN 9781538142028.
  16. "API Vision at AES 2003". LightSoundJournal.com. 2003-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  17. "API Vision Surround Mixing Console to Debut at AES 2003 NYC". Mixonline. 2003-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  18. "500 Series: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow". ProSoundNetwork.com. 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  19. "Article section list". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  20. "Pro Audio Reference (Pro Audio Names)". www.aes.org. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  21. "Meet Your Maker". Resolution. 8 (1): 52–54. January 2009 – via Issuu.com.
  22. "Tonelux Ramps Up Under PMI's Wing". ProSoundNetwork.com. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  23. "Paul Wolff Joins the Slate Media Technology Team | Pro Tools - The leading website for Pro Tools users". Production Expert. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  24. "Slate Digital VMS One Preamp". www.proaudiodesign.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  25. "Music Album Review: Jim Messina - "In the Groove" (10/10)". Music Connection Magazine. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  26. Reporter, Classic Rock Music. "JIM MESSINA REFLECTS ON A BRILLIANT MUSIC CAREER SPANNING OVER FIVE DECADES". Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  27. "Messina, PreSonus Get In The Groove". ProSoundNetwork.com. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
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