Amek 501 Langley Manual

End of an Era at Amek. Graham Langley, co-founder of UK mixing console manufacturer, Amek, has left the company after 28 years. Langley founded Amek in 1973 with Nick Franks. From early premises in a garden shed, the company rapidly expanded, establishing itself as a manufacturer of high quality mixing consoles in sound reinforcement, broadcast and music recording.

Our story begins in 1962 with the 12 year old Graham Langley immersed in study at William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester, England. Lured by dad's promise of a Spanish guitar for Christmas, GL takes lessons. Soon the lessons become tedious, and the Spanish guitar seems a little passé. GL buys a Futurama electric guitar, and hangs out in Mameloks and A1 Music, Manchester. Ace of cool in 1963.

The historic meeting of GL and Nick Franks takes place in 1964.

In 1965 GL buys the Framus electric guitar which he still plays today, and starts making guitars and speaker cabinets in woodwork classes. The necessity for tone controls, amplifiers and guitar effects leads to electronics becoming a hobby.

Not sure if he is a Mod or Rocker, but now beginning to see the path he wishes to follow, in 1965 GL starts managing two major-league bands: Franz Moons and The Sound.

In 1967 while on holiday in Perranporth, Cornwall GL attempts a daring Silver Surfer move. Recuperating in bed afterwards, he originates the name: Amek. It was chosen simply to be short and distinctive. Well, it worked for VOX!

1968 to 1970 were the Rugby years. This was a 4-year Electrical Engineering degree course at Rugby College of Engineering Technology. GL builds a double manual organ and his first mixer. Heavily into rock'n'roll by now, these are the 'I'm with the band' years. Rugby's loss and Bolton Institute's gain came in 1970. Whilst NF goes to think about greater things at the London School of Economics, GL enrolls at BI in the final year of an electronics course.

Converting his Framus guitar to stereo, designing a power amp with notch EQ and experimenting with analogue synthesiser design, things are looking good. But, in 1971, bad vibes, man, at a gig for a friend's party, when the complexities of spatial sound signal the end of a rock star career.

1972 sees GL hard at work at Audio Developments. Valuable work experience at AD included mixers, tape recorders and Mellotron drive systems. GL was introduced to the world of Sound Reinforcement with clients such as Claire Brothers, Yes and The Moody Blues.

In 1973 GL leaves AD and Amek is registered as a company.

In this eventful year, GL moves to a hill farm in Llangunllo, Wales, and starts building four channel mono mixers in small purple boxes.

Progressing to graphic equalisers and phasing units, speakers and amplifiers, the hill farmers became involved with importing Kay guitars and Cetec loudspeakers. The Incredible String Band, Alexis Korner and Fairport Convention were names to drop. Speaker cabinets were covered in purple, paint-impregnated hessian. The working man's silk.

September of 1973 witnesses a terrible tragedy, in which several members of the collective were killed in a road accident. GL returns to parents' house in Manchester, and there is another fateful meeting with NF. The fledgling Amek starts life in a garden shed. In 1974 they move to their first 'real' premises, in Altrincham, just south of Manchester.

First products are scaled down loudspeaker cabinets, purple-cased phasing units, and silver 10-into-1 mixers. The name JMS (Jasmin Music Systems) is used on some mixers.

Amek provide mixers, amps and electronic crossovers for AMCO PA Hire. Supplying Global Village Trucking Company's PA system is a big step forward. This is acclaimed by Virgin Tour Management and enthusiastically used by Gong, who, as some readers may know, came to this planet in a flying teapot.

Amek build a 3-section winged console with joysticks for Francis (Venux Deluxe) Linon for a Gong tour, together with amps, monitor console, lighting mixer and strobe controller. Becoming main suppliers to Virgin Management in 1975 for touring equipment was a prestigious boost. These were exciting days for young companies with ideas.

Things moved fast over the next few years. Relationships were forged with other up-and-coming companies in the industry. HHB , SSE and Turbosound used Amek consoles exclusively for major tours. Amek became known for the 'musical' sound of the consoles and moved rapidly into the Recording and Broadcast markets.

In 2001 GL leaves Amek to form Langley Design.

1976 Entry into US market through Everything Audio in Los Angeles.

X Series semi-modular console launched for general-purpose applications followed by M Series modular, split, consoles for music recording - Castle Sound, Edinburgh, has first one. Similar S Series modular console for Sound Reinforcement - Wembley Conference has first.

1977

Low-price single faceplate 16-2 console produced under TAC (Total Audio Concepts) brand.

OEM electronic crossover manufacturing for Court Acoustics, ESE and Soundcraft.

Introduction of 2016 (M2000) in-line recording console - first one to Village Way, London.

1978

X series range expanded, adding addition modules and features, meter hood and stand.

1979 Amek adopt recognisable Blue finish for consoles.

M3000 introduced as Amek top-of-range recording console - fully parametric EQ was basis for all future Amek parametric equalisers. Console had 24 buses, and Allison 65K fader automation. First one installed in Amazon Studios, Liverpool.

1980

M1000 introduced as Amek top-of-range Sound Reinforcement console to replace X Series. This had fully parametric EQ from M3000 and 8 subgroups. Applications in SR, Broadcast and Post Production.

M2500 introduced as simplified M3000 but with same sound. This is considered to be the 'classic' Amek console. Many are still in use.

The witcher best steel sword. TAC factory opens in Dalwood, Devon, run by Jon Lloyd-Hughes.

1981 Amek move to new premises in New Islington Mill, Salford, and TAC adopt Amek Blue

TAC launch 16-8-2.

1982

Amek introduce Angela console as competition for MCI JH600 and as cheaper alternative to M2500. The equaliser is quite different and is also considered a 'classic' Amek sound.

Amek introduce first small Broadcast console, the BC01, also sold as an OEM product.

1983Preliminary talks with Mr Rupert Neve.

1984

TAC introduce in-line Matchless console for Music Recording

TAC introduce multipurpose Scorpion console. This sold in large numbers and is renowned for its ruggedness.

1985Amek awarded Queen's Award for Exports.

TAC introduce Scorpion Foldback console.

1986Amek awarded second Queen's Award for Exports.

TAC test and final assembly moved from Bridport to Nottingham.

TAC introduce modular electronic crossover, the TX10. TAC launch Matchless Series 11.

1987TAC awarded Queen's Award for Exports.

Amek introduce APC console providing assignable features and recall of knob and switch functions. An alliance is formed with George Massenburg Labs. and GML motorised fader automation fitted as standard.

First APC delivered to Greenstreet Recording, NY.

Last remaining Amek blue console (Angela) changed to grey colour scheme.

1988Amek expand to Regent Trading Estate, Salford, and open new 13,000 square foot factory.

APC installed at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles. Amek replace M2500 by G2520 console which is normally fitted with Mastermix fader automation.

TAC launch Scorpion 11.

1989Mr Rupert Neve joins Amek as consultant.

Amek launch Mozart console for Music Recording with Supertrue automation.

TAC introduce Bullet small format multipurpose console.

1990

Launch of first RN product - The Medici Equaliser.

1991

Amek replace BC11 broadcast console with BC111.

Amek launch Hendrix in-line console.

TAC launch SR6000 large format sound reinforcement console.

1992AKG Acoustics acquire shareholding in Amek.

Amek launch Einstein dual-path in-line recording console.

TAC replace Matchless by Magnum music recording console.

TAC introduce foldback version of SR6000.

TAC launch B2 version of Bullet.

1993Harman International Industries Ltd acquire AKG Acoustics.

TAC introduce SR6500 foldback console.

Amek introduce BIG-by-Langley. The first cost effective in-line music recording console with recall.

Amek introduce RECALL-by-Langley. The first conventional automated sound reinforcement console with recall.

1994

First 9098 split console delivered and Series 9098 Equaliser launched.

1995

Amek introduce 501-by-Langley sound reinforcement console based on Recall console.

Rembrandt dual-path in-line recording console launched.

1996

DMS introduced - a modular digital mixing system.

Amek introduce Angela 11 dual-path in-line recording console.

1997Harman acquire 100% shareholding in Amek.

Galileo in-line console introduced.

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Nick Franks exits and pursues a new career in complementary medicine.

1998 'Langley' and TAC trading names replaced by Amek.

AMEK launch BB100 broadcast console replacing the TAC Bullet and B2.

Input modules designed by Mr Rupert Neve made available for Recall consoles.

1999

9098I in-line console launched.

2000

Media 51 surround recording console launched, based on BIG-by-Langley.

Pure-Path range launched with CIB and DIB.

2004 Harman cease production of all Amek products.

2006BB100 relaunched.

Soundcraft puts the BB100 back into production 8 years after it was originally launched.

Harman stated that in a consolidation of the Mixer Group product portfolios, Soundcraft has released the classic Amek BB100 console as one of its analog broadcast consoles, finalizing the restructuring of the broadcast offerings from Soundcraft and Studer.

2007Audio Maintenance Ltd. launch a range of 'Langley Design Enhanced' retrofit products as replacements for Amek and TAC microphone and line input stages.

28-channel in-line console with 4 stereo line inputs, 4 stereo effects returns and 8 aux channels.

Used in lots of demo recordings of Some International. “Shame of Spain” was tracked on this!

Recently recapped, in full working condition.

I include the following: Supertrue software installed in an 386 PC running MS-DOS. Power supply unit. Operation, service and Supertrue original manuals in paper format. Console stand.

Click here for download brochures and manual in pdf format. Want a copy of the operator manual? Ask me!