Welcome to AMI, Inc.! Home of AMI transformers,
TAB Funkenwerk pre-amps and The Oahu. 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, we talked directly to the engineers who designed the transformers in
the historic Telefunken equipment and used that knowledge to build our own custom transformers to meet the needs
of new applications. That's how we 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 historic C12 microphones. We collaborate
with working engineers and producers to create products that solve their problems and deliver vintage sound with parts that
can be readily built or replaced.
AMI to Provide Transformers for The Moonray by Lucas
Terry Manning asked Larry Janus of Tube Equipment Corporation to design a cool mic pre-amplifier to put under the Lucas Engineering brand line of products. Larry designed The Moonray, a very cool looking and sounding pre-amplifier built
in the "American tradition" of the 1960's. The prototype used the American made UTC A24's and A26's as input,
output and plate inductors which are no longer made to the same level of quality as the historic versions. That's when
Larry and Terry asked Oliver to step in and see if we could replicate those historic transformers for use in The Moonray.
Of course this had to be accomplished without any mechanical drawings or winding specs from the historic UTC company.
Read Oliver's article on the journey that he and Larry took to recreate these wonderful sounding transformers here.
More Parts For Sale
Thanks
to a number of requests, developments, purchases and acquisitions we have a whole bunch of parts that we are offereing to
the public for both OEM and DIY projects. The Moonray project enabled us to offer drop in replacements for some vintage
UTC transformers and we will be adding Neve style transformers as well. We are also now offering microphone capsules
for use with our mic kits or for people to upgrade their current mics. Check out our whole list of parts and products
that we have available. Maybe it will inspire you to do your own project for your studio!
T67 Transformer
After about a year of experimenting and development we are introducing a new mic output transformer,
the T67. This is built on our T47 PCB bobbin platform and provides you with an affordable option for creating your own U67 type microphone. We've recently
finished field tests of the transformer and folks have been happy with the results.
Photo Courtesy of AES Organization
131st AES Show Pictures and Synopsis
Finally, finally, finally! This year's AES Show in NYC was a tremendous success for everyone in our booth: Blackspade Acoustics, Lucas Engineering, Tube Equipment Corporation and AMI. So successful, that with all of the follow up activity after the show (and a misplaced camera card...) that
we haven't had time to put up a synopsis until now. Thanks for everyone who attended the show and stopped by the booth.
It was great hearing positive reinforcement as well as great constructive criticism on current and future products.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our Demo Event that we held offsite at the show as well as Metaphonic Recording Studios and Mercy Sound Recordings for hosting the events at their studios. And thanks for everyone's patience as we get back on track for what is a very
worthwhile disruption in business to attend the the show. I hope that you enjoy the pictures and story!
Special Deals for Members Only...
Now there are more reasons to join AMI's mailing list! In addition
to getting e-mail announcements with new articles by Oliver and updates on products, we also offer opportunities for special
deals and offers only to members of our mailing list. These offers will vary from special pricing on new products, dent
and scratch sales or vintage gear that we no longer need as samples. No matter what the deal is, you won't know
about the deals unless you're on our mailing list! To join, go here and sign up for the 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 December 16, 2011) 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.
