Toft Audio Designs ATB-04M

If you are reading this review you probably already know the characteristics. But it seems to me certain things need to be clarified.

This is a mixer four fully analog tracks. She has with her four slices and buses, four mic preamps (but not DI), four line inputs, six Monitor inputs (inputs alternatives to the line input, usable simultaneously a per two more on the bus) four equalizers (one per slice, switchable between mic / line inputs and Monitor), a stereo bus, two departures.

In total it is therefore, not counting the two inputs of effects returns, return 10 mono tracks in this table (14 if the two stereo effects returns are also used). For a four track so it can do a lot.

Note that there are also two completely separate dedicated stereo inputs that are used to return the computer or player / recorder that when activated cut everything else. They are handy, I use it every day for the main output of my sound card.





UTILIZATION

Being a fully analog table, the configuration is rather simple. Against us by a professional range, and Toft seems to speak in his textbook to a professional, honed and used to this kind of analog consoles and philosophies of work. They truly embarrassing to no explanations for novices.

It was my first analog table, and even having read the entire manual, as well it took me three months to two well handle and feel comfortable on it.

But in this respect I've had the phone once because I do not know how to walk the strip level meter (hidden below the table button, and no mention of it in the manual ...) and two seconds was set, friendly, courteous and helpful. Great experience, not like the customer service of most major competitors boxes that are often non-existent.

SOUNDS

In terms of sound, I'll try to limit my use of superlatives, but this is truly amazing.

That really have nothing to do with cheap competition Allen & Eath, Yamaha, Mackie and company.

The mic preamps are excellent, warm, powerful and precise while remaining very clean. The breath is very low even at maximum gain. The equalizer are really incredible, were talking about Michael Toft, the guy who designed the legendary console as on Trident which were recorded including Ziggy Stardust Bowie, Lou Reed Transformer, etc.. Consoles with preamps have been copied and emulated many times, especially in the form of plug-in recently by Waves.
This is rich, deep and musical, in two seconds it carves deep and magnifies our tracks with four EQ bands. If you do not believe me, look on Youtube there is a video of a guy who makes a very good demo.

I always mixed "In The Box" and indeed what is really slap. Summing analog at this level, it really is something special. The mix are alive and take shape, even pushing everything thoroughly. Besides this table I often work with levels well into the red, it collects really good and distorts in a very subtle way that adds the trunk. It does again really have nothing to do with competition and Mackie company, I compared side by side, this is the day and night. We have a good side with old electronic circuits using discrete components of good qualities, and other integrated circuits made the chain that saturate badly at first peaks.

Regarding the breath is of analog, so it blows, I read people were complaining on the internet, but it's honestly not a problem.

OVERALL OPINION

I have this table for six months, and I've waited all this time to write my opinion here, to write with a quiet step back.

I chose this first table for a function that I care a lot, this is the Direct Out, each slice has an output so you can record what you do in order to return multitrack mix on her later.

This function is essential to the workflow that I wanted to have, namely Analog Mix with multitrack digital recording to be able to make trips / returns. Unfortunately this function then we are immediately in a professional range, and it cost dear. But in this range, Toft is the first price because they took advantage of manufacturing in China. This is not necessarily a bad thing because the finish is really niquel, she is very beautiful and very impressive. She wowed more than one musician friend happened in my home studio.

With this relatively small for a professional range (see API The Box 17000 € not to mention SSL) price, we have a real little professional tool, with impeccable sound quality, full connectivity and a huge leeway.

If you can put up with four tracks so I highly recommend you, I do not regret my investment, it's probably even one of the best I've ever done. And if you need more tracks and you can afford to skip the version eight or more tracks, you will not regret it.