Malcolm Toft
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Toft is an audio engineer
and businessman
who worked at Trident Studios
, first as an audio engineer
, then as the studio's manager, and eventually as co-founder of recording console
maker Trident Audio Developments. Toft went on to form another console company, Malcolm Toft Associates, which eventually led to the founding of Toft Audio Designs. Toft is also co-owner of The Music Mill Studio.
. He joined Europe's first 8-track recording facility, Trident Studios
in London
, in 1967 as its first engineer after being offered the position while attending the studio's opening party. He worked with Tony Visconti
during the recording of British band Tyrannosaurus Rex's
first three albums and David Bowie's
Space Oddity album. He later engineered James Taylor's
debut album and was the mix engineer on The Beatles'
song "Hey Jude
."
In 1971, Toft became Trident Studios' manager. The next year, the studio decided to upgrade from 16-track to 24-tracks but wasn't able to source a console with the size, features, and configuration that they wanted, so they decided they would design and build their own. Working together with Barry Porter, Toft took on management and systems design of the project which became the Trident A Range console and led to Toft managing Trident Audio Developments, Ltd. (TAD), an offshoot of Trident Studios that built and sold professional recording consoles. In 1981 Toft, together with Jack Hartfield, bought TAD, but in 1988, unhappy with the direction of the company's new product designs, Toft sold his interest and left the company, although under the stipulation of a three-year non-compete agreement.
With PMI Audio Group's acquisition of Trident Audio Developments' assets in October 2008, Toft once again is developing products under the Trident name.
co-founded the Music Mill Studio in Newton Abbott (Devon
), UK
, a recording and broadcast studio and education facility for music technology and music composition where, in partnership with South Devon College
, courses in recording, radio, music, and the performing arts are taught.
In January 2009, Toft was awarded a visiting professorship in music technology by Leeds College of Music. At the 2011 Music Producers Guild awards Toft had the honor of presenting longtime colleague Tony Visconti with the award for Innovation in Production.
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
and businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
who worked at Trident Studios
Trident Studios
Trident Studios was a British recording facility, originally located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield a drummer of former 1960's group The Hunters and his Brother Barry....
, first as an audio engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, then as the studio's manager, and eventually as co-founder of recording console
Mixing console
In professional audio, a mixing console, or audio mixer, also called a sound board, mixing desk, or mixer is an electronic device for combining , routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals. A mixer can mix analog or digital signals, depending on the type of mixer...
maker Trident Audio Developments. Toft went on to form another console company, Malcolm Toft Associates, which eventually led to the founding of Toft Audio Designs. Toft is also co-owner of The Music Mill Studio.
Trident Studios and Trident Audio Development
Toft started at Tony Pike music in 1964 as a trainee and two years later moved to CBS StudiosColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. He joined Europe's first 8-track recording facility, Trident Studios
Trident Studios
Trident Studios was a British recording facility, originally located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield a drummer of former 1960's group The Hunters and his Brother Barry....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1967 as its first engineer after being offered the position while attending the studio's opening party. He worked with Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
during the recording of British band Tyrannosaurus Rex's
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
first three albums and David Bowie's
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
Space Oddity album. He later engineered James Taylor's
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
debut album and was the mix engineer on The Beatles'
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song "Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
."
In 1971, Toft became Trident Studios' manager. The next year, the studio decided to upgrade from 16-track to 24-tracks but wasn't able to source a console with the size, features, and configuration that they wanted, so they decided they would design and build their own. Working together with Barry Porter, Toft took on management and systems design of the project which became the Trident A Range console and led to Toft managing Trident Audio Developments, Ltd. (TAD), an offshoot of Trident Studios that built and sold professional recording consoles. In 1981 Toft, together with Jack Hartfield, bought TAD, but in 1988, unhappy with the direction of the company's new product designs, Toft sold his interest and left the company, although under the stipulation of a three-year non-compete agreement.
Malcolm Toft Associates and Toft Audio
In 1992, with encouragement from one of Trident's United States distributors, Toft designed a new console. Building on which he intended as something of an update to his Trident Series 80 designs, he released a range of consoles and related products under the Malcolm Toft Associates (MTA) brand. Toft later partnered with Ted Fletcher and Fletcher ElectroAcoustics to form Trident-MTA.With PMI Audio Group's acquisition of Trident Audio Developments' assets in October 2008, Toft once again is developing products under the Trident name.
The Music Mill
Toft and Rick EdwardsRick Edwards
Rick Edwards is a British TV presenter who mainly works on Channel 4 and E4. Rick has presented T4 with co-hosts Georgie Okell, Miquita Oliver, Jameela Jamil and Alexa Chung from which he left on 3 July 2011...
co-founded the Music Mill Studio in Newton Abbott (Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
), UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a recording and broadcast studio and education facility for music technology and music composition where, in partnership with South Devon College
South Devon College
South Devon College is a large sized further education college providing a range of learning opportunities for the diverse communities within Torbay and the surrounding area...
, courses in recording, radio, music, and the performing arts are taught.
In January 2009, Toft was awarded a visiting professorship in music technology by Leeds College of Music. At the 2011 Music Producers Guild awards Toft had the honor of presenting longtime colleague Tony Visconti with the award for Innovation in Production.
Engineering credits
Selected engineering credits:- 1967: David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
– David Bowie (album)David Bowie (album)-Bonus tracks :# "Rubber Band" – Mono Single A-side # "The London Boys" – Mono Single B-side # "The Laughing Gnome" – Mono Single A-side # "The Gospel According To Tony Day" – Mono Single B-side... - 1968: Tyrannosaurus RexT. Rex (band)T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
– Prophets Seers & Sages: The Angels Of The Ages - 1968: James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
– James Taylor (album)James Taylor (album)James Taylor is singer-songwriter James Taylor's debut album. Released in 1968, it was the first recording by a non-British artist released by Apple Records, and would also be Taylor's only release on that label... - 1969: David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
– Space Oddity (album)Space Oddity (album)-Release history:-7" open reel tape releases:There was only one release of Space Oddity on open reel, in 1972 duplicated by Magtec, North Hollywood, CA 91605. This is a high speed 7.5 ips release... - 1969: Tyrannosaurus RexT. Rex (band)T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
– Unicorn (album) - 1970: Brian Davison (drummer)Brian Davison (drummer)Brian Davison , nicknamed "Blinky", was a British drummer, best known for his work in The Nice. He was born in Leicester and died in Horns Cross, Devon....
– Every Which Way - 1970: Aphrodite's ChildAphrodite's ChildAphrodite's Child was a Greek progressive rock band formed in 1967, by Vangelis Papathanassiou , Demis Roussos , Loukas Sideras , and Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris . Their band's name was derived from the title of a track from another Mercury act, Dick Campbell, from his Sings Where It's At album...
– It's Five O'ClockIt's Five O'ClockIt's Five O'Clock is a 1969 album by Greek Progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child.-Track listing:#It's Five O'Clock - 3:31 #Wake Up - 4:04... - 1970: The NiceThe NiceThe Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
– Five Bridges SuiteFive BridgesThe Five Bridges Suite is a modern piece of music, written in the 1960s, combining classical music and jazz. Written about the UK city of Newcastle upon Tyne, it was released as an album by The Nice which achieved the number two position in the UK album charts... - 1971: The NiceThe NiceThe Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
– ElegyElegy (The Nice album)Elegy was the final official album release by The Nice, Keith Emerson having moved on to Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Lee Jackson to Jackson Heights and Brian Davison to Every Which Way. It consists of different versions of already familiar tracks and broke little new ground... - 1971: The NiceThe NiceThe Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
– Keith Emerson With The Nice - 2004: Ace KeffordAce KeffordChristopher John "Ace" Kefford is a bassist and was the co-founder of The Move in October 1965 with Trevor Burton, after meeting David Bowie at Birmingham's Cedar Club, following a performance by Bowie's band Davy Jones and the Lower Third...
– Ace The Face - 2008: The MoveThe MoveThe Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
– Anthology 1966-1972
External links
- Toft Audio Designs History
- Malcolm Toft on Recording The Beatles "Hey Jude" at Electronic Musician TV
- Malcolm Toft Q&A, Mix Magazine, Oct 2009
- Universal Audio Webzine, "The Lowdown on the 'British Sound' from Legendary Trident A-Range Console Designer Malcolm Toft"