EMI

During the 1960s, EMI’s in-house engineering team at Abbey Road Studios developed a range of custom studio equipment tailored to the needs of their recording environment. These EMI Studio Products included mixing consoles, compressors and equalisers, all designed to meet the technical and creative demands of the era. Among the most iconic were the RS124 compressor, TG12345 mixing desk, and REDD series consoles. Built with precision and reliability in mind, these devices played a central role in shaping the sound of landmark recordings by artists such as The Beatles and Pink Floyd. EMI’s approach combined technical innovation with hands-on collaboration between engineers and producers, resulting in gear that remains highly regarded to this day.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1951 /

EMI RS56 Universal Tone Control

The EMI RS56, or UTC (Universal Tone Control), was a semi-parametric equaliser developed by EMI in 1951 for disc cutting. It gained legendary status at Abbey Road, especially during Beatles sessions, thanks to its flexible three-band EQ and stepped controls. Nicknamed the “Curve Bender,” it was eventually replaced by the TG12412 in the 1970s but remains one of EMI’s most iconic designs.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1956 /

EMI RS 114 Limiter

Compression Type: Automatic Gain Control

The EMI RS114 Limiter was a valve-based mono limiter developed in the 1950s and used extensively at Abbey Road Studios, especially on Beatles recordings from 1962 to 1964. Known for its distinctive attack and recovery controls, it helped shape the sound of the group’s early work. Though technically complex and prone to drift, it was one of the first gain-control devices available to EMI engineers.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1958 /

EMI REDD Recording Console

The EMI REDD consoles represent one of the most significant developments in the history of recorded music, forming the technical backbone of Abbey Road Studios throughout the late 1950s and 1960s and shaping the sound of the Beatles’ most influential work. Designed by EMI’s Record Engineering Development Department, each console in the REDD series introduced new levels of fidelity, control and flexibility, guiding the transition from simple mono mixers to the sophisticated four track environment that defined a generation of recordings.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1960 /

EMI / Altec RS 124 Compressor

Compression Type: Variable-Mu

The Altec RS 124 was a custom-modified Altec 436B compressor created by EMI engineers and used extensively on Beatles recordings. Favoured for its smooth compression and warm tone, it shaped bass, guitars, and mix busses throughout their career. Unique EMI modifications made it a completely different unit from the original Altec, and original RS 124s are now extremely rare.

Made In U.K.

Released in 1968 /

EMI TG12345 Recording Console

The EMI TG12345 consoles marked one of the most significant turning points in the history of Abbey Road Studios, replacing the revered valve based REDD desks with a new solid state architecture that transformed the sound of the late Beatles era. Designed by EMI’s Central Research Laboratories and first installed in 1968, the TG console introduced an unprecedented level of flexibility, routing power and sonic clarity, establishing a new generation of British studio design that would influence countless engineers and recordings for decades to come.