1975 MIDAS 05C Console
Serial Number 001 | The First Prototype 05C 24x24x8 Recording Console
At the heart of Kensington Sound sits the rarest and most legendary recording console - our MIDAS console Serial #001, the first prototype 05C 24x24x8 recording console MIDAS made. Delivered in 1975, it still functions perfectly today and sounds as wonderfully warm and textured as the day it was first powered up. This console has defined our studio's signature sound for nearly 50 years.
Unprecedented Rarity
- • Serial Number 001: The first prototype 05C 24x24x8 recording console - designed in collaboration with Kensington Sound through Bob Snelgrove and Gerr Electro-Acoustics
- • Extremely Rare: MIDAS only built a few more after this prototype before discontinuing production - unable to compete with Neve's market dominance
- • Legendary Owners: Frank Zappa purchased 2 of these consoles, Pink Floyd and Oscar Peterson each purchased 1 - testament to their exceptional quality
- • Still Functioning Perfectly: Sounds as wonderfully warm and textured as the day it was first powered up in 1975
The Signature Sound
The MIDAS 05C Console is renowned for its extremely forward presence and character. This distinctive sonic signature quality has made Kensington Sound famous for specific sounds that engineers travel from around the world to capture.
The Famous "Tom Sound"
Responsible for the go-to drum tom sound that defined the studio's reputation in the 1970s and 80s. This signature has become synonymous with Kensington Sound.
Piano Excellence
The console's exceptional transient response and harmonic character make it ideal for capturing the full dynamic range and tonal beauty of piano recordings.
Vocal Character
Brings out unique vocal presence and character that modern consoles struggle to replicate, adding warmth and dimension to vocal performances.
Complete Drum Kits
Beyond the famous tom sound, the console excels at capturing full drum kits with exceptional punch, clarity, and depth.
Craftsmanship & Engineering
The console was built with extraordinary attention to detail that is rarely seen in audio equipment:
Meticulously Hand-Wired by the Very Best
The console was meticulously hand-wired by the very best technicians, some of whom were women hand-picked because of their legendary expertise in WWII British arms manufacturing of guided missile technology.
This unique history means the console was built with a level of precision and care that modern manufacturing processes rarely achieve.
Gold Contacts
Using gold contacts throughout, this level of specification was extraordinary for the era and contributes to the console's exceptional sonic purity and longevity.
MIDAS Enters the Recording Studio Market
Before this console, MIDAS was a respected industry leader for their live PA consoles, and still are to this very day. But around 1974 they decided to enter into the pro audio recording market.
Independent recording studios were popping up by the hundreds around the world as advances in audio recording technology were making recording equipment cost efficient and of high quality. The 'indie' recording label also became a viable business model in Europe and North America. The growing markets of popular music hit its apex during these years, nurturing and funding thousands of smaller, independent recording studios.
MIDAS decided to compete head-on with Neve, API, and MCI and other pro audio industry leaders with a hand-wired recording console of their own. Through Bob Snelgrove and audio distributor Gerr Electro-Acoustics in Toronto, Kensington Sound in tandem with Gerr helped design the first 24x24x8 MIDAS recording console that was delivered sometime in 1975. MIDAS only built a few more consoles after this prototype before discontinuing production. Today, this makes Serial #001 an extraordinarily rare piece of recording history before MIDAS returned to their core focus on live sound equipment where they continue to lead the industry.
Hear the Story Behind Serial #001
Watch as Vezi explains the history and significance of this legendary console in his own words:
24x24x8 Pure Analog Architecture
The 24x24x8 configuration provides comprehensive routing flexibility, with each channel featuring:
- • Premium MIDAS preamps with exceptional headroom
- • Musical EQ sections with smooth, musical curves
- • Gold contacts throughout the signal path
- • Transformer-balanced inputs and outputs
Living History
This isn't a museum piece - it's a working console that continues to create exceptional recordings today. As the first prototype 05C 24x24x8 recording console, Serial #001 represents a unique moment in audio history when a successful live sound company dared to challenge the studio recording giants. Artists who record through it become part of a lineage that stretches back to 1975, joining the platinum, gold, and diamond records that have passed through these channel strips. The console's sound is irreplaceable, its character unmistakable, and its place in recording history secure.