Paul Wolff (audio engineer)

Wolff was born in Traverse City, Michigan northwest of Cadillac to Gene and Pat (née Kasler).{{Cite news |date=7 Jul 1972 |title=Local Drivers Enter Endurance Race |pages=19 |work=Traverse City Record-Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675441/gene-wolff-enters-endurance-race/ |access-date=6 Nov 2022}} He has a brother Glenn and sister Lisa.{{Cite news |date=29 Dec 1964 |title=Oversize Lemon |pages=1 |work=Traverse City Record-Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675245/paul-wolff-son-of-mr-and-mrs-gene-a/ |access-date=6 Nov 2022}}{{Cite news |date=6 Jan 1970 |title=Outstanding Art Exhibit |pages=5 |work=Traverse City Record-Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675347/outstanding-art-exhibit/ |access-date=6 Nov 2022}} Both of his parents were musicians.{{Cite news |date=9 May 1962 |title='Jazz Americana' to Benefit N.M. Symphony |pages=14 |work=Traverse City Record-Eagle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112675537/gene-wolff-play-at-the-jazz-americana/ |access-date=6 Nov 2022}} His paternal grandfather, Albert Wolff, served as an artilleryman in World War I. Albert Wolff was part of a military review of 250 of the tallest American soldiers chosen to form an honor guard for King George V and received a personal letter of commendation from the king after returning from the U.S. Pat Wolff wrote "I Ran Away With An All-Girl Band" a book about her time in the all-female swing band Victory Sweethearts.{{Cite book |last=Wolff |first=Patricia |title=I Ran Away With An All-Girl Band, My life on the road with the Victory Sweethearts |publisher=Stone Hut Printing |year=1999 |isbn=0967573203 |language=English}}

Paul Wolff began his career as the front of house sound engineer for The Bayou, a venue and nightclub in Washington, D.C. for performers including Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Dire Straits, and others.

In 1978, Wolff began working in the console business at Datatronix just after the company had acquired Automated Processes, Inc., (API). In 1985 Wolff, purchased API, the audio assets of Datatronix that were put up for sale. After buying it, For legal reasons he was not able to use the original name of the company. He renamed it "API Audio Products". Among his customers was Startec in Washington, D.C. who opened a new 24-track facility in 1983 with a custom built API console.{{Cite web|date=December 1983|title=R-e/p, Studio Update, December 1983, page 91|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Audio/Archive-REP-IDX/IDX/80s/Recording-1983-12-OCR-Page-0081.pdf|website=WorldRadioHistory.com}}

In 1987 Wolff, the API president, announced the successful conversion of manufacturing the 2520 op-amp to an automated assembly "drastically reduces costs without affecting the sound at all".{{Cite magazine |date=November 5, 1988 |title=1988 AES Convention The Experts Speak |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1988/1988-11-05-Billboard-Page-0054.pdf#search=%22paul%20wolff%22 |magazine=Billboard |pages=0054 |via=WorldRadioHistory.com}}{{Cite web|date=December 26, 1987|title=Billboard, Pro Audio/Video, Sound Investment, Steven Dupler, December 26, 1987, page 136|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-12-26-Billboard-Page-0136.pdf#search=%22paul%20wolff%22|website=WorldRadioHistory.com}}{{Cite journal|last=Fay|first=Mike|date=February 1992|title=Technology Update: API Discrete Series Console|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Audio/Archive-REP-IDX/IDX/90s/REP-1990-02-OCR-Page-0036.pdf#search=%22paul%20wolff%22|journal=REP Pro Audio Applications Magazine|pages=0036|via=WorldRadioHistory.com}} In 1999, upon the sale of API Audio Products to the ATI Group, best known as manufacturers of public address consoles, they incorporated under the original "Automated Processes" name.{{Cite book|last=Alexander|first=Dan|title=A Vintage Odyssey|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|year=2021|isbn=9781538142028|pages=137}}

File:Galaxy Studios API control room.jpg east of Antwerp, May 2006]]In 2003, as director of engineering Wolff designed the Vision console with input from Galaxy Studios' head engineer Ronald Prent, after Prent requested a custom-built six-channel version of API'S two-channel 2500 mastering compressor. In August 2003, the first Vision Surround Mixing Console was installed in Galaxy Studios in Belgium.{{Cite web|date=2003-09-07|title=API Vision at AES 2003|url=https://www.lightsoundjournal.com/2003/09/07/api-vision-at-aes-2003/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=LightSoundJournal.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2003-09-24|title=API Vision Surround Mixing Console to Debut at AES 2003 NYC|url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/api-vision-surround-mixing-console-debut-aes-2003-nyc-376144|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Mixonline|language=en-US}}

Around 1985 after Aphex discontinued the 500 series rack, Wolff, as the new owner of API, received approval from Marvin Caesar, president of Aphex, to make the 500 series Lunchbox. At the time, the Lunchbox was in a 4-slot format. The name "Lunchbox" was coined by Art Kelm as he had been buying the original boxes from Aphex and calling them lunchboxes.{{Cite web|date=2014-12-11|title=500 Series: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow|url=https://www.prosoundnetwork.com/gear-and-technology/500-series-yesterday-today-tomorrow|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ProSoundNetwork.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Article section list|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice/q-whats-so-good-about-lunchbox%20https://apiaudio.com/product.php?id=109|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.soundonsound.com}}

Wolff founded Tonelux Designs Ltd, manufacturing modular recording equipment and became its owner and designer. He then sold the company to PMI Audio Group in March 2010.{{Cite web|title=Pro Audio Reference (Pro Audio Names)|url=https://www.aes.org/par/pronames/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.aes.org}}{{Cite journal|date=January 2009|title=Meet Your Maker|url=https://issuu.com/resolutionmag/docs/resolution_v8.1_sr|journal=Resolution|volume=8| issue=1 |pages=52–54|via=Issuu.com}}{{Cite web|date=2011-05-27|title=Tonelux Ramps Up Under PMI's Wing|url=https://www.prosoundnetwork.com/business/tonelux-ramps-up-under-pmis-wing|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ProSoundNetwork.com|language=en-US}}

Wolff joined Slate Media Technology Team as a hardware design specialist on the RAVEN Multi-Touch Console series, Slate Monitor Controller, and VMS-1 Mic Preamplifier.{{Cite web|title=Paul Wolff Joins the Slate Media Technology Team {{!}} Pro Tools - The leading website for Pro Tools users|url=https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-page/2013/10/19/paul-wolff-joins-the-slate-media-technology-team.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Production Expert|date=19 October 2013 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Slate Digital VMS One Preamp|url=https://www.proaudiodesign.com/products/slate-vms-one|access-date=2021-09-05|website=www.proaudiodesign.com|language=en}}

In 2015, Wolff created Fix Audio Designs.

In September 2015, Wolff co-produced and recorded Jim Messina's live shows for his "In The Groove" album. Recording locations included the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California and the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande, California southeast of San Luis Obispo.{{Cite web|date=2016-11-03|title=Music Album Review: Jim Messina - "In the Groove" (10/10)|url=https://www.musicconnection.com/music-album-jim-messina-in-groove/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Music Connection Magazine|language=en-US}} Wolff said, "I streamed it live with HD video, while mixing front of house, while mixing front row seats, while mixing mono mix for the monitor guy, while mixing side fills, while tracking. We took two nights and mixed for three months."{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=Classic Rock Music|title=JIM MESSINA REFLECTS ON A BRILLIANT MUSIC CAREER SPANNING OVER FIVE DECADES|url=https://www.classicrockmusicwriter.com/2017/05/jim-messina-reflects-on-brilliant-music.html|access-date=2021-09-05|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-06-15|title=Messina, PreSonus Get In The Groove|url=https://www.prosoundnetwork.com/recording/messina-presonus-get-in-the-groove|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ProSoundNetwork.com|language=en-US}}

Wolff founded Wolff Audio with Jared Vogt. The company is based in Santa Barbara, California. Gregg Wells mixed the Wicked soundtrack on the Wolff Audio 48-Channel analog console. {{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2025-01-13 |title='Wicked' Music Producer Greg Wells on Losing a World-Class Studio as Well as Family Home in the Fires — and the Sorrow of Saying Goodbye to the Palisades |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/greg-wells-la-fires-music-producer-studio-burned-pacific-palisades-1236272625/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Widran |first=Jonathan |date=2025-01-23 |title=Up Close: Wolff Audio |url=https://www.musicconnection.com/up-close-wolff-audio/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=www.musicconnection.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Mix |date=2023-10-24 |title=Paul Wolff and Jared Vogt Partner for Wolff Audio |url=https://www.mixonline.com/business/paul-wolff-and-jared-vogt-partner-for-wolff-audio |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Mixonline |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0001951606|label=Paul Wolff}}
• {{Official website|http://www.fixaudiodesigns.com}}
• {{IMDb name|nm3222830}}
• https://player.fm/series/series-2407934/ep-42-drivin-the-train-with-paul-wolff
• https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/2017/04/21/episode-157-paul-wolff/
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_joLsklOQ&t=46s Sunset Sound Audio Engineer Paul Wolff "The Greatest Audio Podcast Ever"] on YouTube

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolff, Paul}}

Category:Manufacturers of professional audio equipment

Category:Immersive audio engineers

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:American audio engineers