Effects Timeline

Our Vintage Digital and Analogue Effects timeline now includes Audio Recorders and Classic Music Tracks to help place these effects and devices within the history of recorded music. Any errors, please notify us using our contact form.

1977

Released in 1977

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

Linda Ronstadt

As a teenager in the late 1970s, I would often DJ for my parents’ parties and the most requested track was Linda Ronstadt’s Poor Poor Pitiful Me (written by Warren Zevon). The song always got everyone dancing and I still remember those parties whenever I hear it, which must be well over a thousand times […]

Engineered by: Val Garay

Mixed by: Val Garay assisted by Mark Howlett

1977

Released in 1977

DeltaLab DL-4 Digital Delay

The DeltaLab DL-4 TIMELINE is a studio quality special effects processor designed for the professional musician to use in live performances. The DeltaLab DL-4 is a derivative of their highly successful DL-2 ACOUSTICOMPUTER which brings total performance to the performing musician previously attainable in very expensive delay lines.

1977

Released in 1977

Urei LA-4 Compressor/Limiter

The Urei LA-4 Compressor/Limiter can reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal, making it more consistent and balanced. The Urei LA-4 Compressor/Limiter can also limit the maximum level of the signal, preventing distortion and clipping.

1978

Released in 1978

MXR Thirty-One Band EQ Graphic Equaliser

The MXR Thirty-One Band EQ is a professional-grade graphic EQ introduced in the late 1970s, offering precise tonal control for studio, live sound, and broadcast applications. With 31 frequency bands spaced one-third of an octave apart and a ±12 dB adjustment range, it allows for detailed sound shaping, feedback reduction, and room correction. Its rugged 19-inch rackmount design, high-quality faders, and connectivity options - including 6.35 mm jacks and XLRs - ensure durability and compatibility.

1978

Released in 1978

MXR Dual Fifteen Band EQ Graphic Equaliser

The MXR Dual Fifteen Band EQ offered precise two-channel frequency control with bands set two-thirds of an octave apart for greater accuracy, particularly in the midrange. Each channel had its own level control, with a ±12dB range per band, housed in a rugged 19-inch rackmount design with quarter-inch connections.

1978

Released in 1978

Dynacord DRS 78 Digital Reverberation System

The first point of make clear about the Dynacord DRS 78 is that it is a digital echo and reverb system in a three-rack unit high enclosure. Besides giving a very wide range of reverb and echo effects it produces above all true and absolutely natural reverb effects as they have been obtainable so far only in studios or in cathedrals.

1978

Released in 1978

AMS DMX 15-80S Stereo Digital Delay

The AMS DMX 15-80S is a true stereo microprocessor controlled digital delay line. Originally designed to meet specifications laid down by the British Broadcasting Corporation for equipment to be supplied to them, it offers two completely independently delayed channels with precisely controlled delay times.

1978

Released in 1978

Lexicon 224 Digital Reverberator

The Lexicon 224 digital reverb announced in 1978 is the kind of stuff legends are made of. It is without a doubt the most admired and desirable reverb of the Lexicon line-up. It may be 45 years old now, but the Lexicon 224 is still in use today at many studios regardless of its limited bandwidth, and is loved by so many engineers, that they will only replace it when it dies. If it dies...

1978

Released in 1978

Ursa Major Space Station SST-282

The Ursa Major SPACE STATION is an advanced signal processor using time delay techniques to transform a mono source into a new, stereo, output signal. It is as different from earlier delay units as the complex reverberant sound of a room is from a single repeat of a sound slapping off a wall.

1978

Released in 1978

Sony PCM-1600 Digital Audio Processor

The Sony PCM-1600 was the first commercially available professional 16-bit digital audio processor for two channel mastering with the first machines delivered in April of 1978.

1978

Released in 1978

Two Tickets to Paradise

Eddie Money

I have been a fan of Eddie Money’s music since my mid-teens when Two Tickets to Paradise was a hit here in Australia. This song has remained a favorite of mine and has made me appreciate his later albums such as Nothing to Lose and Can’t Hold Back. Although Baby Hold On was the first […]

Engineered by: Andy Johns

Mixed by: Andy Johns

1978

Released in 1978

dbx 100 Boom Box Subharmonic Synthesiser

The dbx 100 Boom Box: revolutionising your audio experience by restoring the missing low-frequency bass in your favourite recordings. Say hello to a new dimension of sound fidelity and depth.

1978

Released in 1978

dbx 1BX Dynamic Range Expander

The dbx 1BX is a compact audio processor renowned for its ability to enhance audio clarity, depth, and richness, making it an essential tool for musicians, sound engineers, and audiophiles seeking to elevate their listening experience.

1978

Released in 1978

dbx 2BX Two Band Dynamic Range Expander

The dbx 2BX is a dynamic range expander that enhances the audio quality of recordings and broadcasts by restoring their original dynamic range. It reduces background noise and revitalizes both loud and quiet passages, breathing new life into old records and FM broadcasts. This makes the dbx 2BX a valuable addition for audiophiles looking to enrich their home music systems.

1978

Released in 1978

Surrender

Cheap Trick

Surrender by Cheap Trick is an iconic rock song that became one of the band’s most famous tracks after its release in 1978. Featured on their album Heaven Tonight, Surrender combines a very catchy pop melody with the edgy energy of rock music, making it a staple on classic rock radio stations and in the […]

Engineered by: Gary Ladinsky

Mixed by: Gary Ladinsky

1978

Released in 1978

Brenell Mini 8 Analogue Recorder

The Brenell Mini 8 is a professional-grade tape recorder that combines traditional precision engineering with cutting-edge electronic circuitry, offering superior performance and reliability for recording and broadcasting studios.

1978

Released in 1978

dbx 208 Noise Reduction System

The dbx 208 is a rack-mounted power supply and distribution unit designed to support multiple dbx devices. It forms part of the dbx 411 noise reduction system, providing regulated and filtered DC power for stable operation. With multiple outputs and robust construction, it was commonly used in professional studios to power dbx noise reduction units and processors.

1978

Released in 1978

Outlandos d’Amour

The Police

In the late 1970s, Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead, Surrey, became the unlikely birthplace of one of rock music’s most influential debut albums, Outlandos d’Amour. Recorded by a then-unknown band called The Police, the album’s creation is a story of raw talent, resourcefulness, and a small but ambitious studio punching above its weight. Surrey Sound […]

Engineered by: Nigel Gray

Mixed by: Nigel Gray

1979

Released in 1979

Oliver’s Army

Elvis Costello

The troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s inspired the song Oliver’s Army, which served as the lead single from Elvis Costello’s Armed Forces album. Despite its serious subject matter, the song’s upbeat music (with the keyboard riff inspired by ABBA’s Dancing Queen) made it a hit, spending three weeks at number two and remaining […]

Engineered by: Roger Bechirian

Mixed by: Roger Bechirian

1979

Released in 1979

AMS DMX Series Keyboard Interface & Chorus Controller

The AMS DMX Series Keyboard Interface and Chorus Controller is an ultra rare device to add on to the AMS DMX 15-80S Digital Delay. The chorus controller can be used to add functionality and effects to the DMX 15-80S.

1979

Released in 1979

Parisienne Walkways

Gary Moore

Parisienne Walkways is a song by the Northern Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore, featuring vocal contributions from his Thin Lizzy bandmate Phil Lynott. Released in 1979 as part of Moore’s album Back on the Streets, the song remains one of his most beloved and enduring works. It showcases Moore’s expressive and emotive guitar playing, which […]

Engineered by: Chris Tsangarides

Mixed by: Chris Tsangarides & Gary Moore

1979

Released in 1979

My Sharona

The Knack

Get The Knack is an album that has polarized music fans, as you either love it or hate it. For me, I was a fan from the moment it was released and still hold it in high regard. It is an album filled with exceptional pop songwriting that is brought to life by a band […]

Engineered by: Dave Tickle and Pete Coleman

Mixed by: Pete Coleman

1979

Released in 1979

Roland RSS RV-800 Spring Reverb

Roland’s 1979 RSS series brought high-quality signal processing to the prosumer market at an affordable price, featuring stereo reverb, phasing, and graphic equalisation. The series integrated seamlessly with Roland’s electronic instruments, ensuring broad compatibility. The standout Roland RSS RV-800 offered stereo reverb with a built-in compressor for minimal distortion, independent panning for versatile soundscapes, and the option to isolate the reverb signal.

1979

Released in 1979

Deltalab DL-2 Acousticomputer Digital Delay

DeltaLab introduces the Delatlab DL-2 Acousticomputer, a flexible and rugged all-electronic 'space machine' with highly musical sound quality and a surprisingly modest price. The Delatlab DL-2 Acousticomputer is a combination digital delay and special effects processor designed for use both on stage and in the studio, providing well known functions plus some new effects not available in any other device.

1979

Released in 1979

AKG BX-10E2 Stereo Spring Reverb

The AKG BX-10E2 is an enhanced version of the BX-10E, featuring a redesigned Torsional Transmission Line (TTL) system and improved equalisation for smoother, more natural reverberation. It uses a series of springs to create accurate reverb without including any dry input signal. This compact, high-performance unit is a reference standard for studio applications and is only outperformed by the larger BX-20E.

1979

Released in 1979

Video Killed The Radio Star

The Buggles

In September of 1979, the song Video Killed The Radio Star was released. Written by Trevor Horn, Geoff Downes, and Bruce Woolley, it was initially recorded by Woolley’s band, the Camera Club, for their album English Garden. However, it was the version recorded by Horn and Downes as The Buggles that achieved worldwide chart-topping success, […]

Engineered by: Gary Langan

Mixed by: Gary Langan

1979

Released in 1979

Roland SBF-325 Stereo Flanger

The Roland SBF-325 is a stereo flanger with dual audio delay lines. It has three different flanger effect modes and one chorus mode. It preceded the now famous Roland SDD-330 by two years in terms of rack mount chorus effectors.

1979

Released in 1979

Reggatta De Blanc

The Police

The recording of Regatta de Blanc at Surrey Sound Studios in 1979 was a pivotal moment in The Police’s career, solidifying their place as a genre-defying powerhouse. The studio’s setup, centred around an MCI recording system, played a crucial role in capturing the clean yet powerful sound of the album. Nigel Gray’s engineering expertise, combined […]

Engineered by: Nigel Gray

Mixed by: Nigel Gray

1979

Released in 1979

Urei 1178 Stereo Compressor

The Urei 1178 compressor was introduced in 1979 by Universal Audio. It became a popular choice in recording studios during the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, and it remains a sought-after vintage piece of audio equipment today.

1979

Released in 1979

Dynacord TAM 19 Stereo Multiflanger System

The Dynacord TAM 19 Stereo Multiflanger System was released in 1979 and produces unique flanging effects.

1979

Released in 1979

MicMix XL-305 Master Room Reverb

The MicMix XL-305 Master Room Reverb delivers live chamber reverb in a compact, rack-mount design. It eliminates artefacts, handles transients perfectly, and offers stereo capability with built-in EQ, making it ideal for professional studio and live use.

1979

Released in 1979

DBX 163 Compressor/Limiter

The dbx 163 and dbx 164 compressor/ limiters feature dbx's Over Easy compression. Over Easy refers to a "soft knee" compression characteristic that provides virtually inaudible gain control at ratios up to infinite compression.

1979

Released in 1979

Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division

Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, released with no singles, initially failed to gain commercial success. However, the album’s unique sound has stood the test of time and is now widely regarded as a classic, frequently appearing on “Greatest Albums of all Time” lists. Unknown Pleasures was created under unusual circumstances, with the band and their producer […]

Engineered by: Chris Nagle

Mixed by: Chris Nagle

1980

Released in 1980

Sony PCM-1610 Digital Audio Processor

The genuine advantage of the Sony PCM-1610 digital audio processor is its enormous potential to deliver drastically improved sound. Whereas analogue recorders are saddled with performance limitations of one form or another, unlimited quality improvement is possible using digital technology.

1980

Released in 1980

Mitsubishi X-80 Digital Recorder

The Mitsubishi X-80 Digital Recorder was a pioneering audio recorder that offered significant improvements in fidelity and accuracy over analogue recording technologies upon its release in 1980.