Orange Launches Amity Schroeder Professional Audio Equipment (1972)

Orange’s Amity Schroeder developed world-first 16- and 24-track tape machines used by the BBC, later sold to Trident Audio.

Cliff Cooper, Orange’s Founder & CEO, recalls early studio tech breakthroughs: “As 8-track recording rapidly became the industry standard, I set up Amity Schroeder as an Orange affiliate company, bringing in Roger Jeffrey as chief designer. We began by building our own tape decks, starting with an 8-track model. I invested heavily in the company, though it quickly became clear how tough it was to introduce a new brand into the highly competitive studio equipment market.

“Still, we held our ground. Our early analogue tape recorders and spot cartridge machines, built for radio broadcast studios, found an audience. Clients included the BBC and several independent radio stations.”

World Firsts in Multitrack Recording

“Amity Schroeder went on to design and release the world’s first 16-track tape recorder, built around a 1-inch tape deck. The deck was cast in aluminium and machined to high tolerances — it really was ahead of its time. For the tape heads, we worked with Nortronics in the USA, who supplied us with heads offering excellent crosstalk performance.

“From there, we moved into 24-track recording. Our 2-inch tape transport was a brand new design and the final step in what was becoming a serious contender in pro studio tech.”

A New Chapter for Amity Schroeder

“To scale up production and meet growing demand, we needed to manufacture in significantly larger quantities. But with other Orange projects demanding my time and resources, I realised I couldn’t give Amity Schroeder what it needed to grow properly. The kind of facility expansion required would have put a strain on our wider business, both in terms of time and finance.

“In the end, it made sense to sell. The company that bought Amity Schroeder was Trident Audio, well known in the recording world. It marked the close of a bold and forward-thinking chapter in our story.”