Tree Audio is committed to great sounding, easy to use and maintain analog recording equipment (tube and solid state), all hand-built in Los Angeles, California. Our products offer the best of vintage aesthetics and modern technology. We've been in business since 2007 and our Tree Audio recording products have really caught on. We've enjoyed being nominated for TEC Awards, but, best of all, we appreciate our world-wide community of Tree Audio recording equipment users.

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It all began with our flagship tube recording console, The Roots, which delivers stunning audio, is an inspiration to work with, and drives projects forward. From there, as sales and interest have grown, we continue to expand our product line.

 

Tree Audio founders, Steve Firlotte and Ian Gardiner, have been on both sides of the glass as musicians, as well as recording engineers, record producers and equipment designers. They've learned that you shouldn't have to work very hard to get a great sound.

 

In the late 1990s, Steve Firlotte of Inward Connections and Ian Gardiner of Boutique Audio and Design began working together. They soon discovered Steve's expertise in electronic design complemented Ian's mechanical design and fabrication skills. Their first major project was the Dymaxion console (see below photo) for Danny White of Sixteen Ton Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. This hybrid tube/transistor console was such a success they then built other custom consoles for clients such as Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pete Townshend, Herbie Hancock, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, Weezer, Daniel Lanois and other major artists.

 

Over the next few years, Steve and Ian discussed starting a console design company together. Late in 2007, the two began Tree Audio. Their first product was the Tree Audio 500 series customizable console, which was a 2009 TEC Award nominee in the "large format console technology" category. In 2012, they introduced The Roots, Tree Audio's tube-hybrid console and we've taken off from there.