Hi - Hallo - Kia ora!

Here at Buzz Audio we manufacture gear for analogue recording, mixing and mastering - be it music, voice, sound effects or what ever you do. We have been building gear since 1990, and designer Tim Farrant has been in the audio business since 1980. Some of our products take inspiration from the classic designs of the past, but unlike so many other manufacturers today we are original - we do not clone or copy other peoples work. And, unlike many other major brands, we still build everything by hand - no surface mount.

So why choose our products;
boutique original circuit design
innovative solutions to sound recording & mixing tasks
hand made by people who care about their work
solid construction to last many years
proven track record in reliability since 1993
modular & serviceable construction (no surface mount)
personal after sale customer support
they sound damn good!

Buzz Audio New Zealander store >

the evolution continues

Recently we discontinued production of the SOC-1.1, the first optical compressor from Buzz Audio built from 1999. Today we have it's replacement - the new Velox! This unit features pretty much the same controls as the SOC-1.1 except for the addition of a mix knob (so you can blend input with output) and a bass filter in the side chain. The Velox has the same smooth compression of it's predessor and is available in various options to suit your price range - all at a very good price point!

the drum buss

If you record real drums (or track in-the-box-drums) you need to hear the DBC-20 diode bridge compressor. Since the introduction of the DBC compressor, it has found favour with many users as a drum stem compressor, adding real vibe and weight to the performance. It can bring up ambience without sacrificing punch and dynamics.

"It has just the right amount of colour to it, its tight, punchy, rich and lush sounding."

"This is a very colored compressor, but what a color; sparkling wet, fast, clear, snappy, snazzy, and flamboyant all come to my mind."

tracking compressor

The 500 series is a popular format and there are so many modules to choose from it has become overwhelming. But if you are in need of a easy to use tracking compressor then discover the original Essence. Packed with features not found on any other 500 series optical compressor, it stands out from the crowd. Perfect for vocals, bass and acoustic instruments.

"It is very clean-sounding and extremely fast for an opto-based compressor."

"Killer 2-Bus units, phenomenal on kick drums & bass and a great lead vocal compressor."

the mix buss

There is a view that optical compressors are too slow to use on a stereo mix. This may have been true of vintage LA designs, but our SOC-20 compressor features much faster attack and release times. In addition, the on board mid side processor creates a powerful mixing tool allowing you to manipulate the stereo image - a truly unique pro audio compressor.

". . . it works great on the bus for a lot of music where you want size and depth."

pro equalisation

Since it's release 10 years ago, the REQ-2.2 has become the best selling mastering equalizer in the USA. Like all our products, the REQ features a unique design that delivers a sound quality like no other equalizer available, and this quality has found favour with mastering engineers around the world. Now available with a black or silver-grey faceplate.

"It gives the mix more of a dimension from front to back, kinda jumps out at you."