Bolling Design : l’héritage AL.SO
Year 2002, after a career as sound engineer and technical director for world class recording studios , Olivier Bolling launch AL.SO (Alternate Soundings ) . Olivier designed and produced analog audio outboards with a different thinking , for studio and live music performances.
The starting point is the collaboration with AMS-NEVE company for the Barchetta project ( the world famous Neve 88R console).Plus XXX studios and Olivier Bolling were selected by AMS NEVE company in order to participate at the console design (1998-2000).
AL.SO brand purpose wasn’t to copy existing machines .Bolling took the advantage to his repair and electronic modifying knowledge in order to propose new solutions.
Year 2003, the DYNAX ( dynamic processor) prototype started is career at PLUS XXX studios.
Non conventional and so powerful, the DYNAX was operated for a lot of mixes in Paris. And also sent to Japan and USA, because it was so novel, that it was impossible to people to obtain same sound with other machines .
After a period of development ( thank you James Farber, Russell Elevado, Tom Durack, Jean Paul Gonnod, Michael Rangeard, Julien Delfaud, Zdar … ), Dynax was presented at Paris AES and San Francisco 2006 AES shows .
AL.SO machines were installed in recording studios ( Goh Hotoda, Manny Marroquin…) and on tour (Jazz In Marciac, Stade de France, Prince…).
Custom versions were made for mastering studios.
500 series pre/EQ/comp/reamp/summing modules were designed for mobile recording units and recording studios.
Year 2018, Olivier Bolling stopped AL.SO project .But during 2021, clients called for new machines.And it was time to produced some customs for French TV company CANAL PLUS. AL.SO was changed to BOLLING DESIGN.
Philosophy:
No clones. Original designs or improved designs, even if we can say that quite everything was invented …
The idea is to provide to musicians and sound engineers new tools, with great sounding and ease of use.Creativity in mind !
Due to maintenance experience, we use reliables components.
As far as we can , we don’t use SMC components.Better reliability and an opportunity to be fixed in the future.A music instrument shall be playable for the next decades.
BOLLING DESIGN is generally produced on request.That means that we can custom your machine or modify it for your convenience.
The designer :
Musician since childhood, Olivier Bolling studied electronics in order to become sound engineer.
During adolescence, he spent time in studios and in sound reinforcement courses.
During 1987, Bolling encounter Gilbert Préneron. An experimented sound engineer, console designer and studio installer (who would also be the French sound engineer for a certain Quincy J. and the creator of the first major French studio: Barclay Studios).This was followed by numerous internships and a position as sound engineer ( mastering, sound restoration, live recording …).
Bolling also worked at television (M6).
Middle of the 90’s, Olivier Bolling developed a passion for the ergonomics of recording studios: his experience as a musician, sound engineer and audio electronics engineer enabled him to understand needs and find the right solution, which in turn led to his involvement in the construction and modification of a huge number of recording studios.
He became technical director of La Seine studios and then of PLUS XXX studios (international clientele, Neve VR/51/88R , SSL 4000 and 9000 consoles).
In 1998, he was auditioned by Robin Porter (chief designer at AMS NEVE ) and the Plus XXX studio was chosen as partner for the development of a new console: NEVE 88R.
Fascinated by different analog technologies and sound rendering, and after delivering the first NEVE 88R to Plus XXX studios, he decided to develop new machines, after modifying so many existing ones.
In 2002, Bolling created the AL.SO brand and worked on a tube preamplifier. But the challenge of a compressor with new functionalities was greater; this led to the production of the DYNAX prototype and the AntiDyna function.
The 2006 AES Paris show provided the opportunity to launch the machines, which will be manufactured until 2018.Now updated by BOLLING DESIGN DYNAX3.
Passion is the driving force behind the creator of Bolling Design, as those who know him well know: there’s always a story about music, electronic, trumpet or the construction of a recording studio in progress….