The History Of Focusrite ISA

Focusrite  was founded by the legendary audio designer Rupert Neve in 1985 to build custom  studio consoles and the roots of the ISA preamp, moving ownership to another audio legend Phil Dudderidge (Soundcraft) where they went on to build the highly respected Focusrite Studio Console. Since then they have been continuing the premium studio brand with back catalogue of greatest hits. In recent years expanding to own other well known brands and growing into a global force in which Phil Dudderidge still has the largest single share.

Celebrating this legacy is a 20-minute documentary tracing the origins, evolution, and enduring legacy of the Focusrite ISA sound from a 1985 commission to the studios of today.

Filmmaker Chris Mayes-Wright, the same director responsible for the original Focusrite Studio Console film, which has han impressive 685k views. The 20-minute feature is titled "From one request to a legacy: The Focusrite ISA story," and races the full story of ISA: its origins, its evolution and why it continues to define the standards of professional audio today.

The film begins at AIR Studios in London, where CEO Simon Knee explains the legacy of the ISA 110 modules that Rupert Neve designed for Sir George Martin in 1985. From there it moves to the Forte console, one of only two ever built, and then to the Focusrite Studio Console. Only ten of the latter were ever made, and most are still in active use.

The crew then visited The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona, where John Aquilino hosts the Studio Console 005, originally built for Bop Studios in South Africa and the largest Focusrite Studio Console ever made.

Restoration engineers Lincoln Fong and Ken Hirsch appear throughout, explaining the important work they do to keep these historic consoles operational.

The documentary also visits Peter Gabriel's legendary Real World Studios, where head engineer Katie May speaks to her use of the ISA 828 MkII in her recording process. Her approach centers on a communal workflow where the control room and live room operate as one shared space. For Katie, the ISA 828 MkII is a tool in service of that philosophy.

Interspersed throughout the film, restoration engineers Lincoln Fong and Ken Hirsch appear, explaining the care and effort they put into keeping these historic consoles operational.

More than a history piece, the film positions ISA as a living legacy that continues to define the sound, reliability, and engineering standards trusted by audio professionals worldwide.

Find out more, at https://focusrite.com/articles/watch-the-story-of-focusrite-isa/.

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