Duran Duran and UB40 | Highbury Studios Prokit 62 (or Pro-Kit 62) Mixing Desk – “Rio” Era Recordings (early 1980s)

A Prokit 62 (also written Pro-Kit 62; sold in the US as the Audiokit 62) six-channel / two-bus analog mixing desk used at Bob Lamb’s Highbury Studios, Birmingham during recording sessions that produced “Rio” and “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran and Signing Off — the debut album by UB40. A compact console sold as a kit in the UK by Turnkey and REW Audio Visual from 1978, it was among the most popular workhorse desks for small studios and demo recording in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The desk was consigned directly to auction by the owner of Highbury Studios and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Tracks Ltd. Historical Context Highbury Studios was a recording facility in Birmingham operated by producer and engineer Bob Lamb, whose work in the late 1970s and early 1980s placed him at the intersection of two of the city’s most significant musical exports. Duran Duran — formed in Birmingham in 1978 and comprising Simon Le Bon (vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), John Taylor (bass), Andy Taylor (guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums) — recorded at Highbury during their early career, with sessions there contributing to material that became “Rio” and “Girls on Film,” two of the defining tracks of their 1982 breakthrough and among the most iconic recordings of the new wave era. UB40, the Birmingham-based reggae and pop group formed in 1978, recorded their debut album Signing Off (1980) at Highbury Studios. Signing Off reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and established UB40 as one of the most commercially successful British reggae acts of the decade. The album remains one of the most significant debut recordings associated with the Birmingham music scene of this period. The Prokit 62 is a compact six-channel / two-bus analog mixing console introduced in the UK in 1978, featuring per-channel gain, treble, bass, cue, echo, and pan controls, channel faders, auxiliary masters, and dual VU meters for output monitoring. Sold as a do-it-yourself kit for £99 including VAT, a price that made it accessible to small studios and serious enthusiasts, it offered low noise for its era and flexible cue/echo routing well-suited to demo recording and live-to-tape work — exactly the application at Highbury Studios during this period. Studio Use This Pro Kit 62 desk was in active use at Highbury Studios throughout the recording sessions documented above, passing signal for tracks that would go on to define both Duran Duran’s commercial breakthrough and UB40’s entry into the British charts. The desk was consigned to auction directly by the owner of Highbury Studios, providing an unbroken chain of custody from the studio itself. Specifications · Model: Prokit 62 (Pro-Kit 62 / Seck 62) six-channel / two-bus analog mixing desk · Sold by: Turnkey and REW Audio Visual (UK), in kit form, from 1978 · Chassis: Yellow/beige-cream metal with black plastic knobs, faders, and side cheeks · Input channels: Six, each with gain, treble, bass, cue, echo send, pan, and fader · Master section: Two analog VU meters (green/red scales); front-panel patchbay of unbalanced 1/4” jacks (mic/line inputs, cue, echo, aux, left/right outputs) · Power: ±15V, 50mA (published specification), via the 5-pin connector on the front panel (power supply not included) · Panel markings: Handwritten marker notations consistent with session use, including “KEYS?” visible on faceplate Condition The desk exhibits heavy studio wear consistent with sustained professional use across its working life. The chassis shows significant surface grime, rust spotting along edges, and scattered paint loss. The faceplate bears marker notations consistent with session use. One fader cap is broken; a toggle switch appears replaced. Untested. The desk has not been powered on while in my collection and is sold as-is, with no warranty of function. A power supply is not included. It should be inspected by a qualified technician before it is connected to power. Provenance Previously sold as Lot 381 at Omega Auctions Music Memorabilia auction, 11 September 2018, having been consigned by the then-current owner of Highbury Studios. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from Tracks Ltd. (signed Paul Wane, dated 31 March 2023), certifying use at Bob Lamb’s Highbury Studios on recordings including “Rio” and “Girls on Film” by Duran Duran and Signing Off by UB40. Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance This item will be accompanied by a Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance — a document printed on official Nostalgia Bandit letterhead, signed by Nostalgia Bandit’s principal, and affixed with the official Nostalgia Bandit embossed seal. The Letter of Provenance reproduces the complete final listing description for this item in full, memorializing all provenance documentation, attribution, supporting evidence, and condition details as presented herein. It is designed to travel with the item through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent…