Tegeler

What Tegeler does

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur GmbH is a Berlin-based, founder-owned manufacturer of high-end analog studio audio processors, founded in 2005 by Michael Krusch. The company designs and hand-builds compressors (Schwerkraftmaschine, Creme, Vari Tube Compressor), channel strips (Vari Tube Recording Channel), equalizers (Classic Equalizer EQP-1, MythEQ 500), transient shapers (Magnetismus 2), tube reverbs (Raumzeitmaschine), summing mixers, and the Konnektor mastering matrix, alongside a software reverb plug-in (Raummaschine). Its defining technical approach pairs classic analog signal paths — tube circuitry, transformers, Pultec-style passive EQ, Vari-Mu and optical compression — with motor-controlled potentiometers, Ethernet connectivity, and DAW plug-in integration (VST/AU/AAX) that enables full automatic recall of analog settings with project files, addressing the historic workflow gap between analog sound and digital session recall.

Tegeler serves professional recording studios, mastering engineers, project/home studios, and live sound applications, with named users including Grammy-winning engineers Bill Schnee and Al Schmitt alongside producers such as Robin Schulz, Rick Beato, and Warren Huart. The company operates a horizontal segmentation approach, addressing recording, mixing, mastering, and live reinforcement with the same product families at varying price points (€500–€2,520 retail, including VAT). All devices are hand-manufactured at the company's Weststr. 1, Berlin headquarters in the Tegel district, with a neighboring studio used for real-world listening tests during product development.

The business model is one-time hardware sales through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site with a 14-day trial program and a global dealer network spanning Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America — including US retailers such as Vintage King Audio, Perfect Circuit Audio, Front End Audio, B&H, and Guitar Center, plus Thomann in Germany and dedicated UK distributors. Tegeler also operates a US service partnership with Audio Collective Group for in-country repairs. Revenue derives entirely from hardware (and accessory) sales with no recurring fees, supplemented since 2023 by a software plug-in offering. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Tegeler

Legal name

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur GmbH

Website

https://tegeler.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur is a Berlin-based, founder-owned manufacturer of high-end analog studio processors — compressors, EQs, channel strips, and reverbs — distinguished by motor-controlled analog circuitry with full DAW plug-in recall, sold globally to professional and project studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Audio Hardware

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310)

akta.pro primary industry

Pro Audio Equipment (Mics, Interfaces, Mixers, Studio Monitors) (MPAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Audio Accessories & Consumables (Cables, Stands, Cases, Strings, Picks, Heads) (MPAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Analog studio processors
• Professional recording equipment
• Bus compressors equalizers
• Hardware audio manufacturing
• Outboard studio gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Direct sales of professional audio recording equipment including compressors, equalizers, channel strips, and summing mixers. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring fees.
2. Accessories and Cables: Sales of associated cables and accessories including XLR cables for connecting equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur designs and hand-manufactures professional analog audio hardware processors for recording, mixing, and mastering, including bus compressors, equalizers, channel strips, transient shapers, tube reverbs, summing mixers, and 500-series modules. The products uniquely combine classic analog circuit topologies (Vari-Mu tubes, transformers, Pultec-style EQ) with motor-controlled potentiometers and network connectivity, enabling total settings recall via DAW plug-ins (VST, AU, AAX). The company also sells the Raummaschine software reverb plug-in and selected accessories such as XLR cables.

Product overview

Tegeler Audio Manufaktur is a German manufacturer of high-end recording studio equipment based in Berlin, founded in 2005 by Michael Krusch. The company produces a portfolio of analog audio hardware with digital recall capability, including bus compressors (Schwerkraftmaschine, Creme, Creme RC, Vari Tube Compressor, MythVCA 500), channel strips (Vari Tube Recording Channel), transient shapers (Magnetismus 2), equalizers (Classic Equalizer EQP-1, MythEQ 500), reverbs (Raumzeitmaschine, Raummaschine plug-in), summing mixers (Tube Summing Mixer, A32), and the Konnektor mastering matrix. Products feature motor-controlled analog circuitry with DAW plug-in control for complete recall. The company also offers 500-series modules (MythEQ 500, MythVCA 500, Vocal Leveler 500) compatible with API 500-format racks. All devices are manufactured in Germany with hand-selected components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schwerkraftmaschine Remote-controllable Vari-Mu mastering and bus compressor with 11 different compression modes including Multi-Band Complex, Diode Pressor, Breakthrough, Stereo Transformer, Vari Tube Compressor, Vocal Leveler, Optical Compressor, Drum Smasher, Classical VariMu, Chart Analysis, and DeEsser. Features motor-controlled potentiometers, Ethernet connectivity, and DAW plug-in control (VST, AU, AAX) for total settings recall.
• Creme Bus compressor and mastering equalizer combining a passive Pultec-style EQ with an SSL-style VCA bus compressor in one device. Features switchable EQ/compressor order, side-chain lowcut filter, and stepped potentiometers for accurate stereo tracking. Listed at €1,511.76.
• Creme RC Remote-controllable version of the Creme bus compressor and mastering equalizer, allowing total recall of all settings via DAW plug-in for integration into digital production workflows.
• Vari Tube Compressor (VTC) Vari-Mu mastering and bus compressor with tube-based circuitry for harmonic saturation. Combines optical and Vari-Mu compression behavior for master-grade signal coloration and control.
• Vari Tube Recording Channel (VTRC) High-end channel strip combining a flexible tube preamp, passive Pultec-style EQ, and combined Opto/Vari-Mu compressor in a single chassis. Features switchable compressor/EQ routing, line input, and stereo linking capability. Currently listed at €1,679.84. Used by Grammy-winning engineers including Bill Schnee.
• Magnetismus 2 Transient shaper combined with VCA compressor. Features three Flux modes (Eisen, kObalt, Nickel) that emulate tape saturation characteristics of iron, cobalt, and nickel. Includes VCA compressor stage and adjustable transient processing intensity.
• Raumzeitmaschine Remote-controllable analog tube reverb unit with digital recall capability via DAW plug-in. Features multiple reverb algorithms and motor-controlled parameters for integration into recall-based analog workflows.
• Raummaschine (Reverb Plug-in) Software reverb plug-in for DAW use that brings Tegeler's analog tube reverb technology to in-the-box digital audio workstation environments.
• Classic Equalizer EQP-1 Passive tube equalizer following Pultec-style design. Features high-quality transformer-coupled circuitry for harmonic tube saturation, providing mastering-grade equalization with stepped controls.
• MythEQ 500 4-band 500-series equalizer module offering colorful, musical EQ curves in a compact API 500-rack format. Listed at €500 (during November 2023 deal with 28% discount).
• MythVCA 500 VCA compressor module in API 500-series format, offering versatile compression in a compact design for 500-rack integration.
• Vocal Leveler 500 Optical compressor with FET tube simulation in API 500 format. Features stereo link function, stepped potentiometers, and a three-position attack/release toggle switch. Listed at €587.40.
• Tube Summing Mixer Analog tube summing mixer designed to extend DAW-based mixing workflows by adding harmonic tube saturation and analog summing character to in-the-box productions.
• Konnektor Analogue mastering matrix supporting up to 8 stereo hardware units. Features total recall via DAW plug-in, built-in LR/MS and MS/LR matrix, and drag-and-drop signal routing — designed as the central hub for mastering chains.
• Cables and Accessories (XLR Cables) Associated accessories sold through tegeler.com including XLR cables for connecting Tegeler equipment within studio signal chains.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Audio Collective Group (USA Repair Partner)minorOthersUS-based service partner handling repairs on behalf of Tegeler for customers in the United States to facilitate easier and faster service for American customers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• API (Automated Processes Inc): American pro audio manufacturer with deep 500-series catalog plus consoles and outboard. Direct competitor to Tegeler's MythEQ 500, MythVCA 500 and Vocal Leveler 500 in the 500-series module format that dominates project-studio racks.
• Universal Audio: Direct hybrid analog/digital competitor: makes both high-end outboard hardware (LA-610, 6176, etc.) and the dominant UAD software plug-in ecosystem, mirroring Tegeler's analog-plus-DAW-recall positioning. Closest direct competitor on product strategy and customer segment.
• DW Fearn: American boutique manufacturer of hand-built tube processors (VT-7, VT-4, etc.). Direct peer on boutique tube-based outboard, professional mastering customer base, and founder-led brand identity.
• BAE Audio: California-based boutique manufacturer of high-end analog compressors, EQs and preamps (Neve-style circuits). Comparable boutique positioning, hand-built quality and professional mastering/mixing customer segment.
• Solid State Logic (SSL): Iconic British console and outboard manufacturer with bus compressors (SSL G-Comp), EQs and channel strips that compete head-to-head with Tegeler's Creme and Vari Tube Compressor lines. Same pro studio and project studio customer segments.
• Thermionic Culture: UK boutique manufacturer of hand-built tube-based studio processors. Directly comparable on boutique tube outboard positioning, professional mastering/mixing customer base, and country-of-origin premium brand identity.
• Rupert Neve Designs: Premium hand-built analog outboard gear (compressor, EQ, preamp). Same professional mastering/mixing customer segment and similar boutique positioning at higher price points; Tegeler competes with Rupert Neve Designs in flagship bus compressor and EQ categories.
• Manley Labs: Hand-built American tube-based processors (Variable Mu, Massive Passive EQ). Direct competitor in Vari-Mu mastering compression and Pultec-style EQ, with analogous boutique positioning, celebrity endorsement strategy, and professional studio customer base.
• Heritage Audio: Spanish manufacturer of analog 500-series modules, summing mixers and outboard. Comparable to Tegeler's 500-series expansion strategy and project-studio customer base, with similar price-point positioning.
• Tube-Tech: Danish manufacturer of tube-based compressors, EQs and preamps. Directly comparable to Tegeler on Vari-Mu/tube circuitry technology, mastering-engineer customer segment and premium hand-built positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHtPh3LxjYv6LZEkIckTx_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/TegelerAudioManufaktur
• Instagraminstagram.com/_tegeler_
• TikToktiktok.com/@_tegeler_
• Xx.com/_tegeler_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tegeler

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tegeler