A new audio interface from Neve is always major news and at NAMM 2022 visitors were greeted precisely to a new USB desktop design that just made everyone wish this would have been launched earlier. The new Neve 88M is a dual microphone preamplifier and and USB audio interface that uses the same transformer-balanced technology as Neve's flagship large-format 88RS, bringing the legendary sound of AIR, Abbey Road and Capitol Studios into a home and portable studio setup.
A new audio interface from Neve is always major news and at NAMM 2022 visitors were greeted precisely to a new USB desktop design that just made everyone wish this would have been launched earlier. The new Neve 88M is a dual microphone preamplifier and and USB audio interface that uses the same transformer-balanced technology as Neve's flagship large-format 88RS, bringing the legendary sound of AIR, Abbey Road and Capitol Studios into a home and portable studio setup. The USB-powered 88M has been designed with remote recording in mind and, as with all Neve equipment, sound quality takes ultimate priority.
Neve Electronics, established in 1961 by the late Rupert Neve and Advanced Music Systems, established in 1976 by Mark Crabtree, amalgamated in 1990 to form the parent company AMS Neve Ltd. The new company that remains in operation until today, combines AMS’s digital expertise, led by Mark Crabtree, with the Neve analog designs supported by original Neve engineers. Designed and manufactured in England, the new Neve 88M is a robust front-end recording system that is complemented with mastering-grade AD/DA conversion, producing world-class fidelity and premier studio musicality throughout.
The 88M uses the same microphone preamplifier as the world-leading 88R console. The 88 Marinair transformer-coupled preamp, used on countless top ten singles and film scores, is a proven design that delivers analogue punch and clarity to all signal sources. The 88M microphone, line and DI analogue inputs are fed through the Marinair transformer, ensuring that all microphone and instrument inputs benefit from the legendary Neve preamp sound.
The 88M has plenty of audio inputs for more extensive recording sessions, with two analog inputs via the onboard preamps combined with eight digital inputs via ADAT optical connection, to allow for tracking up to ten signals. In addition, there are ten available outputs, two analog monitor sends and eight digital outputs via ADAT optical connection, ideal for expanded monitoring, additional performer cue sends or connecting to different analogue units.
The Neve 88M also has two dedicated TRS outputs for studio monitors, precisely controlled from the 88RS-style monitor pot with a centre detent set to -12dB below the maximum for the ideal studio listening level. And the 88M headphone amplifier has plenty of headroom for professional headphones with independent level control and a front-mounted TRS connection.
Both preamp channels feature a balanced insert send & return loop, ideal for connecting analog outboard processing into a recording chain. Each insert send is always active, allowing for signal splitting, and providing an analogue output for each preamp before the A/D converter.
Several built-in and simple to use monitoring options are available, providing latency-free monitoring for mono and stereo signal sources. Ideal for playback, tracking and overdubbing, the 88M is designed for plug-and-play connectivity, taking power directly from the USB 3.0 connection. This class-compliant audio interface can be connected quickly to any laptop and be ready to record music in minutes.
And like in the two-ton Neve 88RS console, the 88M is built to last. Housed in a high grade and robust shell, the 88M is the ideal interface to take out on the road.
https://www.ams-neve.com/88m/
