Neve 88R 36 Frame Loaded 24 with Encore Automation

Rare Small frame Neve 88R

5.1 mixing and monitoring

Encore Moving Fader Automation (Upper and Lower Faders)

Right Hand Patchbay

LED Bargraph Metering

Al Schmitt with the Neve 88R console at Capitol Studios

48 multitrack outs and six main outputs. Eight auxes are mono/stereo configurable in any combination, and auxes can be routed from the multitrack buses for more – lots more – aux sends for mix sessions, when multitrack sends are not in use. Monitoring/panning for 5.1 is standard, as is an expanded automation system that includes moving faders on main and small faders. A high-res TFT display is built into the console to show automation and status data, an S-VGA output will drive an external display, and a trackball and QWERTY keyboard provide the automation data input interface.

The 18dB/octave HP/LP filters are unchanged from the V Series, though they can now be used in either the channel or monitor paths. EQ can be pre/post-dynamics and retains that V sound, but with more cut/boost on all four bands (ñ20 dB). The Q range on the mid-bands is extended, and the HF band goes out to 18 kHz. The low-mid EQ goes 100 Hz lower, and the LF band extends 100 Hz higher for more overlap between bands. The compressor/limiter/gating in each channel module is now more versatile. Soft knee operation is standard, as is a wider range and +10 dB more sensitivity in the gating action. Compressors can be linked, and EQ can be inserted into the gate sidechain.

LED bar meters, which offer 6 dB more sensitivity, (Than the Neve VR plasma meters) now going up to +9 dB. Either PPM or VU-style ballistics can be selected with single dot peak (auto reset) or peak-hold display, and in calibration mode the entire range of the meter is ñ1 dB.

“The 88R runs cooler than the V Series, and a `chimney’ effect draws air up through the console, redirecting heat away from the channel modules.”

The 88R was built with surround mixing in mind. Five stereo mix buses and a dedicated LCR bus can be run from the large or small faders. The LCR panning provides two divergence settings – wide or narrow. The 5.1 monitor control uses a passive 24-position stepped attenuator, and three sets of speakers can be selected