MESSE13: Neve 1073N and 88R-LB 500 Series Modules

Less money - more connections - no brainer   16-Apr-13

In a busy corner of Hall 5.1 we found the AMS-Neve stand, showing a couple of new hardware items - the brand new 1073N, and an addition to their 500-series range, the 88R-LB

The 1073N is a faithful reproduction of the venerated 1073 module, identical in almost every way to the original and current hand-wired versions, but it has a clever trick... on the back panel are extra conectors for external power and XLR inputs & outputs, enabling the module both to be used when slotted into racks for existing 1073 modules, and used completely stand-alone.

This needed a bit of juggling with the circuit boards inside, and some changes to the manufacturing methodology, but we're assured the sound is identical to the original.

The 88R-LB is basically the pre-amp from their 'flagship' analogue console the 88R, originally launched in 2001 and resident in studios such as Abbey Road and Air, squeezed into a 500-series sized chassis - quite a feat for a module more at home in the luxury environment of a purpose-built console... it too needed some clever electrickery to pull it off.

We asked David Walton to give us some more info.

• AMS-Neve website