The Birth of a Classic
In 1977, Bob Clearmountain and Tony Bongiovi opened the doors to what would become one of the most iconic recording studios of all time, Power Station in New York City. At the heart of Studio A sat a newly installed Neve 8068, a console that would go on to define an entire era of recorded music.
Built for sonic excellence, the Neve 8068 offered engineers exceptional tonal control, lush harmonic saturation, and rugged analogue reliability. It became Bob Clearmountain’s first console and, in many ways, his most trusted tool.
“It was really easy to operate and sounded great. So many legendary records were made on it.”
Hit Records That Passed Through the Faders
The original Power Station Neve 8068 was the creative engine behind a remarkable array of hit records:
David Bowie – Scary Monsters, Ashes to Ashes
Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Chic – Le Freak, Good Times
Bryan Adams – You Want It You Got It, Cuts Like a Knife
Bruce Springsteen – The River
Talking Heads, Ramones
Disco parodies like Disco Close Encounters
Countless New York punk and rock acts including the Tuff Darts
“The sonic character of the 8068—warm, punchy, musical—was a big part of those records.”
Reclaiming the Past: Bob’s Return to the 8068
In 2006, Bob managed to locate and purchase the original Studio A console, the very desk he had used decades earlier at Power Station. The desk had ended up in Oklahoma, owned by Steve Ripley, who had it meticulously restored by Fred Hill, including Flying Faders automation.
“It was marketed as the original console from Studio A. I wanted one like it, but this was it.”
Ironically, Bob and his wife Betty both found the same listing online and briefly ended up bidding against each other.
What Makes the Neve 8068 So Special
3-Band Musical EQ
Simple, intuitive, and instantly effective. The EQ is broader than the classic 1073, making it ideal for shaping drums, vocals, and strings.
Harmonic Richness
Whether used for subtle tonal enhancement or full-bodied analogue grit, the Neve preamp and channel path provide character in spades.
Warmth Without Harshness
Clearmountain often remarks how boosting top-end never sounds brittle. It simply adds shine.
“It’s like a hug. A warm coat on a winter’s day.”
Clearmountain’s 8068: The Plugin
Now, thanks to a collaboration with Apogee, Bob Clearmountain has recreated his legendary Neve 8068 console as a plugin, faithfully modelling every nuance of his original desk.
Clearmountain’s 8068 Plugin – $99
A console that shaped music history, now in your DAW
Authentic Analogue Character
Every circuit and component of Bob’s modded 8068, used to mix records for Kool & the Gang, Sister Sledge, and Bowie, has been faithfully modelled, including its fader module and transformer-based signal path.
Rich, Musical EQ
The plugin features the full 3-band EQ with more points than a 1073 and optional high-Q precision mode, ideal for tone shaping across a mix.
Line and Mic Input Modes
Choose between:
Line Mode – Classic warmth and clean saturation
Mic Mode – Crunchy, gritty, and creatively distorted at high settings
Auto Gain in Mic Mode
Automatically maintains output level while exploring saturation. No more chasing gain staging, just focus on tone.
Plugin Formats
Available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX, making it compatible across all major DAWs.
“I couldn’t tell the difference. The plugin really nailed it.”
A Console. A Legacy. A Plugin.
Whether you’re tracking vocals, shaping drum overheads, or mixing a full rock band, Clearmountain’s 8068 plugin gives you access to the same tone that shaped a generation of music. It is not just a model. It is a revival of a sonic icon.
Visit Apogee to learn more or download a free trial:
Clearmountain’s 8068 Plugin
