In this episode of MakeMineMusic, Marc Daniel Nelson reviews BlackBird Studio and Kit Audio’s Pro Tools BBN105 plugin. This plugin is a faithful recreation of the legendary Neve 8078 in studio A at BlackBird in Nashville, Tn.
The Neve 8078 was the last of the “80 series” hand-wired analogue mixing consoles designed and manufactured by Neve Electronics, founded in 1961 by the English electronics engineer Rupert Neve, for high-end recording studios during the 1970s. Some were custom built for major studios like CBS Sony.
Considered to be the ‘holy grail’ of recording consoles and Neve’s most desirable mixer, the 8078 traditionally contains varying numbers of input channels via 31105 microphone/line preamp and EQ modules. These discrete modules feature 438 and 440 amplifiers, and use the same 10468 mic transformer and 31267 line transformers as the Neve 1073s. The EQ features 4-bands with high and low-pass filters, shelving select, Hi-Q select and phase switching.
Only a limited number of the 8078 consoles were made with just a handful remain in working condition and are still used, making them incredibly valuable. The consoles can be used for mixing, signal boosting via mic/line preamps, levelling, EQ and also track summing, making them suitable for a wide variety of projects. Some consoles have been built with a varying number of input and mixing channels to facilitate projects of different sizes, ranging from 28 up to 72 input channels.
The Neve 8078 will impart the expected vintage, warm tones of Neve and bring bold, smooth character to audio signals that are processed. Neve consoles and sound, such as that of the 8078, have featured on classic records by artists including Pink Floyd, Quincy Jones, Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Dire Straits and many more.
Follow Marc as he breaks down a track by legardnary country artist Martina McBride using the BBN105 plugin!
Check out the video below to learn more about mixing with the Neve 8078 In The Box with Marc!
