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Mixing in the box? Losing something in the process? Maybe the answer is to go on a magical analog journey into the vast and wonderful world that exists outside the box.
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Plenty of flexible options for 2-track mixing and monitoring. Check multiple cue outputs, switch between main and alt monitors, keep your levels rockin'. And all the while, listen to the sweet Neve sound, and try not to get overwhelmed with joy. Hey, are you tearing up over there? No crying on my summing amp!
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What about Neve products other than the 8816? Can you get Neve's world-renowned modules from GC Pro? Does the charm quark have more mass than the proton? Is the Andromeda galaxy approximately 2.5 million light years away from Earth? The answer to all of the above is yes. Moving on... above are two channels of Neve 1073 Mic Pre/EQ. Possibly the world's most desired and famous preamp of all time. You can get them from GC Pro, just so you know.
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Mmm... a tasy treat of 1081 class A mic preamps. You can get Neve models in various configurations, from this sweet little 2-channel setup to...
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... this rack of doom, full of 1084 modules (which offer 3 switchable EQ bands with cut and boost, a high Q for presence and low pass/high pass filters). This is what the Preamp Fairy brings good little audio engineers.
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How do you describe "the sound of Neve"? Is it the warmth? The punch? The definition? For generations, that indescribable sonic goodness has lent itself to countless recordings via the analog processing in Neve consoles and processors. But the new generation of engineers, producers and musicians who work in DAW systems, getting the sound of Neve has been a difficult task to say the least... until now. With the 8816 Analogue Summing Amplifier, every user of a Digital Audio Workstation can add the legendary sound of Neve to his or her studio!
Why Use A Summing Mixer?
It's pretty simple: though your DAW offers sophisticated creative tools and speeds up your workflow, it probably leaves something to be desired in audio quality when you sum your multitrack mix to two channels. Typically, people report that during digital summing, their mixes lose the spaciousness and detail they worked so hard to achieve. While quite a few high-quality summing boxes have hit the market to answer the need for high-quality analog 2-bus mixing from a DAW, the 8816 has one thing the others don't (yes, I'm going to say it again): the sound of Neve!
Neve Sound... In Two Rack Spaces
The 8816 is pretty simple to grasp. You get sixteen input channels that each include level, pan, cut and cue controls. A +15dB gain range accommodates both -10dBv and +4dbm input levels. Need more than 16 channels? You can cascade multiple 8816s to your heart's delight.
Seems easy enough, but how does it provide the Neve sound? The key to the 8816 is the classic Neve transformer mixing topology. For flexible mixing, the mix outputs appear simultaneously as balanced +4dBm and unbalanced -10dBv. Mix Inserts are pre-fade for full control and can be switched between normal insert mode and mastering style sum and difference mode with stereo width control.
The folks at Neve know that you sometimes have to get your summed 2-mix back to the digital domain, so the 8816 offers an optional digital output that converts the analog mix to any standard PCM sample rate. Not only does it convert at up to 192kHz, but can also output directly to DSD! Conveniently, the 8816's output PPM meters are complemented by overload LEDs to indicate clipping at the ADC or analog output.
Now Listen Here
Monitoring is also well thought out in the 8816. The monitor section selects between Mix Out, 2 Track Return, Channels 1 & 2 (DAW mix replay) and "i-mon" front panel input mini-jack, handy for quick mix comparisons. For flexibility in your studio, the monitor level is independent of the mix level and the monitor outputs can be switched between Main and Alt speakers. Plus, a separate Cue Output can be fed from three sources and the built-in Talkback mic.
As if all that weren't cool enough, the 8816 also employs a USB connector. Yup, you guessed it: despite being an analog monster, the 8816 takes advantage of the most modern technology by allowing you to take snapshots of its settings to be saved to a PC or Mac. Ready for remixing? Boom... open your file and the 8816 will be recalled to your settings.
To Recap...
• Instant Recall of settings stored on PC or Mac via USB
• 16 input channels plus aux additional inputs
• Cue, Level, Pan, Solo and Mute controls
• Classic Neve analogue transformer mix buss
• Mix Insert points
• Various solo and solo in place functions
• Sum and difference insert with exclusive "Stereo Width Control"
• Dance mix style insert Mix function
• Separate Monitor and Cue levels
• Main and Alt speaker outs
• In built talkback mic and headphone Output
• Optional digital output card
• Units can be cascaded for multiple output
• 2 rack U high with special shielded power supply
Who Knows Summing? GC Pro Knows Summing!
GC Pro's Account Managers have been around the DAW block a few times. In fact, we've been working with producers, engineers, and musicians with computer-based recording systems since the earliest DAWs became available, and we've been helping people get the best sounds from software ever since. If you're looking to take your DAW's sonic quality to the next level, put a little Neve in your life... contact us now!
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