Classic Neve Consoles 1961 to date (Story #3)

For the third tale of amazing Neve consoles we need to take another trip in the time machine, this time back 25 years to 1972. Rupert Neve and Co. were making BCM10's, 8014's, 8016's and a variety of custom consoles. Let's home in on one particular strange looking custom console. . .

Rupert Neve and Co. were a very forward looking outfit and (besides their regular 45mm 80 series range of consoles) were already were nailing down the final designs to a whole range of innovative products. Necam, for instance, might look pretty basic compared with current systems by GML, Audiomation , and (of course!) Flying Faders, but back in the early seventies this motorised fader system was THE trail blazer! There was also a trend towards higher density circuit packaging with module widths dropping from 45mm to around 30mm. The PSM range of Portable Sub Mixers was a good example of this technology.

In the attempt to get the modules slimmer still, the side covers were dispensed with and individual screening plates were built into the console frame to separate the modules and provide the necessary shielding. . . in fact the consoles looked rather like somewhere you'd file your post and collection of early Mix Magazines!

One particular console built this way was destined for a US based studio called Ballentine. (Please excuse any typo errors here, it was 25 years ago and spelling was never my top subject!) This console, A1033 I believe it was numbered, was most unusual in that it was assembled in separate sections, each of which were transportable. The frames had wheels built into them (braked and retractable, I recall) and handles could be inserted into the front of the console sections to wheel them around to whatever location they were needed. To go with the custom designed frame all the modules were unique to that console as was the complex monitoring system.

Up to the early seventies Neve's used a very complicated relay system based around a B212 relay logic card and much thought was given to coming up with a simpler system. A senior figure in the Neve hierarchy (I'll spare his blushes because he also left not long after. . . but if I call him "Flying Officer Kite" any old Neve techs will know precisely to whom I'm referring!) came up with a brilliant system using Thyristors to control the relay logic selections.

Put simply, pressing a selector switch put a current to the gate of a thyristor latching it on. The thyristor supplied dc to the relays involved in the selection. Pressing another source selector broke the supply to the thyristor causing it to release the relays and for another thyristor to select an alternative relay selection. What could be more simple? It worked fine in the test department at Neve and the console was dispatched to it's customer the other side of the pond.

Uh oh!!! OK, it's easy to look back now with the smart knowledge that hindsight gives us, but who can recall the big problem with relying on thyristors to behave themselves?

SPIKES! That curse of our micro based society!!!

Needless to say, no sooner had the console been installed in the Studio than the monitoring system developed a mind of its own! Lights were flashing and relays clunking in a manner not far removed from an arcade's pin ball machine!

The project engineer for the console, Mike Allen, (Hi Mike, where are you?) was dispatched to the USA at top speed to resolve the matter. This task was not as easy as one might think as the monitor selection had to be replaced with relays (Good ol' relays!) and new printed circuit boards made locally to accommodate them. I recall Mike was out there several weeks and had to hire local wiring techs to help him incorporate the modifications as soon as possible. Still, he fixed the console and effectively designed the BA320 relay interlock board, used on all consoles for the next 10 years or so. Yours truly laid out the tapes and designed the printed circuit layout for the BA320. . . this being the only PCB I laid out during my time at Neve (I delegated the task to others after that emergency!)

You will find that little PCB card in every subsequent Neve console fitted with a reed matrix for audio switching. The board is totally "bullet proof" and provides perfect interlocking between the switched functions. IC’s? Who needs ‘em!

PS After originally posting this article I received an email from its current owner! Proof indeed of the longevity of these great consoles! The console is now at Cedar Creek Recording Studio.

-Copyright © 2002 Geoff Tanner