In this scenario, the Neve sounds fantastic. Reaching for a Coles 4038, paired with a Fet Head transformer, I picked up a trombone and layered up some tracks. My other day-to-day interfaces do feel different, with a suggestion of greater brightness in the upper frequency bands, but this is more likely due to a lessening of mid-register frequencies, providing more of a perception than a reality. While recording vocals, the depth of capture feels impressive, with what I would describe as a full-tone, particularly in the middle frequency band. Some like their playback loud that’s not me, although I would defy anyone to suggest that the 88M cannot crank to high enough levels. Beginning with a U87, tracking was a total cinch! The low-latency monitoring proved to be impressive, with more than enough headroom for vocal work, both at the channel and monitoring stages. I used several different mic’s, in different recording scenarios, to get a flavour of what the 88M could offer. So having bought into the whole classic preamp argument, it’s time to take the 88M for a test drive. There is a reduction in headroom, over a fully powered channel, but it’s impressive and useable nonetheless, being reliant on the very same input transformers. USB power has its limits, which explains the move toward a tweaked incarnation of Neve’s very own preamp circuit, culled from the legendary 88RS console. It still blows my mind that you can bus-power an interface such as this, and connect a condenser microphone using phantom power. This explains the presence of the heftier USB3 connector to the rear, with included cables for conventional USB A and newer USB C connectivity, supplying the 88M with the appropriate amount of power. If you buy into this device, you’ll be dialling in to Neve’s history, which might make you wonder why they haven’t placed their legendary 1073 pre amp at the front end? Put simply, it all boils down to power one of the major party tricks that the 88M has to offer is its ability to run solely on bus power, which is to say that it powers directly from your computer. Let’s not beat around the bush here, the 88M is a premium quality product, with a premium price. You may also extend the number of inputs via the on-board ADAT light pipe, making the 88M a perfect partner for outboard mic pre’s with ADAT functionality, which include Neve’s own excellent 1073 OPX, albeit with the optional digital card fitted. These elements are very simple to access, which is just as well, as the 88M does not offer any accompanying software, to fine tune your interface preferences.Īround the back of the interface, there are monitor outputs on TRS 1/4” jack only, with send and return insert points for both input channels. The presence of a see-saw monitoring pot allows easy balancing between incoming signals and DAW playback, with the ability to dictate your signal priority, along with the option to switch to mono, proving to be flexible for playback and tracking possibilities. Each of the input channels toggles between mic/line/DI input, with phantom powering available from a button next to input connector. Due to the added functionality, the pots don’t feel quite as sturdy as they might if they were just dampened pots, but the ‘made in the UK’ quality shines through. The front of the interface provides 2 x mic/line/DI inputs, via XLR/1/4” jack connectors, with 4 pots which double as push-button switches. Place on your desktop, and the rubberised feet keep it securely in place, while it’s tolex-style wraparound finish looks classic and stylish. That’s quite a number of bags of sugar, and might suggest that while it’s slightly larger than many other similar desktop audio interfaces, (it offers a18x20cm footprint) it’s going to feel pretty heavy in transit. Firstly, and most obviously, the 88M is a reassuringly weighty device, at 1.675Kg. Neve’s new 88M audio interface perfectly straddles both ubiquitous territories, with a sense of the old, through the re-versioned use of preamp technology, but with the contemporary angle of a bus-powered interface.īefore we get into the sonics, let’s consider what we have in this box.
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