"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
Eeyore wrote:

I was appalled at the level of disinterest in audio within the
'board' at Neve. That's one reason I quit after about 3 years as a
project leader. I could see they were heading for failure, and
indeed it was so.

Neve produced generally good sounding designs, but the quality of some
components was dreadful. Switches, pots and relays mainly.

Funny considering they spent lots of money on pots and relays and stuck
with the same design of switch intentionally for decades.

Other makers seemed to have found more reliable switches.

You're the first person I know to mention these kinds of problems. I know a
guy who does a lot of Neve service so I'll mention your comments to him.


Often wore out after about 2 years broadcast use - not what you'd
expect from top dollar prices.

That's an atypical experience.

What console model(s) ?

I'm not good at remembering model nubers. The range BBC TV first used
(narrow module) at TV centre. The first one in TC3 was deemed unsuitable
for live use after only a few years due to unreliability. While much older
and equally as heavily used desks by both the BBC and commercial suppliers
soldiered on. I'd say that's why the BEEB changed to Calrec.

Teddington Studios had an early 'inline monitoring' unit in the recording
studio. The relays were changed several times and cleaned more often. And
there were a lot of relays.

Care to put a rough date on this ?

Graham