User Manual Neve 8801 Channel Strip 527–358 Issue 2 !!!Please read – includes important safety instructions!!! © 2007 AMS Neve Ltd own the copyright of all information and drawings contained in this manual which are not to be copied or reproduced by any means or disclosed in part or whole to any third party without written permission. As part of our policy of continual product improvement, we reserve the right to alter specifications without notice but with due regard to all current legislation.
Safety Notice For your own safety and for the protection of others please observe the following safety instructions: • Read these instructions • Keep these instructions • Heed all safety warnings • Do not use near water • Clean only with a dry cloth • Do not install near heat sources • Do not block ventilation openings • Protect the power cord • Only use accessories specified by the manufacturer • Unplug during storms, or when unused for long periods • Refer all servicing to qualified
Index 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….… Package Contents …………………………………………………………………………………….…… System Requirements ……………………………………………………………………………………… Brief Description and Characteristics ………………………………………………….………………..… Front Panel Controls ………………………………………………………………………………....…… On/Off Switch ………………………………………………………………………………………..…… Input section ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Filters Section ………………………………………………………………………………………...
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the Neve 8801. This unique channel strip is based on the channel strip featured in the world renowned 88R mixing desk. It contains the highest quality Mic/Line/Instrument Preamp, Dynamics processing, EQ and Insert. The Audio Router function provides a user configurable signal path allowing any order of Dynamics, EQ, and Insert within the channel path. In addition, the EQ and or filters can be placed in the Dynamics sidechain.
. Front Panel Controls Neve 8801 User Manual Page 5 02/04/07
. On/Off Switch The Neve Logo Switch on the right hand side of the unit switches the unit on and off. 7. Input Section On power up, the default input is the Line input The input selected is shown by the LEDs above the gain knob and is selected by pressing the I/P GAIN knob. Line Input: The line input is accessible via the combo connector (¼’’ Jack and XLR in parallel) on the rear of the unit. It accommodates both balanced and unbalanced input signals.
8. Filters Section High Pass Filter: The high pass filter has a 12dB per octave (20dB per decade) slope and a frequency range from 30Hz to 300Hz. It is switched into circuit by pressing the High Pass frequency knob. The associated LED lights to indicate activation. Low Pass Filter: The low pass filter has a 12dB per octave (20dB per decade) slope and a frequency range from 1.5kHz to 18kHz. It is switched into circuit by pressing the Low Pass frequency knob. The associated LED lights to indicate activation.
9.1 Dynamics Sidechain The dynamics sidechain is the control signal for the dynamics processing. By default the sidechain receives the signal picked up just at the input of the Dynamics gain stage. The Filters and EQ can be moved to the sidechain path by pushing the FILTERS TO SIDECHAIN and EQ TO SIDECHAIN buttons respectively. When in the sidechain the Filters and EQ don’t act on the channel path.
.3 Expander/Gate The expander/gate has knobs for: • Hysteresis variable from 0dB to 25dB o Pressing Hysteresis knob selects Expander mode • Threshold variable from –30dBu to +20dBu o Pressing Threshold knob selects Key input • Range variable from 0dB to 60dB o Pressing Range knob toggles Normal (0.5ms) / Fast (0.
. EQ Section EQ Button: The EQ button activates the EQ section. When illuminated, EQ is in circuit. When not illuminated EQ is bypassed. EQ TO SIDECHAIN Button: The EQ TO SIDECHAIN button places the EQ in the sidechain. Placing the EQ in the sidechain removes it from the channel path and vice versa. Low Frequency Band: • • • • • The LF GAIN knob sets the cut or boost for the low frequency band of the EQ with a range of +/-20dB.
High Frequency Band: • • • • • The HF GAIN knob sets the cut or boost for the high frequency band of EQ with a range of +/-20dB. Pressing the HF GAIN knob switches the High Frequency EQ band between Peaking and Shelving modes. An LED lights to indicate when Shelving is selected. The HF Hz knob sets the high frequency between 1.5kHz and 18kHz. When the HF EQ band is set to Peak, pressing the HF Hz knob switches the band between Low and High Q. An LED lights to indicate the selection of High Q. Low Q is 0.
13. Output Section Line output is from a Male XLR on the back panel and accommodates both balanced and unbalanced connections. The output signal is routed to a headphone amplifier and is accessible on the ¼” Jack socket also on the back panel. The signal level for both the XLR line output and the headphone output is controlled by the O/P Gain knob. The range is from −infinity to +10dB.
15. Rear Panel Rear Panel Audio Connections • Line Input: the line input combo socket accepts input signals from either male XLR or male ¼” Jack connectors. Input signals can be balanced or unbalanced. • Mic Input: The Mic input is on a Female XLR. This input in parallel with the XLR input of the Combo connector of the front panel. • DI Input: The DI input is on a ¼’’ jack input. This input is in parallel with the Jack input of the Combo connector of the front panel.
• Insert: the insert send is on a Male XLR and the return is on a Female XLR connector. The insert can accept a balanced or unbalanced signal. • Line Output: the line output is on a male XLR connector. It can provide balanced and unbalanced output. • Headphone: the headphone output is a on ¼” jack connector. The level of the headphone output is set by the Output Level knob on the front panel. The gain of the headphone output can be increased by changing an internal jumper (see 12.
16. Optional Digital add-on board The 8801 has an expansion slot allowing access for digital connectivity. Two digital options are available: • Analogue to Digital converter featuring AES/EBU and DSD outputs • Genie Digital Input and Output compatible with CobraNet™ 16.
Double Rate AES Output It is also possible to select 96kHz (or 88.1kHz) sampling rate with a 48kHz (or 44.1kHz) sync input. Similarly it is possible to select 192kHz (or 176.2 kHz) sampling rate with a 96kHz (or 88.1kHz) sync input. This will cause the unit to output double rate AES on the AES Output connector. The sync LED will illuminate green indicating the sync reference is still being used for the digital output even though the ADC is sampling at twice the sync input sampling rate.
. Performance Specifications Microphone input impedance (balanced): 1.
. Block Diagram Neve 8801 User Manual Page 18 02/04/07
. Recall Software Neve Recall software allows settings from the 8801 to be stored on a PC or Mac and recalled for later use. Recall can be used for all the units in the 88 range including 8801, 8803, 8804 and 8816. Multiple units can be stored and recalled together. Please see the Recall Manual for further details. This may be downloaded from the Neve web site at: http://www.ams-neve.com/html/downloads/index.
. Appendix A Neve 8801 User Manual Page 20 02/04/07
