Neve 1057 (#2)

What is the Neve 1057?

The Neve 1057 is a vintage germanium mic preamp and EQ module from the mid-1960s, one of Rupert Neve’s first generation of combination mic pre/EQ designs. It pairs germanium transistors with transformers in a Class A circuit, giving it a grainy, forward, thick character. It’s rare and hard to find for sale today. Our vintage Neve units are from the personal collection of F. Reid Shippen.

What is the Neve 1057 best for?

The Neve 1057 is best known for drums, on individual kit pieces or across the drum bus. Producer Michael Beinhorn, who used 1057s on “Superunknown,” “Celebrity Skin,” and “Mechanical Animals,” considers them the best drum EQs on the planet, according to F. Reid Shippen. Ours are the same model, not Beinhorn’s own modules. The 1057 also puts attitude into a flat vocal and makes electric guitars sound bigger and grittier.

What controls does the Neve 1057 have?

The Neve 1057 has a switched line gain control, a high-pass filter, and three EQ bands on stepped controls. The high-pass filter offers 20, 45, 70, 160, or 360 Hz; the low band 35, 60, 100, or 220 Hz; the mid band 0.7, 1.2, 2.4, 3.8, or 7 kHz; and the high band is a 10 kHz shelf. Each band boosts or cuts in five steps either side of zero, and at Access Analog the line gain runs 0, +10, or +20.

What’s the difference between germanium and silicon Neve modules?

Germanium Neve modules like the 1057 come from Rupert Neve’s first generation of solid-state designs, before silicon transistors took over by 1969. Germanium transistors are leakier, more temperature-sensitive, and less consistent than silicon, and germanium modules are usually heard as grittier and more forward. Silicon modules like the Neve 1064 are typically heard as thicker and smoother, which is why engineers often keep both on hand.

Is this the real Neve 1057 or an emulation?

It’s the actual vintage Neve 1057, with its real germanium transistors and transformers, not a model of them. Your audio streams from your DAW to the physical module in our rack, and robotics set its controls as you adjust the Analog Matrix plugin. Real Gear. No Emulations.

Can I track a microphone through the Neve 1057, or run it in stereo?

The Neve 1057 at Access Analog processes audio that’s already in your DAW at line level; it isn’t used to track a live microphone. Your track passes through the real module and comes back into your session, with your settings saved and recalled robotically. We have two 1057s, so you can use one in mono or link both with the Analog Matrix’s Link L/R setting for a matched stereo pair on a drum bus.

How much does it cost to use the Neve 1057?

The Neve 1057 is included in the Elite tier of the Access Analog Subscription, and you can also reserve it outright from the reservation calendar on this page. Current rates for every device are always listed on the Gear Prices page. New accounts start with 12 free credits to try the service.