Neve 88M User manual

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88M
Dual Mic Preamp and USB Audio Interface
User Manual
1.0

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Health & Safety Notice
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF OTHERS
PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING HEALTH AND SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
•READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND KEEP THEM HANDY
•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 USB CORD
•USE ONLY ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER
•UNPLUG USB WHEN UNUSED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME
•REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY
•NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE
FAILURE TO OBSERVE THESE PROCEDURES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL INVALIDATE THE MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY

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Avertissements de Santé & Sécurité
POUR VOTRE SECURITE ET CELLE DES AUTRES MERCI DE RESPECTER LES INSTRUCTIONS DE SANTE ET
SECURITE SUIVANTES
•LISEZ CES INSTRUCTIONS ET GARDEZ-LES À PORTÉE DE MAIN
•TENEZ COMPTE DE TOUS LES AVERTISSEMENTS DE SÉCURITÉ
•NE PAS UTILISER PRÈS D’UNE SOURCE D’EAU
•NETTOYER UNIQUEMENT AVEC UN CHIFFON SEC
•NE PAS INSTALLER PRÈS D’UNE SOURCE DE CHALEUR
•NE PAS BLOQUER LES BOUCHES D’AÉRATION
•PROTÉGER LE CORDON USB
•N’UTILISER QUE LES ACCESSOIRES SPÉCIFIÉS PAR LE FABRICANT
•DÉBRANCHER PENDANT DE LONGUES PÉRIODES D’INACTIVITÉ
•CONFIER TOUTES LES OPÉRATIONS DE MAINTENANCE À DU PERSONNEL QUALIFIÉ UNIQUEMENT
•AUCUNE PIÈCE INTERNE N’EST RÉPARABLE PAR L'UTILISATEUR
LE NON-RESPECT DE CES PROCÉDURES ET RECOMMANDATIONS INVALIDERA LA GARANTIE DU FABRICANT

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Important Safety Instructions
For your own Safety and for the protection of others, please observe the following safety precautions:
1) Read these instructions.
2) Keep these instructions.
3) Heed all warnings.
4) Follow all instructions.
5) WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture
6) Clean only with dry cloth.
7) Do not block any ventilation openings.
8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
9) Protect the USB cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus.
10) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
11) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as when liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
Head Office:
AMS Neve
AMS Technology Park
Billington Road
Burnley
Lancashire
England
BB11 5UB
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.ams-neve.com
© ® 2005 - 2022 AMS Neve Ltd own the copyright of all information and figures 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.
Disclaimer: The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, no responsibility is taken
by AMS-Neve for inaccuracies, errors or omissions nor any liability assumed for any loss or damage resulting either directly or indirectly from use of the information
contained within.
Trademarks: Neve®, 1073® and Marinair® are registered trademarks. AMS Neve Limited pursues a policy of continual improvement therefore all specifications
are subject to change without notice. All trademarks are property of their respective owners E & O E ©2020 AMS Neve Ltd.
.

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Instructions Importantes sur la Sécurité:
Pour votre sécurite et celle des autres merci de respecter les instructions de santé et sécurité suivantes :
1) Lisez ces instructions.
2) Gardez ces instructions.
3) Tenez compte de tous les avertissements.
4) Suivez toutes les instructions.
5) ATTENTION: afin de réduire les risques d'incendie ou de choc électrique, n'exposez pas cet appareil à la pluie
ou à l'humidité
6) Nettoyez uniquement avec un chiffon sec
7) Ne pas bloquer les bouches d’aération
8) Ne pas installer à proximité d’une source de chaleur telle qu’un radiateur, une bouche d’air chaud, des
plaques de cuisson (ou cuisinière), ou n’importe quel autre appareil producteur de chaleur (y compris un
amplificateur)
9) Protégez le cordon USB d’alimentation afin d’éviter les piétinements et pincements, et plus particulièrement
à proximité des prises de courant ou tout autre élément de branchement, ainsi qu’au point de sortie de
l’appareil)
10) Débranchez cet appareil pendant les orages ou de longues périodes d’inactivité.
11) Confiez toutes les opérations de maintenance à un technicien qualifié. Un entretien est nécessaire lorsque
l'appareil a été endommagé de quelque manière que ce soit, comme par exemple si le cordon d'alimentation
ou la fiche sont endommagés, du liquide a été renversé ou des objets sont tombés dans l'appareil, si l'appareil a
été exposé à la pluie ou à l'humidité, s’il ne fonctionne pas correctement ou a subi une chute de hauteur.
ATTENTION:
AFIN DE RÉDUIRE LES RISQUES D'INCENDIE OU DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE, N'EXPOSEZ PAS CET APPAREIL À LA PLUIE OU À
L'HUMIDITÉ.

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Table of Contents
Health & Safety notice (English) ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Health & Safety notice (French)........................................................................................................................................ 3
Important Safety Instructions (English) ........................................................................................................................... 4
Important Safety Instructions (French)............................................................................................................................. 5
88M Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Quick Start Guide .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Preamp Controls ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Monitor Controls ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Rear Panel ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13
ADAT ............................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Dimensions & Power Requirements .............................................................................................................................. 16
Audio Specification ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
AD/DA Specification........................................................................................................................................................ 19
Round Trip Latency ......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Unit connection Tables .................................................................................................................................................. 20
Dimensions & Power Requirements (French)................................................................................................................. 21
Audio Specification (French)........................................................................................................................................... 22
AD/DA Specification (French) ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Round Trip Latency (French)........................................................................................................................................... 24
Unit connection Tables (French)..................................................................................................................................... 25

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88M Introduction 1
Legendary Studio Technology
Neve has been at the forefront of studio technology for 60 years, providing
ultimate sonic solutions for studios worldwide, creating ground-breaking
technology and providing artists and producers with the tools required to
make hit records.
Premier Audio Lineage
One prime example of this is the world-leading 88RS console, housed in the
world’s premier studios – Abbey Road, Air, Capitol, and Skywalker Sound, to
name just a few. The phenomenal 88RS sound quality can be heard on hit
records, blockbuster film scores, and top 10 video game soundtracks.
Neve Transformer Technology
Neve transformers have become the stuff of legend over the past six
decades, and this British Iron is the glue that transforms a good recording
into a great one capable of breaking into the charts. Subtle yet highly
musical harmonic saturation, supreme clarity, and analogue ‘warmth’ are
characteristics of the 88R console transformer found inside the 88M Audio
Interface.
Professional Sound Quality
The 88M is professional sound in its simplest form, giving artists, producers,
and engineers the ability to create premium recordings when working from
small studios, home environments, or even when recording on the move.

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Quick Start Guide 1
The 88M, delivered in premium packaging, contains the following-
•88M 2-Channel Audio Interface
•USB A > USB B 3.0 cable (Black)
•USB C > USB B 3.0 cable (Black)
•Quick Start Guide
•Neve Outboard Product Brochure
•Neve Sticker
Physical Computer Connections 1
The 88M unit is USB-powered and does not require an external PSU or
additional cabling to operate. Connect your 88M unit to your computer
using the USB cable provided, do not use USB cables longer than 3m as they
can cause a drop in power that can affect the performance of your unit. The
88M is USB 2.0 compliant; USB 2 and USB 3 ports can connect to the unit.
Once a Stable connection is made, the USB light will illuminate Blue.
Connecting Via a USB hub 1
It is best practice to connect the 88M Directly to your computer If your
computer has a spare USB3.0 port, this ensures a stable connection with a
continuous power supply. If a USB Hub is required, it is highly recommended
to use a high-quality powered USB Hub. Most low-quality self-powered USB
Hubs do not provide a stable power supply for high-quality audio
production.
Software Quick Start 1
The following information contains connection & software installation
instructions for Mac and PC systems. The 88M complies with the USB Device
Class Definition for Audio Devices 2.0 specification.
MAC 1
The 88M will appear as a core audio device as soon as it is physically
connected to your Apple Mac computer.
To select the 88M as your Mac Audio Interface, navigate to-
>System Preferences>Sound
Select the Neve 88M Dual Mic Pre as both Input and Output Device

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Windows 1
To operate on a Windows 10 PC, the 88M Driver must be installed.
Download the software from - www.ams-neve.com > 88M > Supporting
Documentation
Follow the setup wizard instructions to install the driver.
To select the 88M as your PC Audio Interface, navigate to –
Control panel>Hardware & Sound>Sound>Manage Audio Devices
Select 88M Dual Mic Pre as the Playback and Recording device.

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Preamp Controls 1
The 88M preamplifiers can accept inputs from various musical instruments
and microphones. Channel one and channel two inputs are mounted on the
front of the unit via combi XLR/TRS input.
Microphone Input 1
XLR Connection
The 88M microphone inputs benefit from the 88R transformer colouration,
adding warmth and subtle harmonic saturation to input signals.
Press the GAIN pot until the MIC LED illuminates to select microphone
input -
Connect your microphone to the 88M by using an XLR cable and adjust the
GAIN pot until the desired signal level is reached.
Dynamic microphones such as SM58’s and Ribbon microphones do not
require phantom power (+48v) to operate. The +48V switch should be off for
Dynamic and Ribbon microphones.
Phantom Power (+48v) 1
Condenser Microphones require Phantom power to operate. Phantom
power is activated from the grey +48V switch and will only send to the XLR
input.
Before activating Phantom Power, ensure that the channel gain and
monitor level is turned fully down to protect your monitoring system from
pops.
Line Input 1
TRS Connection
The 88M line input is fed through the 88R Marinair transformer and can be
used to input external preamps and a host of line-level instruments such as
synthesisers and drum machines.
Press the GAIN pot until the LINE LED illuminates to select Line input.
Connect your line-level instruments to the 88M with a ¼’’ jack cable into
the combi TRS port. The 88M accepts balanced (TRS) or unbalanced line
inputs.
DI Input 1
TRS Connection
The 88M DI input is fed through the 88 Marinair transformer to add warmth
and weight to instrument signals.
Press the GAIN pot until the DI LED illuminates to select DI input.
Connect your instruments to the 88M with a ¼’’ Jack cable into the combi
TRS port. The 88M accepts balanced (TRS) or unbalanced direct inputs.