Neve 51 vs. Studiomaster 16 into 4 part 1 - Clash of the 80s IC Consoles

Neve 51 vs. Studiomaster - The Clash of the 80s IC consoles A revolution in the electrical world occurred in the 1970s with the invention of the silicon chip. This began a path forward for integrated circuit design (ICs), including high performance operational amplifiers (op-amps). New op-amps including the NE5534 replaced heavy and expensive transformers of the 1970s recording consoles, and in 1980 Neve introduced the 51series consoles using the NE5534. The downside was the current draw that was converted into heat energy, unto 500watts for a Neve 32 channel 51 series desk. That quickly cooked the electrolytic capacitor on the module boards, rendering these consoles as unreliable and constantly in the repair shop. So if you're thinking about buying a Neve 51 today, perhaps think again! Enter the Studiomaster 16 into 4 - a 1979 release all IC based design with much lower current draw ICs, that didn't cook the caps. The Studiomaster 16 into 4 was advertised in Australia in Sonics Magazine and was aimed at the home recording engineer. The desk featured in this video, appeared in perfect unused condition, however all pots and switches were reconditioned, check and tested. It serves as a fine example of a low cost alternative to class A Neve, for home recording purposes. In this video I walk through the EQ and tonality of the Studiomaster and discuss why it's a reliable low cost choice compared with a Neve 51 series desk.