The Neve Portico Tape-Emulator

[Beck]

The whole concept of the Neve unit in question is to get you closer to tape sound without all the crap that makes analog tape recording such an expensive and time consuming pain in the ass - now happily bequeathed to the minority of fanatics who are prepared to put up with it.

Meanwhile, the rest of us get on with making music with comparative ease and creative flexibilty, without being hung up on the whole audiophile tape issue, but with something like a Neve Portico to whet the appetite. It may not be all it's made out to be, could be total hype, I dunno, but until those that slam it have heard it, best keep our minds open. There may be hope for the cursed fanatics yet!

Minority of fanatics… well, ok.

Interesting though that one of the only two new products from Rupert Neve is a tape emulator. I guess we’re just a very vocal minority.

Tape is only hypothetically difficult for those who don’t use it.

Meanwhile, the rest of us don’t find working with tape tricky at all. It’s not an impediment to creative flexibility – quite the contrary. It's a tool we have in addition to more recent innovations that others do not have.

 

[robin watson]

Minority of fanatics… well, ok.

Interesting though that one of the only two new products from Rupert Neve is a tape emulator. I guess we’re just a very vocal minority

If the unit in question was designed for tape users like yourself, that could have been an humorously effective statement. As is....

There was nothing 'hypothetical' about the inconvenience I experienced using tape for years. It wasn't difficult to use as such, just limited, time consuming, and expensive for what I needed to do.

 

[robin watson]

Awe, I don't want this to become a cat fight, Beck. I just got a bit riled when I read people complaining about a product based largely on their own personal pre-conceptions and pre-occupations.

Tape rules, and if a product out there can maybe steer even the 'digitally converted' back towards the sounds of yesteryear, I'm all for it and won't dismiss it without hearing it first.

Apparently, the Portico is available for a trial period, after which you can decide whether it's for you or not. That's surely fair.

 

[Dr ZEE]

Meanwhile, the rest of us get on with making music with comparative ease and creative flexibilty,....!

Who wants to be one of the rest of us?

That is the last thing any artist wishes to be...

 

[Dr ZEE]

ohhhh...more to that...
Being in the Minority of fanatics isn't good enough. The key is to become a one of a kind fanatic!

 

[robin watson]

Who wants to be one of the rest of us?

That is the last thing any artist wishes to be...

Yawn. The 'individual artist/going his own way thing.' Yeah, right.

 

[Dr ZEE]

Yawn. The 'individual artist/going his own way thing.' Yeah, right.

You know what makes me Yawn?
This does: making music with comparative ease. It's so boring - it hurts.

 

[Beck]

If the unit in question was designed for tape users like yourself, that could have been an humorously effective statement. As is....

There was nothing 'hypothetical' about the inconvenience I experienced using tape for years. It wasn't difficult to use as such, just limited, time consuming, and expensive for what I needed to do.

The fact that it's not marketed primarily to tape users is what I find amusing. A tape emulator introduced in 2005 by Neve? Imagine that prediction 20 years ago.

10 years ago maybe, since we were in the midst of the vacuum tube revolution, which was brought about by the digital revolution.

This Neve emulator could be a fine product, but the “death of tape” has been prophesied more times in the last twenty years...

Now if this Neve unit had a switch on it with selections such as Ampex 456, 3M 226, AGFA 468, BASF 911, etc, well… then I would really sit up and take notice.

Anything from Neve deserves a fair look; not as a candidate for tape slayer, but just because they make high quality stuff and it surely has a place in recording.

Issues with tape is a personal call – I can’t argue with it. I personally have never struggled with tape. It’s been a non-issue in the grand scheme of my studio experience.

 

[cjacek]

A tape emulator introduced in 2005 by Neve?

..... and that, I think, is what is so revealing. It's actually quite laughable when you think about it, especially for someone who has seen what has happened to Analog (in favor of digital) over the years .... and now ... "A tape emulator introduced in 2005 by Neve"



~Daniel

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

I don't know. Tape and tube emulation seems to have been a work in progress almost since the birth of digital recording as a serious endeavor. Most fall *way* short of the mark even if they do have a positive effect on the sound. One of my favorites are the Bomb Factory and T-RackS plugs. Do they sound like the real things? Of course not. But they do have a nice mildly warm/fuzzy/good effect on the sound and I like them.

The Neve would be the same kind of thing- but has the most chance of achieving a more tape-like sound.

-C

 

[Tone Monster]

Long time reader, first time poster...
First of all, the only reel to reel experience I have is with a Fostex R8 1/4 machine. Not much. I recently purchased the 5042 and am EXTREMELY satisfied with the results I'm getting. I mostly record "heavy guitar". Before I could never get a very good or great recorded sound, and now I can. I can get tracks sounding like albums I know were recorded using tape. Thats all I know. Does it replace tape? I dunno. Does it sound great? Absolutely.
My 2 cents.

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Hey Tone,

Thanks for chiming in with that.

Enjoy your new toy.

Chris

 

[Dr ZEE]

Does it replace tape?.

Nop. It eliminates it. (or, in case if the tape was previously eliminated, then it adds flavor of it to the dish' of dietary detaped vegetable burger). depending on the situation
so, what do you record on now, getting tracks sounding like albums you know were recorded using tape?


/respects

 

[quarterinch]

I don't think Rupert Neve is offering the Tape Emulator to get a foothold in digital hardware land. I think he's trying to insult its inhabitants.

 

[Dr ZEE]

I don't think Rupert Neve is offering the Tape Emulator to get a foothold in digital hardware land.

R Neve has created his own-ware land. He can do what ever he feels like

 

[Tone Monster]

Nop. It eliminates it. (or, in case if the tape was previously eliminated, then it adds flavor of it to the dish' of dietary detaped vegetable burger). depending on the situation
so, what do you record on now, getting tracks sounding like albums you know were recorded using tape?


/respects

Well, I record to a Korg D1600 and my tracks get that juicyness, "in the pocket" sound and feel when I use the 5042. That sound is on most of my favorite recordings. Its so tough to describe sounds using words!

 

[robin watson]

You know what makes me Yawn?
This does: making music with comparative ease. It's so boring - it hurts.

Don't sweat it, bro.

 

[Dr ZEE]

Don't sweat it, bro.

Don't tell me what "to don't", bro.

 

[Dr ZEE]

Well, I record to a Korg D1600 and my tracks get that juicyness, "in the pocket" sound and feel when I use the 5042. That sound is on most of my favorite recordings. Its so tough to describe sounds using words!

I was wondering... since you are playing with 5042-thing... when switching between 7.5 and 15 ips on-the-fly (A/B) ...is there in-your-face (I mean, in your ear ) audible difference?

 

[Tone Monster]

I was wondering... since you are playing with 5042-thing... when switching between 7.5 and 15 ips on-the-fly (A/B) ...is there in-your-face (I mean, in your ear ) audible difference?

Yep. More lows and rounder highs with the 7.5 mode. The modes have a nice distinction.