The World’s best recording studios share one thing in common – a Neve 88R console.
Here are a select few.
The centrepiece of one of the world's most iconic studios, Abbey Road's Studio One is kitted with a state of the art 84-channel Neve 88RS3 console.
Previously, Studio One installed a 72-channel 88RS in 2004. The lineage of Neve 88R consoles meet the standards of quality and flexibility that Abbey Road Studios require and that their clients expect from them.
"There is nothing quite like the 88RS; it is simply the world's greatest analogue recording console"
Simon Campbell
The legendary AIR studios in London have reigned supreme since the early days and continue to provide world-class facilities for film scoring, rock and pop acts, classical and orchestral work as well as post production and live events. Boasting exceptional acoustics, Air Studios' Lyndhurst Hall is kitted with a 96-channel Neve 88R.
"Neve consoles are the Rolls-Royce of the industry... you've got to do the right thing by your business. You've got to buy the right console at the right price. When it comes down to it, the Neve has the edge on any other. If you're going to spend half a million pounds on a new console, you've got to be sure you don't do it too often"
Sir George Martin.
"After years of manufactures re-inventing the wheel and putting square edges on it, this desk is an engineers paradise"
Geoff Foster
"The Neve 88R sounds fantastic and the control surface is familiar enough not to scare anyone, yet the functionality is a significant improvement on the VR. The 88R arrived on time, the installation went smoothly, we opened on schedule and it's been flat out ever since"
Tim Vine-Lott
Ardent Studios' elegant and inspiring Studio A is equipped with a 72-channel Neve 88RS console, placing Studio A amongst the world's premier recording facilities.
A R Rahman's own studio complex in Chennai, AM Studios, has a 1300 square foot scoring stage capable of holding up to 30 musicians - and in the control room - a Neve 88R console.
"Mixing and tracking orchestra and choir in a Neve 88R is a liberating experience... it bakes the sound in such an irresistible way"
A.R Rahman
"The Neve 88R has been the workhorse for me here at AM studios. Be it recording vocals, drums, orchestra, mixing etc. It has helped me to do my job at the highest level with great efficiency. I believe that there is a tool for everything, and for the kind of films that we do here at AM Studios I cannot think of any other tool that would challenge Neve 88R's quality."
The Beijing Film Academy is China's premier educational film production academy and largest film academy in Asia. Housing a Neve 88RS console, the BFA is one of China's finest studios.
One of the largest, most progressive professional audio teaching/production/performance complexes in the United States, Berklee College of Music boasts two Neve 88RS consoles, offering unrivalled facilities and sonic results. Studio 1 is appointed with a 60-channel Neve 88RS, and the Ark, Studio 2, sports a 48-channel Neve 88RS console.
"At Berklee College of Music, our philosophy is to purchase only definitive professional tools to train our students. While looking for consoles for our two largest new tracking rooms, the choice was clear - the Neve 88RS. Having done extensive research of scoring stages and large format tracking studios in London, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and beyond, Neve was always in the equation. We can't be more excited about the sound, flexibility and functionality of these desks. We look forward to training future generations of audio professionals on these consoles."
Rob Jaczko
Mark Knopfler wanted the very best for his flagship facility at British Grove Studios. The complex is completely no-compromise in design and equipment, including its centrepiece - a 96-channel analogue Neve 88R console and vintage Neve outboard.
"The 88R has performed brilliantly across all the projects we've thrown at it, from tracking bands through to mixing for film in 7.1. Sonically it is outstanding"
David Stewart
Since its completion in 1956, Capital Studios has been a stalwart of the recording industry. Iconic artists like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and The Beach Boys first gave life to its rooms and to this day, major names of popular music follow in their footsteps. Capitol's Studio A is fitted with a 72 input Neve 88RS, with Stem Mixer, 7.1 Surround monitoring capabilities and Encore Automation.
"I've used Neve from the beginning..."
Al Schmitt, 23-time Grammy Winner
"The Neve 88RS console was chosen for its outstanding sonic performance and reliability. Its 21st century analogue properties make it a favourite among the audio professionals who frequent our studios."
Set amongst tropical and desert gardens, Conway Recording Studios was the first of many US facilities to install an 88R console - and it has paid dividends.
"The 88R is an awesome console. It's the ultimate in analogue consoles. It has a wonderfully open musical sound, with all the warmth we're accustomed to with Neve. The sound of the 88R is beyond description. It's a lot like the older 80-series Neve boards but with all the bells and whistles of a cutting edge console. Everyone who's listened to the board has been blown away by its sound".
Buddy Brundo
Purchased in 2022, East Iris installed a Neve 88R console, placing their studio amongst the world's finest recording facilities.
"Our clients have been thrilled with this exceptional addition, experiencing firsthand the unparalleled audio quality and craftsmanship that the Neve 88R delivers."
East Iris Studios
German Film Orchestra Babelsberg, or Filmorchester-Babelsberg, are specialised in the production of orchestral music. With a 72-channel 88RS, the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg is one of the finest orchestral recording facilities in Europe.
The luxurious control room at the Newman Scoring Stage features a state-of-the-art 96-channel Neve 88RS, ensuring Fox's place as a leader in the recording industry.
"The sound is like a wire with a volume control, quiet, clean with no colour added"
Rick Riccio
Gapyeoung Music Village, or Music Village 1939, is a music complex built on 38,000 square meters of land where the former Gapyeong train station was located, connecting Seoul and the small town of Gapyeong. Music Village 1939 is installed with a Neve 88RS, which assumes a commanding central location in the control room.
"The Neve 88RS is a classic that does not date according to technical specification or trend. With its 100kHz bandwidth, it exceeds the 192kHz recording quality of the top digital boards. In addition to scoring, music recording and mixing, engineers can also perform surround format mixing on this console."
Hong-Seop Song, Music Village CEO
ICP Studios Studio B features a 60-channel Neve 88R console, placing Studio B amongst Europe's world-class recording facilities.
"The Neve 88R is fabulous and sounds great! For us it's all about the sound... and the reliability"
John Hasty, ICP Studio owner
The Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins provides aspiring artists with the skills to pursue professional careers in music.
"The Neve 88RS is an ideal solution for our Studio A. It sound great whether we are recording orchestral or chamber classical music, a jazz ensemble or a rock band, and it is well suited for a variety of engineering approaches".
Situated in Lisbon, Molly Studios is anchored by a 48-channel Neve 88RS console - placing them amongst Europe's world-class recording facilities.
Platoon offers artists a world-class space to write, record and collaborate - and it has the console to match it. Platoon is fitted with a Neve 88RS, placing the studio amongst the finest in London.
Founded by George Lucas in 1975, Skywalker Sound is a legendary facility that has a reputation for creative, artistic and technical excellence. Already home to three Academy Award winning DFCs, the 88R completes the package making Skywalker fully equipped to deal with the latest blockbuster movies.
"The 88R is truly the next level of aural quality and console flexibility. The sonic quality of the console is unbelievable."
Leslie Ann Jones
Sony Music in Tokyo have a rich history with Neve 88R consoles, originally choosing three 72-channel 88Rs for their Tokyo-based facility for Studios 1-3. When they began to revamp Studio 5, the only natural choice for was a 72-channel 88RS.
"The reaction to the studio design has been very favourable and everyone is amazed by the total sound created by all the equipment - it has been very well accepted for its clarity. Following a series of sound quality tests we chose the Neve 88R because the console is exclusively designed for recording applications, which is very desirable. The sound quality of the 88R is very clear".
Mr Watanabe
Sony's Madrid Studio A features a 48-channel Neve 88RS console, placing the studio in the upper echelon of Europe's recording facilities.
Sony Pictures scoring stage is one of the most sought-after scoring venues in the world. This historic scoring stage has been the site of hundreds of legendary film scores, such as Wizard of OZ, Gone With the Wind and Lawrence of Arabia. Music sessions on the stage have included celebrated artists such as Celine Dion, Elton John and Barbra Streisand.
Sony Pictures features a 96-channel 88R with a state of the art scoring panel, designed in conjuction with Sony.
"The SP2 Scoring Panel further distinguishes the Neve 88R as the only console to meet today's demands for recording and scoring".
Les Studios de La Fabrique is a world-renowned residential recording studio located in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the south of France. Established in 2003 by audio engineer Hervé Le Guil, the facility is built within a 19th-century mansion and historic Provençal estate. La Fabrique offers a 100-square-meter sunlit control room anchored by a 72-channel Neve 88R console.
The Village has celebrated over 40 years as a state of the art recording facility in Los Angeles, serving the record, film and television industries with its world-class facilities.
Jeff Greenberg set his sights on an 88R after he and his crew conducted a listening test on one of the console's modules.
"We were blown away. The sound of the 88R is unbelievable. It's the best sounding desk we have ever heard. It's a beautifully engineered, exquisitely manufactured piece of gear."
Jeff Greenberg
"This is the best sounding console I have ever heard"
Al Schmitt, 23 time Grammy Winner
Trypoul Recording Studios is situated in the South East of the Netherlands, near Eindhoven. Fitted with a Neve 88RS console, Trypoul sits amongst Europe's world-class recording facilities.
The historic Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros. Studios was originally built in 1929 and continues to attract the industry's top talent. The stage is fitted with a 96-channel Neve 88RS console.
"The 88RS was chosen for its sound quality, universal acceptance in the scoring community, its uncompromising analogue design and its unique features that tailor it to this kind of work."
Kevin Collier
