anybody go to a concert in the 70's where they used a Neve for FOH?
what did it sound like?
what did it sound like?
Neve Board Ever Used Live?
- Thread starter CJ
- Start date
Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:
Scodiddly
Well-known member
CJ said:
Like the mics and speaker systems of the day?
More likely dominated by what passed for live SR speaker systems. Only the grateful dead invested massively in PA, and their results were variable (reportedly they used an allen and heath mixer back then, but John Curl may have tweaked it).Scodiddly said:
During the several live concerts I attended in the 70s I was never anywhere near FOH, and the sound was adequate but not memorable. Neve was more popular in studios AFAIK. Sound reinforcement back then was almost an afterthought.
JR
PS: I do recall one hang with Steve Dove back in the early 80s when he was traveling with an AC/DC tour as boffin to keep their PA in good shape. Once again I was no where near FOH, but they were more than adequately loud (for the record I was backstage and left the venue when they started playing because it was too F'n loud). . Their drum monitor cave was probably louder than many early 70's entire PAs.
pucho812
Well-known member
The closest I have seen of a neve used for live sound was in a remote truck.
![Electronics Soldering Iron Kit, [Upgraded] Soldering Iron 110V 90W LCD Digital Portable Soldering Kit 180-480℃(356-896℉), Welding Tool with ON/OFF Switch, Auto-sleep, Thermostatic Design](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gRDnlyfJS._SL500_.jpg)
pucho812
Well-known member
emrr said:
really? how cool.
ruffrecords
Well-known member
pucho812 said:
Neve built a remote truck for ABC in the 70s. It had a 40? input desk, a pair of JBL one metre cube speakers and a pair of 24 track Studers. We demonstrated it at the APRS exhibition that year. George Martin lent us a 24 track copy of McCartney's "Live and Let Die" to play on it. I was the lucky guy who spend two days in that truck pretending to be George.
Cheers
Ian
pucho812
Well-known member
ruffrecords said:
that is awesome. I would have loved to been a fly on the wall and listen. While he is not gerorge martin, I have spent time with Danial lanois and he has done a lot with neve consoles over the years. It's amazing what. we get to do at times all related to work.
Gene Pink
Well-known member
CJ said:
I just heard back form a guy that worked from '73 to '85 for a metal band that everyone remembers, they played every major venue everywhere, I asked him if he ever ran into one.
His simple response:
"Never, absolutely not roadable."
He didn't elaborate. Then again, I doubt this band would play the Grand Ol' Opry. Maybe these days they might. ;D
Gene
wow, awesome! thanks for all the responses!
was just thinkin that an 8 band DIY Neve might be cool to use at clubs, maybe use it to power a pair of Williamson amps with four 6550's each, with the Altec/peerless output transformers of course, run that into some old JBL's fora full retro club mix, maybe a Pultec and LA2a thrown in the rack for kicks,
was just thinkin that an 8 band DIY Neve might be cool to use at clubs, maybe use it to power a pair of Williamson amps with four 6550's each, with the Altec/peerless output transformers of course, run that into some old JBL's fora full retro club mix, maybe a Pultec and LA2a thrown in the rack for kicks,
T
tands
Guest
That would without a doubt be cool, CJ!
Also need a forklift to add to the package . Elliot Mazer had a Neve 80 series on large casters to roll on a lift gate for moving to places he would record and produce bands at. It would be able to do live sound and would be high to stand while working. If you added some mic pres to the monitor section , it would have a large amount of inputs. Give me woodstock . How many inputs did they use?
Last edited:
I was reading an interesting article/interview today and remembered this thread.
It describes the Led Zeppelin touring gear in the early 70s,
the mixers were two WEM Audiomaster mixers with only 5 channels each.
The Live Sound and Touring was far and far away from a Neve Console
"
PM: When you joined the tour, already in progress, what was the PA system like?
PD: “When I arrived, mid-tour, at Montreaux to join the Led Zeppelin crew, I found a fairly standard rig for that level of band, similar to those owned by The Who and Pink Floyd, which I had seen at various gigs. The speakers were mostly 4 x 12-inch columns (10 per side), plus two stacks of two 2 x 15s with a small horn on top per side, all driven by 12 100W power amps. And just two WEM five-channel Audiomaster mixers "
Check the article here:
https://soundgirls.org/phil-dudderidge-on-the-road-with-led-zeppelin-the-first-time-around/
Of course this was early 70s and Led Zeppelin was still not the biggest band in the World,
but I doubt that even when they got Gigantic that they had anything similar in size or weight to a Neve console in their Live shows.
I would guess in the mid 70s if you had something like a Soundcraft Series One in a Live show that would be a Luxury, would be the top of the game.
Also some interesting article on classic Live sound board that changed the industry:
https://www.gearnews.com/7-live-mixing-consoles-that-changed-the-industry-forever/
It describes the Led Zeppelin touring gear in the early 70s,
the mixers were two WEM Audiomaster mixers with only 5 channels each.
The Live Sound and Touring was far and far away from a Neve Console
"
PM: When you joined the tour, already in progress, what was the PA system like?
PD: “When I arrived, mid-tour, at Montreaux to join the Led Zeppelin crew, I found a fairly standard rig for that level of band, similar to those owned by The Who and Pink Floyd, which I had seen at various gigs. The speakers were mostly 4 x 12-inch columns (10 per side), plus two stacks of two 2 x 15s with a small horn on top per side, all driven by 12 100W power amps. And just two WEM five-channel Audiomaster mixers "
Check the article here:
https://soundgirls.org/phil-dudderidge-on-the-road-with-led-zeppelin-the-first-time-around/
Of course this was early 70s and Led Zeppelin was still not the biggest band in the World,
but I doubt that even when they got Gigantic that they had anything similar in size or weight to a Neve console in their Live shows.
I would guess in the mid 70s if you had something like a Soundcraft Series One in a Live show that would be a Luxury, would be the top of the game.
Also some interesting article on classic Live sound board that changed the industry:
https://www.gearnews.com/7-live-mixing-consoles-that-changed-the-industry-forever/
Also interesting and article about Woodstock 69,
the mixers were what looks to be those small Shure M67's
Article:
https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/it-was-only-40-years-ago-368168
the mixers were what looks to be those small Shure M67's
Article:
https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/it-was-only-40-years-ago-368168
Last edited:
It’s a tribute to how good the bands were when the blend is a mic pre and no other options. Folded horn cabinets setting on the stage with 2” horns and crown dc300 amps. (Or tube Macintosh) As well as the balance the engineer created.
also Eddie Kramer recording 7 tracks with a 1” 8track with a synctone for film. Amazing! No excuses. It’s about what you can do with what you got. Some people were great at it.
also Eddie Kramer recording 7 tracks with a 1” 8track with a synctone for film. Amazing! No excuses. It’s about what you can do with what you got. Some people were great at it.
