Neve DSP-1 digital sound desk

Control surface for Neve DSP-1 (Digital Signal Processing)

Control Surface for Neve DSP

Control surface for Neve DSP-1 (Digital Signal Processing) sound desk, 1985.

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The Neve DSP was the first fully-digital sound desk. The analogue audio was digitised in the stagebox and sent as serial digital data down a fibre optic cable to the processing racks. All the Digital Signal Processing (hence DSP) - such as mixing, equalisation, dynamics etc, was carried out in the digital domain, the final signal from the desk appearing in digital form (AES/EBU) for recording, or converted back to analogue for broadcasting. This desk was fitted in an outside broadcast vehicle by the BBC and as a result of vibration during transit proved to be unreliable in operation. Probably the most complex and expensive sound desk ever made.

Measurements:: overall: 1110 mm x 1950 mm x 1180 mm, 277 kg

Materials:: steel (metal) , metal (unknown) , glass , plastic (unidentified) and electronic compnents

Object Number:: 1994-5025/1

type:: digital mixing desk

Image ©: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Circuit Boards, Processing Units, Fan Unit and Skateboard for Neve DSP-1

Five processing units (labelled 1,2,4,5), fan unit, skateboard for stagebox no.3 and a box of circuit boards for Neve DSP-1 digital mixing desk.

Measurements:: overall: 1200 mm x 1220 mm x 1020 mm, 214 kg

Object Number:: 1994-5025/2

type:: digital mixing desk

Stagebox, Leads, Clock and Boards for Neve DSP-1

Stagebox no.2, box of fiber optic leads, box of fiberoptic leads and interconnecting cables, AES/EBU clock, box of spare boards and two boards for Neve DSP-1 digital mixing desk.

Object Number:: 1994-5025/3

type:: digital mixing desk

Stagebox No.1 and Stagebox No.3 for Neve DSP-1

Stagebox no.1 and stagebox no.3 for Neve DSP-1 digital mixing desk.

Measurements:: overall: 1260 mm x 1000 mm x 720 mm, 196.5 kg

Object Number:: 1994-5025/4

type:: digital mixing desk

Output Boxes, Rack Fan Unit and Processing Unit Covers for Neve DSP-1

Output boxes 1, 2, and 3, rack fan units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and processing unit front covers for Neve DSP-1 digital mixing desk.

Measurements:: overall: 1075 mm x 1140 mm x 925 mm, 197.5 kg

Object Number:: 1994-5025/5

type:: digital mixing desk

Line Output Box, Processing Units, Analogue to Digital Convertor and Power Supply Unit for Neve DSP-1

Line output box, digital to analogue/ analogue to digital convertor, processing unit 3 and 6, and power supply unit for Neve DSP-1 digital mixing desk.

Measurements:: overall: 1880 mm x 1170 mm x 1000 mm,

Object Number:: 1994-5025/6

type:: digital mixing desk

Control Surface for Neve DSP Support Frame

Support frame of control surface for Neve DSP-1 (Digital Signal Processing) sound desk, 1985.

More

The Neve DSP was the first fully-digital sound desk. The analogue audio was digitised in the stagebox and sent as serial digital data down a fibre optic cable to the processing racks. All the Digital Signal Processing (hence DSP) - such as mixing, equalisation, dynamics etc, was carried out in the digital domain, the final signal from the desk appearing in digital form (AES/EBU) for recording, or converted back to analogue for broadcasting. This desk was fitted in an outside broadcast vehicle by the BBC and as a result of vibration during transit proved to be unreliable in operation. Probably the most complex and expensive sound desk ever made.