The Legendary BCM10 is Back, Better Than Ever
The AMS Neve BCM10/2 Mk2 carries on the Neve tradition of uncompromising sonics and build quality that dates back over a half century. Designed as a compact broadcast console by Rupert Neve in 1969, the BCM10/2 found a home in its intended market, but it also caught the attention of music studios looking to augment their main board with a Neve sidecar, and also with recording artists who jumped at the chance to install a Neve as the centerpiece of their personal studios. One of the first customers for the new board was Pete Townshend, whose state-of-the-art home studio featured a BCM10, along with a 1-inch 8-track Studer tape machine. It was with this setup that Townshend composed many of his masterpieces, working out the arrangements for the rock opera Tommy, Who’s Next, and other iconic albums. As testimony to its superior sonics and military-grade construction, Pete’s BCM10 is reportedly still in use!
The original BCM10/2, with its ten 1066-fitted channels summing into a stereo bus, was somewhat limited as a recording console; nevertheless, vintage models to this day remain quite dear on the used market. For decades, audio pros have been clamoring for an updated reissue of the classic board. AMS Neve has now obliged with the BCM10/2 Mk2, an improved — yet still decidedly vintage-flavored — version optimized for recording with upgrades such as 1073N mic/line preamp/EQ modules and direct outputs on each channel; four aux sends and a stereo cue; flexible monitoring with three stereo and one 5.1 loudspeaker output sets; two 500 Series slots fitted with patchable Neve 2264ALB mix bus compressors; comprehensive solo facilities; two stereo reverb returns with width, mono, and balance controls; two mono DI-to-bus inputs; a patchbay option; a choice of frame sizes up to 48 channels; and more. Designed, manufactured, and hand assembled by Neve engineers in the UK, the BCM10/2 Mk2 is guaranteed to delight even the most discerning ear.
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Authentic Neve 1073 for the modern studio
Coveted by top engineers and producers since its introduction in 1970, the Neve 1073 channel amplifier represents the Holy Grail of characterful microphone preamplification and the epitome of definitive “British EQ.” The 1073 mic/line input module defined the punchy, authoritative sound of the legendary Neve 80 series analog consoles that dominated professional recording studios in the Golden Age of Analog. Today, you can obtain this iconic sound for your studio with the AMS Neve 1073N preamp & EQ module. Employing the same basic circuitry as the original 1073 and updated to meet the demands of modern workflows, the 1073 gives you a rich tonal palette for making audacious statements with your music.
The authoritative Neve sound
Neve consoles have always delivered wide, linear bandwidth while maintaining audiophile quality throughout the spectrum for rich, full-bodied sound with formidable lows, assertive midrange presence, and sweet, airy highs. With its Class A, transformer-balanced topology and genuine Neve 1073 modules, the BCM10/2 Mk2 delivers these traditional Neve sonic attributes for the ultimate in audio performance. When designing this modern classic, Neve engineers meticulously reverse engineered the vintage BCM10, sparing no expense in sourcing original-spec components in order to deliver the legendary Neve sound heard on countless recordings over the past five decades. They also added modern routing and monitoring options, bringing the console fully up to date for deployment in today’s most demanding studio settings. For artists, producers, and engineers seeking access to the inimitable Neve sound, the BCM10/2 Mk2’s compact size makes it the ideal choice for premier home studio environments.
The legend continues
At Sweetwater, the name Neve commands reverence. Rupert Neve started designing audio equipment in the tube console era but made his mark with solid-state designs. Setting up shop in Little Shelford in the ’60s, Mr. Neve faced many obstacles establishing his brand amid a new technological landscape. Transistors were new, expensive, and difficult to obtain in quantity in the UK. Reliable faders didn’t exist yet — a far cry from today’s world, where parts are affordable and readily available from multiple suppliers, all competing to win bids. Nevertheless, Rupert persisted. And by the early 1970s, the Neve company was humming along, taking orders and building custom transformer-balanced consoles for recording and broadcast studios the world over.
Neve 80 series consoles had a huge, punchy, and authoritative sound that defined the sound of ’70s rock. From London to New York to Los Angeles and beyond, top studios were installing Neve desks as fast as they could. By 1978, with the introduction of the majestic 8078 — the pinnacle of handwired analog “production” consoles — and NECAM automation system, Neve boards were the main component of the success formula for any recording studio with world-class aspirations. In the decades since, AMS Neve has innovated with groundbreaking products such as the VR, VX, and 88R series consoles. And today, the company continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge pro audio gear that sounds incredible and intelligently addresses the challenges of the digital age.
AMS Neve BCM10/2 Mk2 10-channel Analog Recording Console Features:
- Legendary Neve sound with Class A, transformer-balanced topology
- 1073N preamp and 3-band EQ module in each channel
- Classic voltage mixing using 1272 balanced mixing topology
- 2 x 500 Series slots fitted with Neve 2264ALB compressors, patchable or selectable across the mix bus
- Direct outputs on every channel, selectable pre- or post-channel insert
- Simple input to each channel doubles mix inputs when mixing and also facilitates monitor and cue mixes
- 4 aux buses, 1 stereo cue, 1 stereo main mix bus
- Stereo and 5.1 monitor with passive 24-position gold-plated monitor level control
- Modern monitoring options: 3 stereo, 1 x 5.1 selectable loudspeaker output sets
- Comprehensive solo system with destructive and safe/isolate modes
- 2 stereo reverb returns with width, mono, and balance controls, and 2 mono DI-to-bus inputs
- Main mix output insertion selectable pre- or post-fader with IMR (insert mix return) parallel processing controls
- 25-way D-sub connectivity for easy installation into home or studio environments
- Optional patchbay; optional sidecar stand on castors
- Designed, manufactured, and hand assembled by Neve engineers in the UK
