Rupert Neve Designs 5057 Orbit Summing Mixer Reviews

So there is mystique around analog summing and a huge debate around digital vs analog. I did the ITB summing for years and then sent my stereo mix out to a EQ and bus compressor and back in. I then compared full ITB with a EQ and compressor on my master bus instead of hardware. Was my analog gear better? Not really, just different. Like comparing two different plugin EQs. The analog were a little wider and fatter. By about 2%.

Now I said, I can make it better with true analog summing. So I got an interface that could do 16 in and 16 out with ADAT and a Ferrofish Pulse 16 and the Neve 5057. I sent the 5057 stereo output to my EQ and my bus compressor. Set up my busses in my DAW and sent each bus to a stereo ADAT output.

How much better was this analog summing vs what I was doing before? Maybe another 2%.

The Neve and the whole analog summing seems to bring the details forward and you can hear the tracks more individually and clearer but as a whole it sounds more cohesive. Compared to the full ITB or the ITB where I sent the master fader to my analog EQ and compressor.

The ITB versions seemed slightly more muddy and center focused. Not mud that you can eq out. But that everything was more squashed to the center. The neve gave everything breathing room, but also made it gel like a nice compressor.

I was kind of expecting watching Star Wars on a 15" black and white tv as ITB and analog summing like seeing Star Wars at an Imax in Dolby Atmos. It's not even close to that big of a difference. There is a difference and not like they only sound different. There is a sonic difference and there are phase differences and physical feeling differences. But not massive stark contrasting differences. It's up to you if analog summing is a way you want to go or if you want to introduce it into your workflow. If you're already set up and can easily just drop in the Neve 5057. Try it out. If you have to do something like me and get a new interface and a converter and new cables etc...maybe work up to summing as a goal and buy pieces with that as an end game. I feel that if you have nothing in your studio, start with good outboard pre's first and a interface that has a lot of I/O.

I just can't say enough good things about this piece. When I pass audio through the 5057, I get that width and depth that I have always wanted but could not achieve with software and plug ins. The separation is effortless. I have tried the silk settings and they are awesome. But I haven't needed them because the clean signal is so polished and stands up on its own. I fully understand now why the "Big Boys" use the hybrid systems, the recall and detail of digital, with the big three-dimensional analog sound.

This is a great addition to the studio. Like having a great compressor but this does a different quality to your mixes. I think it takes over where the rest of your gear leaves off . I can't be glad enough for this unit.

If you're looking for that analog tone/sound/feel this is it!
I'm 100% ITB and now when I mix through this bad boy it adds that magic to your mixes. Super easy to setup and route. Simple button layout. Dial in the taste you want from Red Silk or Blue Silk depending on the mix and you're good! Definitely underrated piece of gear!

I'm a big fan of the "summing" plugins but having experienced the real deal before so I wanted to send my outputs through something with some character. I've found that mixing through this guy adds a really nice extra something, though some may suggest it's just distortion I find it just a set and forget easy way to make my mixes sound less demo-ish and more finished. Also, I've got to say I am not utilizing the red or blue modes just leaving as is. I have found a huge desire to drive this so I am not utilizing the -6db outputs just the standard. I then send this through my Ferrofish 16 and then digitally back to my Apollo x8. We'll worth it!

I work exclusively ITB but needed to add depth and color to my mixes. The Orbit does just that! It's very easy to set up and once you have the proper routing is very easy to integrate into your mixing process. I love the Orbit because it takes everything you feed into it and makes it larger and more dynamic and you can dial in the red or blue silk to your liking to add saturation. If you can't afford the centerpiece or the satellite this is a great option without having to compromise on quality.

If you're here you're looking for a little magic. I think the orbit is that magic. It's so musical and noticeable. I've heard other summing solutions that are so subtle they don't seem to matter. The Neve is not unnoticeable. You can hear the difference and it's better in every way. I've stuck with the red silk mode as most of my mixes tend to need a little more happiness in the highs, but I'd imagine if I ever got an anemic session it'd go right to the blue silk mode.

Controls are dead simple and it's kind of one of those set it and forget it things.