# Rupert Neve > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rupert_Neve > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rupert_Neve.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Neve > Source revision: 1353703760 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description| British-American electronics engineer and entrepreneur (1926–2021)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Rupert Neve | birth_name = Arthur Rupert Neve | birth_date = 31 July 1926 | birth_place = [Newton Abbot](/source/Newton_Abbot), England | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|02|12|1926|07|31|df=y}} | death_place = [Wimberley, Texas](/source/Wimberley%2C_Texas), United States | occupation = Entrepreneur; audio engineer | known_for = Designing recording and audio mixing equipment | awards = [Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement](/source/Grammy_Awards) (1997) | signature = Rupert Neve signature.gif | image = Rupert Neve.png | caption = Neve in a recording studio in 2009 }} '''Arthur Rupert Neve''' (31 July 1926 – 12 February 2021) was a British-American [electronics engineer](/source/electronics_engineer) and [entrepreneur](/source/entrepreneur), who was a pioneering designer of professional [audio recording](/source/audio_recording) equipment. He designed analog recording and audio mixing equipment that was sought after by professional musicians and recording technicians. His customers included the music groups [the Beatles](/source/the_Beatles), [Aerosmith](/source/Aerosmith) and [Nirvana](/source/Nirvana_(band)), and the recording studios [Sound City Studios](/source/Sound_City_Studios) and [Abbey Road Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios). Companies that he was associated with included [Neve Electronics](/source/Neve_Electronics), [Focusrite](/source/Focusrite), [AMS Neve](/source/AMS_Neve), and Rupert Neve Designs. He received a [Technical Grammy Award](/source/Technical_Grammy_Award) for lifetime achievement in 1997. ==Early life== Arthur Rupert Neve was born on 31 July 1926 in [Newton Abbot](/source/Newton_Abbot), England.{{cite web|url=https://rupertneve.com/news/rupert-neve-80th-birthday/ |title=Mr. Rupert Neve Achieves a New Milestone |work=rupertneve.com |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=9 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130915184203/http://rupertneve.com/archive/rupert-neve-80th-birthday/ |archive-date=15 September 2013}}{{Cite news|last=Hagerty|first=James R.|date=14 February 2021|title=Rupert Neve, Whose Gear Recorded Churchill and Nirvana, Dies at 94|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rupert-neve-whose-gear-recorded-churchill-and-nirvana-dies-at-94-11613321621|access-date=14 February 2021|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=19 February 2021|title=Rupert Neve, the Father of Modern Studio Recording, Dies at 94|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/19/technology/rupert-neve-dead.html|access-date=20 February 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210220143103/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/19/technology/rupert-neve-dead.html|archive-date=20 February 2021|url-status=live}} He spent much of his early childhood in [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires), Argentina, where his father was a missionary with the [British and Foreign Bible Society](/source/British_and_Foreign_Bible_Society). He began designing audio amplifiers and radio receivers from age 13. The start of World War II increased demand for radios and Neve began repairing and selling radios. At 17 years of age, he served in [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and was a member of the Army's [Royal Corps of Signals](/source/Royal_Corps_of_Signals). == Career == {{multiple image | width = 140 | image1 = Neve VR-72 with FF at Studio 1 Control Room Left Quarter.jpg | image2 = Neve VR-72 with FF at Studio 3 Control Room Left Quarter.jpg | footer = Neve VR-72 with Flying Faders }} Neve began his career after the war as a designer of [public address system](/source/public_address_system)s, and recorded speakers and singers on [lacquer disc](/source/lacquer_disc)s, including recording running address systems{{clarify|date=February 2021}} and recording prime minister [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill)'s speeches in the 1940s and distributing their recordings to radio stations for broadcast. He provided the public address systems for [Queen Elizabeth](/source/Elizabeth_II), then a princess, at the opening of the [St Andrew's Church, Plymouth](/source/St_Andrew's_Church%2C_Plymouth), which had been rebuilt after being destroyed in the [Blitz](/source/Blitzkrieg). He worked in the 1950s with [Rediffusion](/source/Rediffusion), a forerunner of early cable TV systems. Neve left the company, and formed CQ Audio, a company specialising in the manufacture of [hifi](/source/hifi) speaker systems.{{cite web|date=5 October 2006|title=AMS Neve Celebrates 45 years of Innovation, Growth and Technology Leadership|url=https://ams-neve.com/history/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130821103222/http://ams-neve.com/news-and-events/ams-neve-celebrates-45-years-innovation|archive-date=21 August 2013|access-date=9 May 2018|work=ams-neve.com}} In 1961, he formed [Neve Electronics](/source/Neve_Electronics), and began designing and building mixing consoles for recording studios. He started out by designing and building a mixing console for composer [Desmond Leslie](/source/Desmond_Leslie), from [Castle Leslie](/source/Castle_Leslie), Ireland, where the original desk is still housed. He built a transistor-based mixing console with an equalizer for [Philips Studio](/source/Philips_Studios) in London in 1964.{{cite web |url=https://rupertneve.com/company/history/1960s/ |title=1960's. A Designer Emerges |work=rupertneve.com |access-date=8 May 2018}} One of his customers during this period was [the Beatles](/source/the_Beatles) and their producer [George Martin](/source/George_Martin). He sold his company Neve Electronics and worked with Manchester-based Amtek Systems in 1975. During the 1970s, he designed a training program for missionaries to use radio broadcasting equipment. Neve worked on [microphone preamplifier](/source/microphone_preamplifier)s, [equalizers](/source/Equalization_(audio)), compressors and early large format [mixing console](/source/mixing_console)s. Many of his long discontinued products are considered classic equipment and are sought after by the professionals in the recording industry.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=https://ams-neve.com/about-us/|access-date=9 May 2018|work=ams-neve.com}} This has resulted in several companies releasing products that are Neve replicas or clones. He is often credited for designing the modern recording console.{{cite web|title=AES New York 2005 Press Release - Rupert Neve - 119th AES Convention Keynote Speaker|url=http://www.aes.org/events/119/press/pr_keynote.cfm|access-date=8 December 2012|work=Aes.org}} In 1989, he was inducted into the ''[Mix](/source/Mix_(magazine))'' Hall of Fame,{{cite web|title=Rupert Neve Designs – Honors|url=http://rupertneve.com/company/honors/|access-date=21 August 2013|work=rupertneve.com}} and in 1997 he was the third person to receive a [Technical Grammy Award](/source/Technical_Grammy_Award) for lifetime accomplishment.{{cite web|title=Technical GRAMMY Award {{!}} Recording Academy|url=https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/producers-and-engineers/awards|access-date=25 August 2018|work=[grammy.com](/source/grammy.com)}} In a 1999 survey conducted by ''Studio Sound'' magazine he was selected by his peers as the number one audio personality of the 20th century.{{cite news|date=December 1999|title=The Audio Century. 1. Rupert Neve|page=26|work=Studio Sound|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Audio/Archive-Studio-Sound-IDX/IDX/90s/Studio-Sound-1999-12-OCR-Page-0026.pdf|access-date=25 August 2018}} [Dave Grohl](/source/Dave_Grohl) interviewed Neve for the 2013 documentary ''[Sound City](/source/Sound_City_(film)),'' a documentary about the recording studio of the same name.{{Cite web|title=Dave Grohl's Sound City Documentary Reaches Beyond Simple History To Discover Music's Heart|url=https://chicagoist.com/article/undefined|access-date=14 February 2021|website=The Chicagoist|archive-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106193205/https://chicagoist.com/2013/12/02/the_gathering_of_the_juggalos_leavi.php|url-status=dead}} Some of his customers included music groups [Aerosmith](/source/Aerosmith), [Nirvana](/source/Nirvana_(band)), and recording studio [Abbey Road Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios) in addition to [Sound City Studios](/source/Sound_City_Studios). === Associated companies === ==== Neve and AMS Neve ==== {{multiple image | direction = horizontal | width = 140 | image1 = Neve8078@TheWayStudio.jpg | caption1 = [Neve 8078](/source/Neve_8078) | image2 = Comps & Summing for DAW.jpg | caption2 = AMS Neve 8816 Summing Mixer (bottom) }} Neve's first company was a manufacturer of high-end recording consoles in England. It operated out of Neve's home at first, and moved to its own premises in the late 1960s. It was sold in 1973 to [Bonochord Group](/source/Bonochord_Group) of companies and Rupert Neve left the company in 1975.{{cite web |url=https://www.rupertneve.com/company/history/1970s/ |title=1970's. Automation |work=rupertneve.com |access-date=9 May 2018}} As a condition of the sale Neve signed a 10-year non-compete agreement.{{cite web |url=https://rupertneve.com/history |title=Neve sells and agrees to not compete}}. The original Neve group was sold to [Siemens](/source/Siemens) in 1985. Siemens then merged Neve with another UK audio console manufacturer [AMS (Advanced Music Systems)](/source/Advanced_Music_Systems) and formed AMS Neve. The company was later sold to Tom Misner of the [School of Audio Engineering](/source/School_of_Audio_Engineering).{{Cite web|title=Neve Group of Companies {{!}} Science Museum Group Collection|url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp127052/neve-group-of-companies|access-date=14 February 2021|website=collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk|language=en}} {{multiple image | width = 140 | image1 = Focusrite Console.jpg | image2 = Focusrite Console 02.jpg | footer = Focusrite Console 72in 48out with GML Fader Automation }} ====Focusrite==== [Focusrite](/source/Focusrite) was founded by Neve with his wife Evelyn. The company manufactured equalizers, processors, and amplifiers. The company made rack-mounted recording equipment, outboard gear, dynamic processors, and equalizers. The company was liquidated in 1989. [Phil Dudderidge](/source/Phil_Dudderidge), who incorporated a new company, Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd, bought the assets of the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.rupertneve.com/company/history/1980s/ |title=1980's. New Directions |work=Rupertneve.com |access-date=9 May 2018}} {{multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | width = 140 | caption1 = Amek 9098i | image1 = BBMamek.jpg | caption2 = Legendary Audio Masterpiece | image2 = LegendaryAudio Masterpiece (Neve designed mastering hardware).jpg }} ====ARN Consultants==== Neve started ARN Consultants, a consulting firm, with his wife in 1975, during a period of [non-compete agreement](/source/Non-compete_clause) with Neve Electronics. In 1989, the firm partnered with Amek Systems design a range of outboard equipment and consoles. ARN consultants also helped design the ES pickup system for [Taylor](/source/Taylor_Guitars)'s acoustic guitars. Rupert also designed the K4 preamplifier for Taylor.{{cite news |last=Lockwood |first=Dave |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/taylor-guitars-k4-equaliser |title=Taylor Guitars K4 Equaliser |work=[Sound on Sound](/source/Sound_on_Sound) |location=[Cambridge](/source/Cambridge) |date=July 2006 |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite news |last=Petersen |first=George |url=https://www.mixonline.com/recording/taylor-guitarsrupert-neve-expression-system-377207 |title=Taylor Guitars/Rupert Neve Expression System |work=[Mix](/source/Mix_(magazine)) |location=New York City |date=1 November 2004 |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.in2guitar.com/k4.html |title=Taylor K4 Preamp/EQ, a Review |work=In2guitar.com |access-date=9 May 2018}} ARN Consultants also designed the two-channel mastering box, called the Masterpiece, for Legendary Audio. thumb|Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5015 Mic Pre Compressor ==== Rupert Neve Designs ==== Neve established Rupert Neve Designs in 2005, to market a variety of microphone preamplifiers, equalizers, compressors, and other recording equipment. The company entered the project studio market with its Portico series, which enabled modular mixing and recording components. The company also manufactures a line mixer, the 5088.[http://rupertneve.com/products/high-voltage-discrete-mixer/ "Rupert Neve Designs"]. ''rupertneve.com''. Retrieved 22 March 2017.{{Cite web|last=Yoo|first=Noah|title=Rupert Neve, Legendary Audio Equipment Inventor, Dies at 94|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/rupert-neve-legendary-audio-equipment-inventor-dies-at-94/|access-date=14 February 2021|website=Pitchfork|date=13 February 2021 |language=en-us}} The company won multiple [TEC Awards](/source/TEC_Awards) in recognition for their product innovation.{{Cite web|date=14 February 2021|title=We Bid Farewell to Industry Legend Rupert Neve {{!}} Sweetwater|url=https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/industry-legend-rupert-neve/|access-date=14 February 2021|website=inSync|language=en}} Neve partnered with sE Electronics in 2008, to design the Rupert Neve Signature Series of microphones. By April 2015, three models had been introduced: the RNR1 active ribbon microphone, the RN17 small-diaphragm condenser microphone, and the RNT large-diaphragm vacuum tube condenser microphone.[http://www.seelectronics.com/se-rupert-neve-mics "sE Rupert Neve Microphones"]. ''Seelectronics.com''. Retrieved 15 April 2015. == Personal life and death == Neve was married to his wife, Evelyn, for nearly 70 years until his death. The couple had five children and moved to [Wimberley, Texas](/source/Wimberley%2C_Texas), United States, in 1994, and became U.S. citizens in 2002. Neve was a devout [Christian](/source/Christian).{{Cite web |last=Frisch |first=Lewis |date=2021-08-03 |title=Rupert Neve: Life Beyond Measurement (Part One) |url=https://rupertneve.com/news/rupert-neve-life-beyond-measurement-part-1 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Rupert Neve Designs |language=en-US}} Neve died on 12 February 2021 in Wimberley due to [pneumonia](/source/pneumonia) and [heart failure](/source/heart_failure).{{Cite web|date=13 February 2021|title=Rupert Neve, GRAMMY-Winning Audio Industry Icon, Dies at 94|url=https://www.rupertneve.com/news/rupert-neve-1926-2021/|access-date=13 February 2021|website=Rupert Neve|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Rupert Neve, GRAMMY-Winning Audio Industry Icon, Dies at 94|url=https://www.rupertneve.com/rupert-neve-obituary/|access-date=13 February 2021|website=Rupert Neve|language=en}} He was aged 94. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Rupert Neve}} * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{discogs artist}} * [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/rupert-neve Rupert Neve] NAMM Oral History Interview (2008) {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Neve, Rupert}} Category:Rupert Neve Category:1926 births Category:2021 deaths Category:People from Newton Abbot Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:English audio engineers Category:English businesspeople Category:Manufacturers of professional audio equipment Category:Grammy Award winners Category:People from Wimberley, Texas Category:Audio equipment manufacturers of the United Kingdom Category:Royal Corps of Signals soldiers Category:English emigrants to the United States Category:English expatriates in Argentina Category:English Christians --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rupert Neve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Neve) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Neve?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.