Mr. Rupert Neve (left) and Siwei Zou
Unveiling at Winter NAMM, sE Electronics will announce a new range of Rupert Neve Signature Series mics under the sE name.
The first of several mics being readied for production will be a high-performance active ribbon mic that uses discrete circuits and custom transformers designed by Mr. Rupert Neve. The capsule and manufacturing are being controlled by sE, with the electronics and transformer handled by Mr. Neve. The ribbon element is designed by Siwei Zou, who in the relatively short history of sE has designed such industry standards as the multiple award-winning sE2200a, the Gemini and the highly successful Reflexion Filter.
Following the new ribbon, later this year will be a large-diaphragm tube mic and a solid-state condenser model. The first three mics will all share a common look that combines a retro look with a modern industrial chic.
“Recent developments in the way that humans perceive sound are demanding significant advances, both in performance and the philosophy of audio processing,” says Neve. “That which was ‘good enough’ for light-hearted amusement fails to satisfy the thoughtful listener. I have worked for some time on the designs for a new range of microphones—the concepts of which are actually already being implemented in our own Rupert Neve Designs 5088 Console—namely, utilizing Discrete Single-Sided Circuits and my custom designed transformers. This new approach to analog sound processing needs extreme care in its manufacture and meticulous alignment of the embedded discrete op amps and the delicate microphone elements.”
Siwei Zou adds: “I have, for many years, admired the work of Mr. Neve, and now that we have a chance to work together, the excellence we have worked so hard to achieve in production, design and capsule technology at sE, coupled with the best transformers this product area has ever seen, plus new cutting edge circuit board design, means we can now produce high-end mics at a fraction of the cost of other high-end brand models. This is a truly exciting time for sE and me personally.”
For more information about the new sE/Rupert Neve Designs microphones, visit NAMM booth 6699 in Hall A or go to www.seelectronics.com.
