Songwriter, composer and musician Andy Neve writes and records soundtracks for TV, radio and corporate videos. His music has featured on all of the major UK broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Sky, along with large organisations like VW, ICI, Nationwide and BP. For interfacing, he has chosen a selection of unts from RME.
‘My main set-up consists of Steinberg Nuendo 10 on a 12-Core Mac Pro, along with outboard gear from various different manufacturers,’ he explains. ‘My interface is the RME Fireface UFX+ with the ARC USB remote for controlling TotalMix FX. This was an upgrade from the original (Firewire) UFX, as I wanted a Thunderbolt interface when I changed from a PC based system to a Mac.
‘Although I did temporarily use a Thunderbolt interface from another manufacturer for a couple of months, I really missed RME’s TotalMix FX software,’ he continues. ‘TotalMix allows me to route any signal I want, including sending signals out of the RME through hardware outboard gear such as Moog filters and unusual pedals, and back into the system again with almost zero latency, or looping back signals from various computer sources back into the inputs. The sky’s the limit.
‘I love all the control room functions of TotalMix, and the ability to add DSP-based reverb as “comfort reverb” to any monitoring output. Even though I use various different microphone preamps, I really like the RME mic preamps, particularly if I want something that is totally transparent and doesn’t colour the sound at all. I also have a large collection of classic retro and modern keyboards, and having numerous inputs on the UFX+ allows me to connect as many as I want.’
The RME Fireface UFX+ is the flagship in RME’s range of professional audio interfaces. With 94 inputs/94 outputs, the UFX+ is the first to feature Thunderbolt and USB3, a necessity for this interface due to the incredibly high channel count, which therefore requires a wider bandwidth than other models in RME’s range.
Neve’s studio is also equipped with the RME ARC USB, a dedicated remote control for TotalMix FX, the mixing and routing software included with RME interfaces. All feature a dedicated onboard DSP, enabling RME devices to operate as fully-functional digital mixing consoles, and providing full control over all inputs and outputs. Other TotalMix FX features include levels and metering; monitoring and talkback; options for muting, soloing and grouping channels; assignable shortcut commands and OSC remote control; and EQ and compression on every channel, as well as reverb and delay sends. TotalMix set-ups can also be saved and recalled as presets, and network control is available via the free TotalMix Remote app, including wirelessly with an iPad.
‘My large 48-input digital desk has now totally been replaced by TotalMix,’ Neve says. ‘I’ve used several RME Nuendo-branded units in the past, like the Audiolink 96 Digiset, and the Multiset units. My digital desk had TDIF inputs, and as such I used two RME Nuendo-branded ADI-8 I/O format converters to convert from Adat to TDIF. That all seems so long-winded now.
‘I’ve always found RME devices to be very reliable indeed,’ he adds. ‘Never had a single problem. I also really love the new ARC USB remote control, and the new iPad controller for TotalMix is great too. RME has that reputation of being very reliable, and they sound great. But what really sold RME to me was the custom written low latency drivers. And TotalMix of course.’
As a songwriter, some of Neve’s most notable work includes the two songs he wrote for Shirley Bassey’s 50th anniversary hit album Thank you for the Years (including the Title Track); two tracks written with ex members of Genesis for the Harmony for Elephants charity album; and a special song for the prestigious ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards’ ceremony, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Other work includes five children’s albums and six production music albums, music from which has featured on TV and radio networks around the world, and last year he also recorded classical guitarist Christoph Denoth’s album Tanguero. He’s also a session keyboard player and vocalist, working alongside artists such as Alison Moyet, Godley & Creme, The Move and Steve Hackett.
