Arthur Rupert Neve is the creator of the modern recording console and the first audio designer to consider the equaliser an essential part of the recording chain.

His circuitry is meticulously crafted until every possible limitation to transparency has been removed. Noise, distortion and other unwanted components are reduced below the threshold of the perceptible; no effort is spared in reaching this objective.

The 9098 is the result of three years close collaboration between Rupert, Graham Langley and the Amek team.

Using its Master Status switching, the 9098 can be configured for the specific requirements of Music Tracking and Mixing, Live Radio, Broadcast and TV Audio recording and Post Production. It also includes features normally only found in a dedicated film console. Each mode of operation provides a comfortable interface for the user, who is not bemused by controls that do not apply to his own application.

When the matter of signal quality is the paramount consideration Rupert's view is that the advantage lies with the 9098:

"My fear is that the sound of digital will become the accepted norm and that a generation is arising which has no analogue point of reference and will accept that all reproduced music has to sound this way. Acoustic music as heard via direct air path in the concert hall or in the Chapel choir will be thought to lack the incisive bite of reproduced sound.

"Digital has shown itself to be an excellent recording and delivery environment, but the underlying choice of the 9098 is that analogue is still the ultimate originating medium and will continue to be so for some time to come."