Guitar Center And Guitar Center Professional Now Exclusive USA Distributors Of Neve Genesys Console

Guitar Center, Inc. and Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, announce an agreement with AMS Neve Ltd. stating that GC Pro is the exclusive U.S. sales channel for the innovative new Genesys, a custom-crafted, expandable analog recording console with digital workstation control, as well as related products. Genesys was designed to address the new realities of the modern professional audio industry for music, postproduction and gaming, while building on Neve's 40 years of accumulated technical heritage. In coordination with the recently signed agreement, GC Pro has also announced four demonstration facilities throughout the U.S., in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami. An additional flight-cased Genesys console will be moved on a monthly basis to other GC Pro locations throughout the country. In partnership with Neve, GC Pro will host a series of industry events to present the product to customers nationally. A Genesys console has already been installed in GC Pro's West LA location, with additional demo consoles arriving in January.

The Genesys is a comprehensive, cost-effective solution to the challenges of audio in the digital age. The base configuration offers 16 channels of mic/line preamps, 16-channel DAW monitoring, 32-channel analog summing at mixdown, DAW control for Pro Tools, Logic, Nuendo and more, 8 auxiliary buses, 8 group buses, 2 main outputs, 4 effects returns, comprehensive metering, 5.1 monitoring, 2 cue mixes, talkback services and an internal power supply. What sets the Genesys apart is its remarkable combination of features and affordability — an affordable Neve analog console with Neve's legendary sound and digital control at a cost of less than $50,000 enables the widest possible range of professionals to make a genuine Neve console the heart of their studios. Furthermore, the Genesys has the ability to upgrade as studio owners' requirements change — it can be expanded to over 60 channels in a straight or articulated frame, with options including motorized fader automation, recall, mastering-grade A/D and D/A converters, digitally controlled EQ and dynamics, remote mic amp control and much more. The Genesys was created by Robin Porter, AMS Neve Head of Analog Design, who with his 35 years at Neve has vast experience with the classic 8068, 8078 and VR consoles and was also the principal designer of the 88R.

GC Pro is uniquely qualified to distribute and market this product. A nationwide organization with offices from around the country, no other professional audio team can provide this degree of comprehensive customer and product service. To support the rollout of the console and the new relationship with Neve, GC Pro demo rooms will be optimized to demonstrate the power of the Genesys, and GC Pro's 56 staff members will take its message to the industry. Additionally, GC Pro is planning a series of hands-on industry events to present Genesys to its client base.

"Neve is a legendary name, and Genesys represents 40 years of analog console development," commented GC Pro Director Rick Plushner. "We're very proud and honored to be selected as the U.S. distributor, and our division is fully behind this product line. At an entry level price point of $50,000 MSRP, for the first time, everyone from a studio owner to an artist/producer, to audio enthusiasts, can actually own a real Neve console."