Neve Necam 96 keyboard
 | |
| Branding | Neve (as logo only) |
|---|---|
| Layouts | Custom |
| Keyswitches | RAFI RS 74 M |
| Interface | Unknown |
| Introduced | 1984? |
The Neve Necam 96 keyboard is the keyboard that shipped with the little-known Necam 96 audio workstation. It is a special-purpose keyboard designed for audio editing, and it features RAFI RS 74 M low-travel switches.
Description[edit | edit source]
The keyboard has a two-part sheet metal case held together by six screws, three per side. Each half contains a PCB: the top half contains the switch PCB, and the lower half contains the controller PCB; the two are connected by a ribbon cable, with a plug at the bottom and a punch-down connector at the top.
Four switches contain LEDs, including caps lock. The QWERTY keycaps are all double-shot, while all the remaining keycaps are engraved and painted, with RAFI's catalogues suggesting that the engraving is done on an engraving machine, and not via laser.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
The cable was removed and discarded due to being covered in a slimy brown substance, all the way inside. The connecting cable was mistakenly disconnected at the wrong end, resulting in a destroyed punch-down connector.
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Top -
Side -
Bottom, with large rubber non-slip mat -
RAFI RS 76 M switches, and double-shot and engraved keycaps -
Switches -
Regular switch and double-shot keycap -
LED switch and engraved keycap -
The space bar stabiliser wire hooks are moulded into the space bar keycap, and are fragile -
The space bar stabiliser wire is retained using soldered-in metal loops -
Opened, revealing the controller and switch PCBs -
Switch PCB -
Switch PCB detail -
Switch PCB legend, giving the year and the only named Neve branding -
Hand-engraved writing on the underside of the top panel -
Controller PCB -
Controller circuitry -
Controller IC -
Part and issue numbers on the controller PCB -
Unused portion of the controller PCB; the switch IC also has places for additional LEDs -
Part of the cable, covered in sticky brown gunge -
Plug, top; the cable was discarded due to its state -
Plug, bottom
