Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5014 Stereo Field Editor
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5014 Stereo Field Editor introduces an innovative application of well-known techniques that redefines the boundaries and limitations of traditional 2-channel stereo recording and playback. Operating entirely in the analogue domain, the Portico 5014 uses discrete component circuits, comprising a variable sum and difference network with level and phase controls, together with other key features, to affect stereo sources.Intended for recording, mixing and mastering applications, the Neve Portico 5014 differentiates between near field (direct) and far field (ambient) sources and allows the manipulation of the relationship between mono panned images and stereo ambience through the use of width, depth and phase controls. Source material may be further manipulated by inserting external EQ or dynamics processing into the difference channel or by engaging the simple onboard mid-band EQ.Designed with the same half-rack dimensions as the rest of the Neve Designs Portico Series, available in horizontal or vertical formats, and utilizing Mr. Rupert Neve's custom transformer designs, the 5014 Stereo Field Editor is a unique addition to the modern audio engineer's palette that brings dimension and life to any recording.Controls:Width When the width circuit is engaged, the stereo signal is split into a sum and difference network, allowing the width, depth, insert and EQ controls to be used. The width control enables the user to increase or decrease the width of a stereo image (wide/mono) and adjust the amount of ambience inherent in the recording. As the width control is rotated toward wide, the amount of difference material is boosted, thus altering the signal that the depth, insert and EQ affect. Conversely, the stereo field is contracted when rotated to mono, and, if the left and right channels are highly coherent (i.e. both channels include closely similar material that is in phase), this mono content is enhanced. If the phase of one of the input channels is then reversed the mono content may be virtually eliminated. Because the amount of effect the width control has is entirely dependent on the amount of stereo information in the original source material and the interplay between the 5014's other controls, listening and experimentation are essential for the best results.Depth The depth control of the Portico 5014 adjusts the spatial positioning of elements in the sound stage. A solo instrument or vocal can be placed up front in a mix and supporting instruments can be pushed back, for example. In many cases, a center-panned vocalist can be placed forward in a mix or virtually eliminated without adversely affecting the music bed. Used in conjunction, the depth and width controls effectively alter the perceived room ambience and dimension.Difference Channel Insert The difference channel insert and EQ offer new opportunities to manipulate stereo signals. In mastering use, lead vocals can be brought up or down in a mix...details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 5-Band Equalizer Module
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 5-Band Equalizer and high performance line driver with the performance, features and musicality expected from the legendary Rupert Neve, its designer.The Portico 5033 EQ features Rupert Neve's custom input and output transformer designs, 5 bands of EQ based on his traditional curves, ±12dB input level adjustment, 5 filter bypasses. You can configure the Neve 5033 EQ in either horizontal or vertical formats.At the input and output of the Neve 5033 EQ lie custom designed Rupert Neve transformers, which are much of the heart of the sound of Rupert Neve's classic component designs. The 5033 module's EQ section can be completely bypassed and the unit can be used as a very high quality line driver utilizing these transformers, which can help to add sonic sweetness to a source.Low Frequency and High Frequency Shelving Filters For opposite ends of the audio spectrum there are 2 separate shelving filters, which are both engaged or disengaged using the same LED pushbutton. Each shelving filter allows for a boost or cut of up to 12 db, providing steeply rising or falling curve shapes. When these curves are boosted or cut aggressively, they enable the second and even third harmonic to be varied in relation to their fundamental, allowing the natural sound of a musical instrument to be varied. When used less aggressively, one can attenuate bands of frequencies above or below the "turnover" point to their desired levels. These sections each provide EQ curves that approximate to 6 dB/ and give a true flat response when this section is engaged but not boosted or attenuated.Low Frequency (LF) Shelving Filter Continuously variable from 30Hz to 300 Hz, allowing for a wide range of applications, from filtering out low rumbles caused by air conditioning units to taming an instrument with too much low end or even adding a little bit of "oomph" to a thin mix, proving to be an indispensable asset in the signal chain.High Frequency (HF) Shelving Filter Continuously variable from 2.5 kHz to 25 kHz, giving this section of the EQ a valuable range of operation. Whether you want to really bring out the presence and breath of your vocals or simply add some "air" to your overall mix, the HF shelving filter will give you that bit of sparkle you're looking for.Mid Range Parametric Filters To cover the crucial mid-range, the 5033 comes with three bands of parametric EQ, each separately engaged and having a true "flat" response when each section is engaged but not boosted or attenuated. Each section is capable of boosting or attenuating up to 12 dB, and includes a variable "Q" control. "Q" controls range from "Q" = 0.6 to "Q" = 3, allowing you to vary the bandwidth of the attenuation or boost, whether a broad range of frequencies to gently give a sonic section a slight boost or dip or using the filter with a very narrow range of frequencies, ac...details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5042 Tape Emulator
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5042 Tape Emulator won the 2006 TEC award for signal processing hardware. The Neve 5042 provides a remarkable simulation of true tape sound through the inclusion of genuine tape drive circuitry. When the Tape circuit is not engaged, the Portico 5042 Tape Emulator may be used as a full, transformer-coupled, high-performance line amplifier that includes a gain range of + and -12dB. The Portico 5042 2-Channel "True Tape" Emulation and Line Driver unit's emulation circuit provides the nostalgic rounding and compression usually only achieved by the use of recording tape. This typically offsets the harshness often found in digital recordings. The Portico 5042 incorporates an actual tape drive circuit that feeds a tiny magnetic "head" which, in turn, is coupled to a correctly equalized, replay amplifier. The only thing missing is the tape itself! Portico Series Awards: Rupert Neve Designs has been honored three TEC Awards since its inception in 2005. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator won for achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor (#482645) won for achievement in the category of Mic Preamplifier Technology. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.How it works: The Portico 5042 Tape Emulator consists of two identical line driving amplifiers having transformer balanced inputs and outputs. The sonic quality of these amplifiers is such that, by providing galvanic isolation, simple single-sided circuit topology and freedom from grounding problems they are capable of enhancing the sonic quality of many signal sources, especially those of digital origin. The sonic "signature" is one of extreme purity and the image is consistent with that of Rupert Neve's original designs of 35-40 years ago.The Portico 5042 host line amplifier has a much higher output level capability than the "tape" circuit embodied within it. The gain of the Record and Replay amplifiers has been adjusted so that with the TRIM control set to 0 dBu, and the ENGAGE TAPE button out, an incoming signal of 0 dBu, will cause the first meter LED to illuminate.Now, with the Engage Tape button pressed and the Saturation control at Min, the same first meter LED will continue to light regardless of whether the meter button is set to Input Level or Tape Level. This is the minimum recommended record level. When the Saturation control is rotated to Max, this is the maximum recommended record level.An input signal level that is appreciably below 0dBu (the 0 dB LED on the meter not lighting at all), for example, if you are feeding the Portico 5042 from a consumer hi-fi source, the tape effect s...details

Rupert Neve Designs Horizontal Joining Kit
The Rupert Neve Designs Horizontal Joining Kit is designed to conveniently mount 2 Portico Series modules in a single (1U) rack space. Includes a joining block, rear connector panel and the required screws.See also Half Rack Joining kit #482654 for rackmounting one Portico module....details

Rupert Neve Designs Half Rack Joining Kit
The Rupert Neve Designs Half Rack Joining Kit is designed to conveniently mount a single Portico Series module in a single 1U rack space. The joining kit includes a blank front panel and the required mounting screws....details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5043 Duo Compressor Limiter
The Rupert Neve Designs 5043 Compressor/Limiter Duo is a new and powerful approach to dynamic processing. This new addition to the Neve Portico Series is designed with both tracking and mixing applications in mind.The Portico 5043 embodies 2 independent compressor-limiters (channels A and B) housed within a half rack, 1U module. They can be used independently or connected in sequence to provide 2 separate control slopes. When used independently, for example, as a stereo pair, linking the DC control circuits via a front panel push-button, enables the level of each unit, "A" and "B", to be held in a constant relationship. Rear panel TRS connections are provided to link multiple Portico 5043 compressor units. This linking may also be extended to the former AMEK CIB and DMCL units. When used in sequence, the Neve Portico 5043 can be configured easily to provide dual slope compression and limiting.Portico Series Awards:Rupert Neve Designs has been honored three TEC Awards since its inception in 2005. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator (#482649) won for achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor (#482645) won for achievement in the category of Mic Preamplifier Technology. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.How it Works In order to control gain, a V.C.A. or Voltage Controlled Amplifier (or Attenuator) is used. There are many types of V.C. including the use of tubes, discrete and integrated solid state circuits and naturally non-linear devices, each one having its characteristic behavior that reflects sonically on the final performance, and gives it a character or signature that can be musically attractive or not! The Portico 5043 makes use of a very accurate, low noise, low distortion V.C.A. having, essentially, no signature of its own.A part of the audio signal is rectified and smoothed to produce a suitable control voltage for the V.C.A. which has to respond very quickly and have low distortion. If the response is too fast, low frequency signals will themselves, be gain controlled! If the response is too slow, the signal will overshoot and the first few cycles will not get compressed. The speed and accuracy of the response, known as the "attack", and the time frame that gain remains under the initial control, known as "release" or "recovery" and plays a large part in the way a compressor sounds.All Portico modules use input and output transformers and, almost entirely discrete component amplifiers. In fact the Line amplifiers on their own, inserted into the signal chain, are capable of enhancing the sonic quality of many signal sources, especially those of digital...details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5012 Duo Mic Preamp
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5012 is a dual channel microphone preamp that features Neve's custom input and output transformers. In addition to individually selectable phase, mute, phantom power and a fully sweepable high pass filter, the Neve 5012 Duo mic pre incorporates a "Silk" circuit which yields the rich warmth and presence of the renowned classic designs.Portico Series Awards: Rupert Neve Designs has been honored three TEC Awards since its inception in 2005. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator won for achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor (#482645) won for achievement in the category of Mic Preamplifier Technology. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.Microphone input The Portico 5012 Duo preamp's microphone input is balanced but not floating, being a variant of an instrumentation amplifier using a "Transformer-Like-Amplifier" (TLA) configuration with a toroidal common mode rejection low-pass filter that excludes frequencies above 150kHz. The TLA is followed by an actual input transformer permitting a full +25dBu input signal to be handled at unity gain without an input pad over the whole audio spectrum. This combines the advantages of both an electronically balanced and true transformer input. When the phantom voltage is switched off, this input serves as a very high quality line input with an impedance of 10,000 ohm.Low noise, low distortion operation Much care was given to designing the Portico 5012 Duo to produce as little noise and non-harmonic distortion as possible. Carefully implemented signal paths and Class A operation are a large part of the Neve 5012 mic pre's sweet, whisper-quiet performance. Why transformers? The fine subtleties of circuit design relating to sonic performance are gradually becoming more clearly understood. For example, research has shown conclusively that frequencies above 20kHz affect the way in which humans perceive sound quality. But long before scientific evidence emerged, a substantial body of musicians and engineers knew that equipment with apparently the same technical measurements could sound very different.Incredibly small amounts of musically dissonant, odd harmonics have a disastrous effect on the sound quality. Extraneous noise or interference that finds its way into a signal path seriously impairs performance of the whole chain.Many control rooms make use of outboard gear that is not well protected from external signals. Poor grounding of such equipment can be a serious problem. Electronically balanced circuits, much used in modern equipment, can give very good measurements on the test bench but they do not provide adequ...details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor Module
The fully analog Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor Module combines the outstanding sound quality expected from a Rupert Neve design with the total flexibility required by modern recording studios. The Portico 5015 features independent transformer-coupled mic preamp and compressor-limiter sections identical to those found in the Neve Designs 5012 and 5043 modules.Available in both vertical and horizontal configurations, when used with the 5033 five band EQ it is possible to create a Portico channel strip with preamplification, dynamics processing and equalization. As an additional routing option, the microphone preamp output may be routed directly to the compressor section without patching by pressing the "To Compressor" switch.Portico Series Awards:Rupert Neve Designs has been honored with three TEC Awards since its inception in 2005. The Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor won for achievement in the category of Mic Preamplifier Technology. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator (#482649) won for achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.Microphone Preamplifier The microphone input is balanced but not floating, being a variant of an instrumentation amplifer using a "Transformer-Like-Amplifier" (T.L.A.) configuration with a toroidal Common Mode Rejection Low Pass Filter that excludes frequencies above 150 kHz. The T.L.A. is followed by an actual input transformer designed by Mr. Neve that permits a full +25 dBu input signal to be handled at unity gain without an input pad over the whole audio spectrum. This innovative solution combines the advantages of both an "Electronically Balanced" and true transformer input.In addition to the 72 dB of gain, the Neve Portico 5015 mic preamp includes individually selectable phase, mute, phantom power, a swept high pass filter from 20-250 Hz, and the "Silk" circuit which yields the rich warmth and presence of the renowned classic designs.The Compressor Section The Portico 5015 microphone preamp's compressor has fully variable threshold, ratio, attack, release and makeup gain with two selectable VCA modes that provide for exceptional control of any source material. How it Works. In order to control gain, a VCA or voltage controlled amplifier (or attenuator) is used. There are many types of voltage control including the use of tubes, discrete and integrated solid state circuits and naturally non-linear devices, each one having its characteristic behavior that reflects sonically on the final performance, and gives it a character or signature that can be musically attractive or not.The Portico 5043 makes use of a very accura...details

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5032 Mic Pre / Equalizer
The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5032 is a single channel microphone preamp and equalizer with an independent transformer coupled Line level input for the EQ section. The Portico Series 5032 includes a full-featured mic pre identical to the Neve 5012 with the addition of a flexible 3 band equalizer in the Rupert Neve tradition. The Neve Portico 5032 is equipped with high and low frequency shelving curves and a parametric mid band covering 80Hz-8kHz in 2 ranges.The Neve 5032 module is a half rack width, 1-3/4" (1U) module in the now well-known Portico style. The 5032 mic pre and EQ is ideal for both tracking and mixing applications with selectable mic or line inputs. Both paths have full access to the EQ, phase, Silk and mute making the Neve Portico 5032 the ideal choice for either standalone operation, or to form the core of a larger mixing system. As with the entire Portico Series, the 5032 boasts a heavy and robust steel shell that provides total magnetic screening and exceptional mechanical stability. The front panel is machined from a solid 1/8" aluminum plate with a steel sub panel behind it.Portico Series Awards:Rupert Neve Designs has been honored three TEC Awards since its inception in 2005. The Portico 5015 Mic Pre/Compressor (#482645) won for achievement in the category of Mic Preamplifier Technology. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator #482649) won for achievement in the category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.Alternative front panel layouts are available providing a choice of vertical or horizontal mounting. When the horizontal front panel is chosen, a single Portico 5032 can sit firmly on a bench or desktop on its detachable rubber feet. 2 Neve 5032s can be joined with the optional Horizontal Joining Kit ( #482653) and mounted across a standard 19 rack. When the vertical option is chosen, up to 8 of the Portico 5032s can be mounted in the optional Vertical Frame. This leaves a 3 wide space that can be used to house a power supply or monitor unit. The vertical frame assembly is designed for rack mounting and includes basic rear cable management. Blank panels are available to fill any unused spaces when the full complement of 8 modules is not fitted into the optional vertical frame.The Portico 5032 module comprises a single microphone preamplifier identical with those found in the Neve Designs Portico 5012, and a new 3-band Equalizer. The output stage is identical with that of the Portico 5012, using single-sided circuitry, driving a carefully configured output transformer that can deliver a full + 25dBu from the balanced and ground-free secondary winding.THE EQUALIZER The subtleties of audio circuit design...details