| Content | Rupert Neve Designs R6 500 Series chassis is a 6-space, steel rack enclosure that sports XLR, TRS, and DB-25 I/O to work with any studio setup. To ensure your modules are properly powered, the R6 has 150% of the required current, so you'll never be underpowered. It also has a built-in LED display to show current consumption and a double-shielded internal power supply that won't add any interference or unwanted noise to your signal. Rupert Neve is an audio legend. So you know when he designs a 500 Series chassis, it's top-shelf, all the way. Give your 500 Series modules the pampering they deserve with the Rupert Neve Designs R6 500 Series rack.
Genius in the details
With the Rupert Neve Designs' RND R6, there's genius in the details. The R6's double-shielded internal power supply was meticulously designed to avoid magnetic induction in any of its module slots. The power supply is a Switchmode type, and great care was taken to ensure that the frequencies are considerably outside the audible band. There's an internal jumper configuration that makes it easy to link slots in pairs. It's even fitted with variable-position screw holes that slide to accommodate modules that are slightly out-of-spec, which makes the insertion of modules quick and easy. Trust Sweetwater: when it comes to 500 Series racks, the RND R6 is as good as it gets.
Rupert Neve Designs RND R6 500 Series Rack Features at a Glance:
- Supplies 150% of the required current
- LED current consumption meter displays available current
- XLR, TRS, and DB-25 I/O
- Variable-position screw holes make for quick and easy module insertion
- Double-shielded internal power supply designed to avoid magnetic induction in module slots
- Switchmode PSU with frequencies considerably outside audible band
- Internal jumper configuration lets you link slots in pairs
| The Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Bus Processor lets you enhance, reshape, and polish your sound to perfection. Whether you want to add finishing touches to your master bus, level out a stereo group, or add new life to mono sound sources, the Portico II Master Bus Processor gives you the compression, limiting, and stereo field manipulation you need. Featuring custom input and output transformers designed by Rupert Neve, the Portico II Master Bus Processor implements the same ultra-smooth Class A signal processing made famous by the 5088 console and the Portico II Channel, as well as 72V topology, which gives it enormous headroom while allowing it to integrate seamlessly with virtually any system. If you’re serious about your sound, then it’s time to ask your Sales Engineer about the Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Bus Processor!
Powerful and flexible compression
Both channels of the Portico II Master Bus Processor feature one of Rupert Neve Designs’ most versatile compressors to date. Whether you want to add punch to your mix or smooth out your vocal subgroup, the Portico II Master Bus Processor has the compression you need. Controls for ratio, threshold, attack, release, blend, sidechain highpass filter, limiting, and makeup gain let you dial in the perfect dynamics quickly and easily. Use the two compressors independently, or instantly link them with the push of a button. Variable Silk Red/Blue Texture controls let you add classic Neve harmonic warmth; while a blend control lets you dial in the dry signal for instant parallel processing, so you can get all of the compression you want without losing transients. In addition, the Portico II Master Bus Processor gives you a choice of either vintage-flavored feed-back or modern-sounding feed-forward compression modes.
Transparent, musical limiter that’s effortless to use
Often overlooked at first glance, the Portico II Master Bus Processor’s 1-knob limiter is a powerful, flexible, and remarkably easy-to-use tool that lets you get the most out of the Portico II Master Bus Processor’s compression section. Rupert Neve Designs’ Adaptive Release Technology gives this limiter its unique ability to grab onto fast transients, without smothering the rest of the signal. Plus, you have the option to blend compressed and dry signals together for parallel processing that maintains natural-sounding dynamics without clipping. This gracious behavior means you can set it and forget it, with the added security of knowing your masters will be free from clipping and broadcast-ready.
Sidechain inserts for creative ducking
Every dynamics processor has a sidechain circuit that examines the signal and determines how much the VCA will reduce gain — but not every unit provides access to its sidechain. In compressors without a separate sidechain input, your main input signal is, essentially, compressing itself. With compressors like the one in the RND Portico II Master Bus Processor, you can insert external processing on the sidechain — or introduce a different signal that determines the compression action on the main signal. It’s an incredibly useful feature that lets you, for instance, automatically duck a track to make space for another (very popular for that EDM mix pumping effect). Combined with the sidechain HP filter, it gives you an impressive amount of tonal versatility.
Amazing Stereo Field Editor
Although the Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Bus Processor functions wonderfully as a dual-mono processor, it really shines in stereo mode. That’s thanks to its unique Stereo Field Editor. The Stereo Field Editor uses advanced Mid/Side stereo manipulation techniques, allowing you to adjust your stereo bus’s width, depth, and ambience. Beyond widening your stereo image, the Portico II Master Bus Processor can actually bring center-panned instruments out in your mix. That makes the Portico II Master Bus Processor an invaluable tool for mastering, as well as defining the spread of your subgroups during mixdown.
The legend continues
Rupert Neve’s 80 Series consoles had a huge, punchy, and authoritative sound that defined the sound of ’70s rock. From London to New York to Los Angeles and beyond, top studios were installing Neve boards as fast as they could. By 1977, with the introduction of the NECAM automation system, 80 Series boards were the main component of the success formula for any recording studio with world-class aspirations. Mr. Neve’s current company, Rupert Neve Designs, continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge products that sound incredible and intelligently address the challenges of the digital age. With your Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Bus Processor from Sweetwater, the legend continues.
Rupert Neve Designs Portico II Master Bus Processor Features:
- Powerful 2-channel compressor/limiter/stereo field manipulator
- Custom input and output transformers designed by Rupert Neve
- Full compression sections for both channels, including attack, release, ratio, and threshold controls
- Sidechain inserts and highpass filters for both compressors
- Feed-back/Feed-forward switch lets you select between vintage-style and modern compression modes
- Silk Texture control with Red/Blue modes for classic Neve harmonic warmth
- Blend controls allow you to mix dry signal back into your compression, preserving transients while adding punch
- Simple and highly musical 1-knob limiter with Adaptive Release Technology allows for brickwall limiting that doesn’t distort or affect signal under the threshold
- Stereo Field Editor section includes independent level and EQ for width and depth, allowing you to dial in the perfect stereo field
| Rupert Neve Designs' Shelford Channel, over a half century in the making, is the definitive evolution of Mr. Neve's renowned 80 Series channel module technology, updated and refined for the contemporary studio. The Shelford Channel is fitted with Rupert's latest Class A transformer-gain mic preamp, the best-of-the-classics Inductor EQ from the Shelford 5052, a punchy diode-bridge compressor, the alluring analog textures of variable Silk saturation, a state-of-the-art dual-tap transformer output stage with massive headroom, and double the operating voltage of vintage designs. Offering rich tonal options for making audacious statements with your music, along with precision-detented controls for recall, the Shelford Channel delivers the authoritative sonic essence of classic Rupert Neve designs, along with modern versatility.
Input stage and transformer-gain mic pre
Rupert Neve's first new Class A, transformer-gain mic preamplifier in over 40 years makes its debut in the Shelford Channel. Rupert has spec'd this preamp with a direct-coupled transformer input; gain is provided by the custom transformer itself. The proprietary input transformer, and its meticulous integration with the surrounding Class A input amplifiers, plays an outsized role in the Channel's immediately recognizable sonics: punchy and creamy-smooth, with excellent isolation and vanishingly low noise.
The Shelford Channel's front-panel hi-Z instrument input uses the same discrete Class A field-effect transistor with transformer topology as Rupert Neve Designs' acclaimed RNDI; for gain, however, it utilizes the new RN4012 input transformer directly into the mic preamp. This design provides astonishing clarity on hi-Z sources, with substantial low-end weight and silky-smooth high frequencies. The DI also gives you a passive thru output to feed a guitar or bass amp.
- Mic-DI/Line: switches between microphone/direct injection input and line input
- GND Lift: disconnects the audio signal ground from chassis earth
- Signal LED: green indicates Signal Present; red indicates imminent input stage clipping
- Mic Gain: 12-way precision rotary, controls gain from 0dB to 66dB in 6dB steps
- Trim: rotary switch provides further continuous gain adjustment of +/-6dB
- 48V: switch engages phantom power on the mic input
- Phase: inverts the polarity of the signal path (illuminates when engaged)
- HPF Freq: engages a 12dB/octave highpass filter, variable from 20Hz-250Hz
The best-of-the-classics inductor EQ
The Shelford Channel's EQ section is a 3-band, custom-tapped inductor circuit containing Rupert's favorite bands from his vintage equalizer designs. The low-frequency band is primarily based on the 1064 — acclaimed for its creamy, resonant bass. Unlike the 1064, though, the Channel gives you added dimension, punch, and control over your low end by letting you use the LF band as either a peaking or a shelving filter. The midrange band is based on the venerable 1073 and is perfect for sweetening instruments and vocals while nudging them forward in a mix. "Proportional Q" response also makes it ideal for attenuating problem frequencies. The high-frequency band is a hybrid design with the best of vintage and modern attributes. It should be noted that this EQ is in no way a clone; it's a decidedly modern design using components and techniques that simply did not exist in the 1970s — for instance, the use of capacitor-based topologies to achieve sonic richness and enhanced control.
- EQ In: engages all EQ frequency bands except HPF
- LF: adjusts up to 15dB of boost/cut at the selected low frequency
- Low Freq: 4-position rotary switch for selecting LF band corner or center frequency
- LF Peak: selects LF shelving (out) or peaking (in) mode
- Mid Hi Q: selects between a mid-band resonance of 2 (out) or 3.5 (in)
- Mid: adjusts up to 15dB of boost/cut at selected mid frequency
- Mid Freq: 6-position rotary switch selects center frequency of the midband EQ stage
- HF Peak: selects HF shelving (out) or peaking (in) mode
- 8K/16K: selects between an 8kHz (out) or 16kHz (in) center or corner frequency for HF band
- HF: adjusts up to 15dB of boost or cut at selected high frequency
The Super Diode-bridge Compressor
Like the Shelford Channel's inductor EQ and transformer-gain microphone preamp, the diode-bridge compressor/limiter is based on the topologies found in vintage Neve designs such as the 2254. It improves, however, on the early designs by the inclusion of full-wave rectification and a bevy of new control features. Although Rupert's vintage diode-bridge compressors were prized for their warm, punchy response, they were somewhat compromised by imprecise controls, attack-time inflexibility, low headroom, and high noise. The Shelford Channel's Super Diode-bridge Compressor delivers the attitude-packed, "in your face" sound of those classics, but with modern precision and flexibility — which makes it ideal on any source. Full Side-chain and stereo Link features are provided.
- Side Chain Insert Jacks (rear-panel): for fine tuning of compressor operation
- Comp In: engages the Channel's compressor-limiter section
- Threshold: sets level where the compressor "kicks in"
- Ratio: sets compression slope from 1.5:1 (minimal) to 8:1 (heavy)
- SC Insert: inserts rear-panel sidechain insert jacks into sidechain signal path
- HPF to S/C: routes highpass filter into the circuit that compressor uses to determine level
- Gain: for adding make-up gain to compensate for level attenuation lost to compression
- Timing: 6-position rotary adjusts attack/release speed of the compressor
- Link: links the sidechain control of multiple units for ganged or stereo operation
- Pre EQ: changes the order of compressor in the circuit chain
- Blend: mixes the dry and compressed signal for handy parallel compression
- Fast: speeds up both attack and release of the selected compressor time constant
Dual-tap transformer output
The Shelford Channel's output stage serves up the inimitable sound of Rupert Neve's classic designs while providing far more tonal versatility. The dual-tap output for the RN2042 square-core output transformer provides both high- and low-headroom outputs without compromising performance. The high-headroom tap takes advantage of the Shelford's higher-voltage design, delivering a pristine sound without non-linear output-stage coloration at high levels. The low-headroom tap, on the other hand, lets you drive the full voltage range of the Channel to accentuate this non-linear harmonic content — without clipping most pro interfaces. For vocals, drums, guitars, bass, and other instruments, this output lets you hit the transformer's sweet spot, which can inject life into a recorded performance in a way that other effects cannot.
The Silk and Texture controls
The Shelford Channel is packing a secret weapon the classics never had: its output transformer features the Silk Red/Blue and Texture controls from the Portico II Series that let you tailor the harmonic content and tonality of the output stage. By engaging these controls and sufficiently driving your output, you can dial in delectable 2nd- and 3rd-order harmonic distortion (that's the good kind) and saturation of the output transformer, imbuing your tracks with juicy rich thickness (think: 1073 on steroids) — with no danger of overloading the output stage. The Silk Red mode emphasizes harmonic content generated by the source's high frequencies; Blue mode, conversely, works off the low frequencies. The Texture knob controls the amount of added harmonic content. Disengage Silk, and your output is pristine and modern, while retaining Rupert's bigger-than-life transformer sonic signature.
The magical sound of Neve
Rupert Neve is an audio legend whose electronics designs defined the golden age of analog. Those of us at Sweetwater who have had the privilege of working on a Neve 8078 or its predecessors can attest to the fact that Neve's Series 80 consoles were indeed the pinnacle of hand-wired analog mixing desks. Mr. Neve has remained at the forefront of audio-circuit innovation for over half a century, and his current company, Rupert Neve Designs, continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge products that sound incredible and intelligently address the challenges of the digital age.
Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel Features:
- The definitive evolution of Rupert Neve's renowned 80 Series channel module technology
- A complete channel strip that delivers the essence of classic designs, along with modern versatility
- Input stage and transformer-gain mic pre
- Front-panel hi-Z direct input
- Best-of-the-classics inductor EQ
- Super Diode-bridge Compressor
- Dual-tap transformer output
- Silk and Texture controls
| With a big, bold preamp, a swept high-pass filter and the powerful saturation control of variable Silk, the 511 combines legendary Rupert Neve tone with 500 Series value.
What is Silk?
One of the key features of the 511 is the Silk / Texture control. The Silk circuit was initially developed for the original Portico series mic preamplifiers, and was only a single switch – on or off – that added a specified amount of musical, pleasing harmonic saturation to the unit’s output stage.
Taking this concept one step further, the Texture knob is designed to adjust the actual amount of harmonic content from the source material.
So how does it work? By reducing negative feedback across the output transformer and adjusting this feedback’s frequency response, the Silk / Texture circuit provides the sweet, musical saturation found in Rupert’s legendary vintage designs – but with complete & precise control over the amount of classic tone you want.
NOISE
- Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, source impedance 150 Ohm balanced. Noise performance can vary depending on the 500 series and / or interference from stray magnetic fields.
- Unity Gain: Better than -103 dBV
- Gain @ +66 dB: Better than -60 dBV
- Equivalent Input Noise: -125 dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- Main output, no load.
- +/- 0.1 dBu from 10 Hz to 31.5 kHz
- -2.6 dB @ 120 kHz
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL
+23 dBu
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE, NO SILK
- @ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output level, no load: Better than 0.0025%
- @ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output level, no load: 0.025% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE WITH SILK ENGAGED
- @ 100 Hz, +20 dBu input level, no load.
- TEXTURE @ min: 0.015%, mostly 3rd harmonic typical
- TEXTURE @ max: 2%, mostly 2rd harmonic typical
GAIN
- Unity up to +66 dB in 6 dB steps.
- Trim continuously adjustable from -6 dB to +6 dB.
PHANTOM POWER
Supplied by the 500 series rack power supply. Switch selectable on faceplate.
HIGH PASS FILTER
- Continuously variable swept frequency from 20 Hz to 250 Hz.
- Slope: 12 dB/Octave
POWER REQUIREMENTS
@ +/-16VDC, 100mA | Originally developed for the dynamics circuit of the acclaimed Shelford Channel, the 535 Diode Bridge Compressor captures the soul of Rupert Neve’s original 2254 compressor while providing modern updates including advanced timing control, significantly lower noise, fully stepped controls throughout, and internal parallel processing capabilities.
What is diode bridge compression?
Where the VCA compressor found in the Master Buss Processor provides unmatched clarity, the weighty, harmonically rich tonality of diode bridge compression can be essential in pushing key sources like vocals, electric guitars, bass and drums to the forefront of a mix.
By understanding the limitations of vintage units like the legendary 2254, painstaking effort was taken to reproduce the unique tone of these classics while improving the noise floor & accuracy, expanding inflexible time constants, adding full wave sidechain detection for improved dynamic response, and widening the range of threshold and ratio controls.
Delivering the powerful sound of these iconic designs with enhanced flexibility for the modern age, the 535 Diode Bridge Compressor is a dynamic tool equipped to make a bold statement on virtually any mix or track.
LINE INPUT TO LINE OUTPUT
- Compressor Bypassed.
- Z source = 40 Ohm Balanced
INPUT IMPEDANCE
10K Ohm
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE
40 Ohm
MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL
+23.5 dBu
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL
+23.5 dBu
NOISE
- 22 Hz - 22 kHz BW.
- -101 dBu
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- 10 Hz - 120 kHz, 30ft Output XLR Cable.
- +/- 0.25 dB
THD+N
- @ 1 kHz @ Maximum Output Level, 22 Hz - 22 kHz BW.
- 0.001%
| In addition to the 100% analog tape emulation circuitry – great for bringing out 3rd-order harmonics – the 542 incorporates a soft-clip circuit that tames the harshest sources and enhances 2nd-order harmonics, variable Silk Red & Blue for an infinite variety of transformer tones, and a blend control to dial in in the perfect amount of saturation.
Transformers Imitating Tape
Unlike digital emulations, the “True Tape” drive circuit works by feeding a custom-designed interstage transformer acting as a “record head”, which in turn is coupled to a correctly-equalized replay amplifier. As the voltage rises on the “record head”, saturation increases, and a soft clip circuit engages at higher levels to round off peak transients. The sound of the tape circuit can be further modified with selectable 15 / 30 IPS modes and a pre/post-tape blend control.
What is Silk?
In addition to the tape circuit, the continuously variable Texture control with Silk Red and Silk Blue modes provides a whole other level of control over the harmonic density and tonality of your tracks & mixes. The Silk Red mode accentuates transformer saturation in the high and high-mid frequencies to amplify the vibrant midrange harmonics associated with Rupert’s vintage equipment, while Silk Blue accentuates saturation of the lows and low-mids to add thickness and weight to any source – especially useful for “thin-sounding” tracks or mixes. Unlike EQ, these Silk & Texture controls saturate the output transformers, and add highly musical harmonics to the source material according to the amount of Texture applied.
Drive the 542 hard, choose your Silk flavor, and crank the Texture knob for a rich, saturated, vintage vibe – or disengage Silk entirely for a more purist, hi-fi tape effect. The choice is yours.
LINE AMP NOISE
- Measurements with tape circuit disengaged. Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, Input Terminated 40 Ohm.
- Unity Gain: Better than -100 dBV
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- Measured at +10 dBu, trim at unity.
- Main Output: +/- 0.25 dB from 5 Hz to 60 kHz, -2 dB @ 120 kHz
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL
23.25 dBu
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE
- @ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output level: Better than 0.002%
- @ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output level: 0.07% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)
TAPE FX SPECIFICATIONS
NOISE
- Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, Input Terminated 40 Ohm.
- Saturation @ minimum: Better than -100 dBu
- Saturation @ maximum: Better than -100 dBu
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- 15 IPS, Input @ -0 dBu: -3 dBu @ 28 kHz
- Saturation @ minimum: 0 dBu @ 10 Hz
- +5 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz Saturation @ maximum: -3 dBu @ 20 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +2.4 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz
- 30 IPS, Input @ -0 dBu: -3 dBu @ 120 kHz
- Saturation @ minimum: -3 dBu @ 10 Hz, +3.15 dBu Peak @ 125 Hz
- Saturation @ maximum: -3 dBu @ 100 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +1.3 dBu Peak @ 110 Hz
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE
15 IPS
- Input @ -0 dBu: 0.4% @ 3 kHz to 1% @ 175 Hz typical Saturation @ minimum: Greater than 1% below 175 Hz typical
- Saturation @ maximum: 1% at 6 kHz typical, 0.3% @ 1 kHz to 3% @ 50 Hz typical
30 IPS
- Input @ -0 dBu: 1% at 1 kHz typical
- Saturation @ minimum: 0.6% @ 400 Hz to 5% @ 20 Hz typical
- Saturation @ maximum: 1.5% @ 20 kHz to 0.4% @ 1 kHz typical, 0.4% @ 1 kHz to 2% @ 50 Hz typical
POWER REQUIREMENTS
Supplied by 500 series rack with 110-125 mA @ +/- 16V DC |
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