Rupert Neve er et velkjent navn for de fleste i lyd- og musikkbransjen. Etter å ha startet flere suksess-bedrifter, inkludert Neve og Focusrite, samt at han en periode lisensierte ut navnet sitt til blant andre Amek, er han nå tilbake med sitt helt egne design og en serie flunkende nye NEVE bokser. Bare det å ha en original Neve i studioet løfter deg opp fra vrimmelen av hjemmestudioer.

 

Portico serien
I byggebransjen er Portico et flott inngangsparti eller dør. Det er også Neves ide med denne serien: det skal være en elegant og solid inngangsport til lydens verden. Hver boks fungerer alene eller sammen som byggeklosser og tilbyr dermed mange av de samme mulighetene som de store konsollmikserne fra gamle dager.

 

Rupert Neve Design 5015 Preamp / Compressor
With independent transformer-coupled mic preamp and compressor-limiter sections identical to those found in the 5012 and 5043 modules, the fully analogue Portico 5015 combines the outstanding sound quality expected from a Rupert Neve design with the total flexibility required by modern recording studios. 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 mic pre output may be routed directly to the compressor section without patching by pressing the To Compressor switch.

 

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 5015 mic pre 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 5015’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 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.

 

Silk
Much could be written about this feature, suffice to say, that it gives a subtle option to enhance sound quality in the direction of vintage modules. The Silk button reduces negative feedback and adjusts the frequency spectrum to provide a very sweet and musical performance. We suggest you try it and make your own judgment.

 

Level Meter
-30 dBu to +22 dBu With reference to the output

 

Mute
Cuts of the output signal post metering. Be sure to mute the outputs before engaging phantom power.

 

High Pass Filter
The High pass filter is a valuable aid in any signal chain but particularly so in a microphone preamplifier. Signals between 20 and 250 Hz can be attenuated, leaving the range above this unaffected. This gets rid of building rumble, air handling motor hum etc.

 

Phantom Power
Provides 48V phantom power to microphones

 

Phase Inverts
Flips the phase of an incoming source 180 degrees

 

COMPRESSION
For signals below the "threshold" level that has been set, a compressor provides a linear path allowing signals to be amplified without the gain being adjusted in any way. When signals exceed the "threshold" level, the gain is reduced in a controlled manner that depends on the Ratio that has been set.

 

GAIN
GAIN range provided is from -6dB to +20 dB. ?As already noted, when compression has taken place, it may be necessary to increase the overall gain to restore the apparent program level

 

RATIO
Range from 1:1 to LIMIT (i.e. 40:1)

 

Threshold
Range from -30dBu to +20dBU

 

ATTACK TIME
Range from 20 mS to 75 mS.

 

RELEASE / RECOVERY TIME
Range of RELEASE time is 100 mS to 2.5 Seconds.

 

STEREO Operation
When the LINK Push-Button is engaged on two channels of Portico compressors connected via the link inputs set to approximately the same values, gain reduction on both channels will be the same to preserve Stereo balance and center imaging.

 

DUCKING
When the LINK Push-Button is engaged and the link input is connected to another Portico series compressor with LINK engaged, the signal passing through one the compressors, may be used to control the amplitude of the Portico compressor its connected to.

 

REDUCTION METER
A reduction LED METER is provided that show GAIN REDUCTION in the compressor.

 

REDUCTION is calibrated in dB covering the range -1 to -22 dBu, reading from right to left,