Rupert Neve Designs 517 Mic Pre / DI / Compressor with Vari-phase - 500 Series

Rupert Neve Designs 517

The Rupert Neve Designs 517 is a 500 series microphone pre, DI and compressor with Vari-phase. Based on the Portico 5017 Mobile Pre, the 517 provides world-class transformer-coupled micpreamp, compressor and DI circuitry with Vari-phase, “Silk” and DI/mic blending capabilities. Used as a single channel device for instruments, the 517 can be used to phase align, combine and compress direct and amplified signals. To achieve this, use the DI for the instrument’s direct signal and the mic preamp for the speaker cabinet signal.

The blend control is used for mixing direct and amplified signals to achieve the desired tonal blend between the two sources, and the variphase is used to minimize or extenuate phase cancellations between the two signals. To compress the blended signal, the internal compressor jumper must be set to the blend path (this is the default setting). This technique could also be used to create a single, mixed output of a guitar and vocals.

RND 517 Features

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

Peak
When engaged, the 543 uses a combination of peak and RMS (average) detection to determine level. When disengaged, it follows just RMS.

SC HPF
Introduces a HPF at 250Hz to the VCA side chain signal. This allows the compressor to disregard sustained low frequency content.

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.

Specifications

• Gain Range: Continuously variable from 6 dB to +20 dB.
• Threshold Range: Continuously variable from 36 dB to +22 dB.
• Ratio Range: Continuously variable from 1.1:1 to Limit (40:1).
• Attack Range: Continuously variable from 20mS to 75mS
• Release Range: Continuously variable from 100mS to 2.5 Seconds.
• FF/FB: Feed-Forward or Feed-Back VCA control.
• Maximum Output Level: Maximum output from 20 Hz to 40 kHz is +23 dBu.