Rupert Neve Designs The Channel Strip (511 + 535 + 551 + R6 Chassis)

Rupert Neve Designs 511
The Rupert Neve Designs 511 is a 500 Series mic preamp using the preamp circuitry of the 5017 designed to provide a superb classic sound.

The Rupert Neve Desgins 511 provides a vast array of sonic textures, from pristine sound to the classic Neve tones, thanks to the use of Silk and Texture circuit which adds transformer harmonic distortion to provide the warm vintage sound associated with Neve designs.  

The Rupert Neve 511 provides 66dB of clean gain thanks to a 10-position 6dB/step gain control and a +/-6dB trim control for fine adjustment. +48V Phantom power is provided and the same transient optimised high-pass filter found in the 5012 is included with a range of 20Hz to 250Hz to counteract proximity effect and remove unwanted rumble.

As with all Rupert Neve Designs’ units, the 511 provides very low noise and distortion operation ensuring superior performance thanks to a carefully designed signal paths and Class A design.

Main Features:

• Preamp circuitry from the 5017 preamp
• Versatile tone shaping provided by the Silk/Texture circuit
• Sweepable highpass filter circuit from the 5012 preamplifier
• Sonically flexible microphone preamplifier in 500 Series format
• High-quality mic preamp taken from the 5017
• Silk control gives you vintage to modern sounds
• Tailor you low-end with a sweepable highpass filter

Rupert Neve Designs R6 Chassis

• 6-slot 500 series rack
• 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

Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 535
The Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 535 is a single-channel 500 series compressor inspired by the same diode bridge principles found on the classic 2254. 

The Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 535 takes the soul of the legendary 2254 and updates it for modern requirements. It offers the larger-than-life compression of its ancestor and the precision and flexibility required by current workflows. 

Originally designed for the Shelford channel, the 535 has been adapted for the 500 series format and includes a custom transformer designed by Rupert Neve and a Class A output amplifier.

The Rupert Neve Designs 535 offers quick and easy settings with a six selectable ratio ranging between 1.5:1 through 8:1 easily accessible via the rotary switch. The 31-step Threshold control ranges from -25dBu up to +20dBu. The Gain control offers gain compensation between -6dB and +20dB accessible through its 31-step switch. A fixed 150Hz, 12dB/octa side-chain filter is also provided, allowing the compressor to respond less to powerful bass content avoiding unwanting triggering caused by low frequencies and keeping the compression clear.

Diode Bridge Compression
Diode Bridge compression works by using a diode’s non-linear properties to control the gain reduction.

Diode Bridge Compression was Rupert Neve’s way to create a colourful, weighty and punchy compressor before the advent of VCAs. Unlike VCA compression, which is usually thought of bringing clarity, diode bridge provides a weighty and harmonically rich tone, effortlessly bringing the source forward in the mix.

Circumventing the natural distortion levels of diodes by configuring it in a bridge format, Rupert Neve originally came up with the 2252 compressor which then evolved into the revered 2254.

The Rupert Neve Designs 535 has been meticulously designed to recreate the unique tone of the 2254 but with a much-improved noise floor. They are particularly well suited for bringing vocals, electric guitars, bass and drums at the front of the mix. 

Flexible Timing
The 535 compressor includes six selectable Timing settings that control both the attack and release times simultaneously. Each of these settings has been carefully chosen for different applications. 

• FAST: Fast Attack (750µs), Fast Release (130ms)
• MF: Medium Attack (2.25ms), Fast Release (130ms)
• MED: Medium Attack (2.25ms), Medium Release (400ms)
• MS: Medium Attack (4ms), Slow Release (725ms)
• SLOW: Slow Attack (10ms), Slow Release (1s)
• AUTO: Medium Attack (5ms), Dual-decay Release (T1 500ms, T2 1s)

Both FAST and MF settings are ideal to clamp down on transient rich material like drums or acoustic guitars. MED and MS settings offer slower reactions (slower attack and release times) for vocals, guitars while the Slow and AUTO provide smoother level control.

A FAST mode increases the speed of both attacks and release times dramatically for each setting, increasing the number of time constants from six to 12. Faster modes will also increase harmonic distortion, adding noticeable colouration to the sound. Slower modes will result in more transparent compression.

The attack and release on diode bridge compressors vary slightly depending on the ratio, threshold and incoming audio, resulting in dynamically shifting timing and harmonic content. It is an integral part of the diode bridge compressor’s sound.

A Flexible Compressor 
Rupert Neve Designs 535 Blend
The Shelford 535’s obvious colouration might prove too much on some occasions and, as a result, it includes a Blend control which lets you dial in the amount of compression to your dry, unprocessed signal. This feature might be desirable to reinject some transients lost in fast settings while retaining some of the character and punch of the compression, or simply creating a natural sound with controlled dynamics. 

Two 535 can be used together for stereo operations thanks to the included LINK button if your 500- series rack features a link control. It works by sending a control voltage via a Sidechain input so that both units are triggered equally at the incoming audio

Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 535
The Rupert Neve Designs 551 inductor EQ is a single-channel 500 series EQ with 3-band inspired by Rupert Neve’s classic designs. 

The Rupert Neve Designs uses custom-wound inductors and Class-A gain blocks and transformers to bring the larger-than-life sound of vintage designs with the thick midrange, powerful lows and silky smooth high frequencies. The 551 inductor based EQ uses 3-band inspired by Rupert Neve’s favourite vintage eq designs but includes modern appointments to suit more modern workflows. 

The Low-Frequency band offers a choice of four frequencies (35, 60, 100 and 220 Hz) which offer a creamy resonant bass response. It may be used in peak or shelf mode and provides an incredibly punchy, creamy and rich low end full of girth. 

The parametric mid band lets you dial in the perfect tone bringing your vocals forward in a mix and adding the ideal sweetening. Its proportional Q design offers particularly effective focusing on the problematic frequencies. Its centre frequencies (200 Hz, 350Hz, 700 Hz 1.5KHz, 3kHz, 6kHz) covers a wide range of applications that will suit most applications. A selectable MF HiQ button lets you switch to narrow Q for more surgical frequency carving. 

The High-frequency band uses a hybrid approach combining modern and vintage designs. By blending inductor circuits and capacitor-based topologies, the 551 delivers the silky smooth tone of vintage EQs with the level of control required by modern producers and engineers. It offers a choice of 8kHz or 16 kHz at the press of a button and can be used as peak or shelf modes.

All three bands offer a +/- 15 dB of gain, allowing for deep sculpting of the sound. A fixed 80Hz high pass filter with 12dB/oct slope is also included

Furthermore, a low-feedback, class-A electronics similar to its predecessors, safeguards from low-level artefacts and harshness. In the 551 this circuit has been updated with modern techniques and components. 

Inductor EQ
The 551 uses inductors which use wires wound around a coil to provide a form of frequency-dependent resistance. When they saturate, they produce musical harmonics that give a track a smooth and polished sound. 

These properties translate into fatter, harmonically rich lows while the highs can be boosted without ever sounding harsh.

Inductors were already used by Rupert Neve in some of his most legendary designs such as the ‘1073’, ‘1081’ and ‘1084’. 

In the 551, Rupert Neve Designs uses custom-tapped inductors to delivery the vibrance, punch and personality associated with his classic designs.
The 551 takes on the circuit found on the Shelford Channel channel strip adapted to the low voltages provided by the 500 series format. A 500 Series rack is necessary for powering the module. During this adaptation process, the team experimented with different transformers and circuit designs to achieve the same presence and sweetness found in the Portico series. Placed side by side, the 500-series modules are indistinguishable from the 19” racks except for a slightly lowered headroom. 

The 551 also uses single-sided circuitry as well as transformer-balanced inputs and outputs which server to enhance the sonic qualities of most audio sources. This EQ provides the perfect blend of modern purity with the character and soul of vintage units. 

This EQ delivers a performance of the highest calibre and is the perfect addition in any home studio or professional setting.