TECHNOLOGY FOCUS MIC PREAMPS
The Rupert Neve Designs Shelford 5052 echoes the simple and definitive 1073 feature set with a vertically-oriented mic pre, high pass filter, and three-band inductor EQ, while also incorporating modern capabilities like the variable Silk/Texture control and simultaneous pre/post ‘tape’ operation. Utilising Class A, discrete, +/- 24V topologies with custom- wound transformers and inductors, Rupert Neve designed the 5052 as a vintage-style channel strip that captures the soul of his classic designs, without the previous compromises. The mic preamp and Silk/Texture are taken from the newest Portico II designs, and the inductor EQ is a ‘best-of’, incorporating a low-band based on the 1064, a 1073 mid-band, and a new high band inspired by the 1073 with added modern capacitor circuitry. The 5052 receives +/- 24V rails from an external DC power supply using a 4-pin connection. There are currently two options available: a five-way brick supply and a 25-way 2U rack-mount supply. The 5052 chassis is a ‘half-rack’ format, and can be mounted in RND’s new two way and four- way vertical racks in addition to the existing nine-way racks and the 5088 penthouse.
www.rupertneve.com
The SPL Frontliner comprises the same discrete, hybrid semiconductor/ tube preamplifier design as the company’s GoldMike MK2. The compressor module is based on the Kultube providing a full set of classic controls. SPL also integrated one of the Kultube’s top features: a signal dependent automation of attack and release parameters that can still be influenced manually – with this option, manual and automatic control can be merged to always find the best settings. The EQ section provides two semi- parametric filters for low and mid band as well as a bell filter delivering a silky and smooth top end. This filter set is rounded off with a Tube Saturation control. The sound effects from saturating a tube can often be used to improve audio signals and resemble tape saturation effects while increasing the density and perceived energy in a very pleasant way.
The Frontliner comprises a hybrid semiconductor/tube preamplifier with microphone, line, and instrument input, a de-esser, a compressor/limiter, and an EQ section with tube saturation stage. In addition to its primary function as a recording channel with all tools onboard to process a signal prior to storing, its modules can also serve for high-end analogue processing during mixing. The enumeration of the Frontliner’s modules also makes clear that the task of a channel strip is relatively complex. There is not one specialised device for one job, but a unit that combines a lot of technology for the preamplification and processing of audio signals. The Frontliner benefits from SPL’s innovations for targeted, efficient work. The SPL de-esser, for example, performs highly complex processing duties, but can simply be adjusted with one single knob.
www.spl.info
www.audiomedia.com
December 2013 39
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