Rupert Neve 545-500 Series Primary Source Enhancer

Rupert Neve 545-500 Series Primary Source Enhancer

Based around the circuitry in the acclaimed Portico 5045 – which has benefited countless tours, arenas, houses of worship and broadcast stages worldwide – the 545 is exceptionally useful at reducing feedback without negatively impacting the sonic integrity of the source.

The 545 effectively increases the level of a live microphone signal by up to 20dB before feedback occurs. It’s as simple as that.

100% Analog Design

The 545 shares some traits with conventional “noise gates”, but operates on a different principle. One common aspect is that both reduce the gain during the absence of signal – or more specifically, both begin to attenuate when the level of a signal falls below a certain user-defined threshold. The 545 senses when someone is speaking or singing into the mic and allows the signal to pass through, and senses when the person has stopped talking or singing and reduces the gain appropriately, thus reducing the system’s tendency to feed back.

Importantly, the 545 does not utilize filtering or digital processing to achieve its significant benefits. Built around Rupert Neve Designs’ custom input and output transformers, its all-analog circuitry provides superb control and sonic performance without compromising the integrity of the source material. This makes the 545 the most intuitive, natural-sounding and effective method of feedback reduction available on the market.

Simple, Intuitive Controls

With a minimal control set, the 545’s ease of use makes it ideal even for circumstances where a full-time or experienced engineer is not readily available, and allows for rapid adjustments on-the-fly even during performances.

Features:

Power Status Led

LED indicates power status.

Process Engage

Illuminated push-button that engages the Primary Source Enhancer’s effect.

Process Active

This LED indicates when the 545 is actively affecting signal – a.k.a. when the input signal has overcome the enhancement threshold. Since this LED should generally be illuminated when the desired source is present (a vocalist singing, for example) it is extremely helpful in setting up the 545 for use.

Threshold

Sets the dBu level at which the Primary Source Enhancer engages.

Depth

The DEPTH knob controls the maximum amount of effect from the 545 – or in other words, how much attenuation is applied after the input signal falls below the set THRESHOLD. By rotating the DEPTH control clockwise from 0dB towards -20dB, the 545 will attenuate the input signal more dramatically, letting the user find the perfect balance between audibility of the Primary Source Enhancement effect and feedback reduction.

Fast

The FAST control is an illuminated push-button that selects between two available time constants, tuning the 545’s response by determining how quickly the attenuation occurs in the quiet sections between words or phrases. Without this button pressed, the 545 achieves a slower attack and release that is useful as a starting point for most sources. Pressing the FAST push-button engages the faster attack and release time constant, useful on more dynamic sources or passages where faster transient detection is necessary.

Peak

Illuminated push-button that selects between RMS and Peak detection modes. When illuminated, the 545 is in PEAK mode – useful for detecting faster transient peaks, and for creative dynamic envelope shaping. When not illuminated, the 545 is in RMS mode, which utilizes a slower, more averaged response characteristic in the sidechain.

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Brand	Rupert Neve Designs
Condition	New

• Maximum Input and Output Level : +24 dBu
• Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise :
• 1 kHz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load: Better than 0.001%
• 20 Hz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load: 0.1% typical (2nd and 3rd Harmonic)
• Noise :
• Un-weighted, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 40 Ohm balanced source. Noise specifications may vary depending on which 500 series chassis is being used, and / or interference from stray magnetic fields
• Primary Source Enhancer Bypassed: Better than -100 dBu
• Frequency Response:
• 30 ft. Cable on Main Output
• 30 Hz to 58 kHz: +/- 0.25 dB
• 18.5 Hz: -3 dB
• Threshold : Continuously variable from -18 dBu to +12 dBu
• Depth : Continuously variable from 0 dB to -20 dB
• Time Constants:
• Rms Mode:
• Attack & Release, Slow (FAST push-button OUT): 100 mS
• Attack & Release, Fast (FAST push-button IN): 200 mS
• Peak Mode:
• Attack (fixed): 20 mS
• Release, Slow (FAST push-button OUT): 1 S
• Release, Fast (FAST push-button IN): 200 mS
• Power Consumption : +/-16 VDC @ 80 mA