RUPERT NEVE DESIGNS 551 Inductor EQ

Description

RND 551 - The first and only 500 series EQ designed by Rupert Neve!551 Inductor EQ - for 500 seriesThe 551 Inductor EQ is the only 500 series equalizer truly designed by Rupert Neve. A 3-band EQ inspired by Mr. Neve's most acclaimed historical designs, featuring custom-made components such as inductors, transformers, and Class A gain stages. The true Neve sound, with rich lows and harmonious highs, is finally available for the System 500 standard.The "Best-Of" EQThe 551's three hand-wound custom inductor bands are designed with the characteristic sound of Rupert Neve's vintage EQs in mind. The LOW FREQ band has a dense, resonant response and can be used (unlike the design it was based on) as both a Shelf and Peak filter, to add punch, dimensionality, and control to the low end. The 551's midrange inductor band is ideal for sweetening vocal or instrumental tracks, making them more present in the mix, and the proportional "Q" factor response is effective for reducing the effect of problematic frequencies. The HF band features a hybrid design blending vintage and modern, combining the best of inductor and capacitor circuitry for a vintage sound with more control. The High Pass filter is a 12dB per octave fixed at 80Hz and is perfect in conjunction with the LOW FREQ band to add presence to the lows without over-loading them below.As in Neve's most acclaimed classic designs, each section of the EQ uses discrete, low-feedback Class A electronics to prevent unwanted coloration during source processing. However, the new circuit cannot truly be called a "clone" as it also incorporates components not yet available at the time of the original EQs it is inspired by!The extreme HF and LF bands can be used as either Peak or Shelving with 15 dB of boost or cut. The HF band operates at 8 kHz or 16 kHz, and the LF at 35 Hz, 60 Hz, 100 Hz, or 220 Hz. The Inductor Mid Band offers 6 central intervention frequencies: 200 Hz, 350 Hz, 700 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 3 kHz, and 6 kHz, and also has the "Mid Hi Q" option to narrow the bell width of the filter's intervention (increases the Q factor).Why Inductors?What are inductors? They are wires wound around a coil that produce a kind of resistance proportional to the frequency. Once an inductor saturates, it adds "musically pleasing" harmonics capable of giving your tracks the soft and refined sound that has made Rupert Neve consoles and products so desirable for over 50 years.Although it is possible to build an equalizer using commercially available inductors, it is the attention to detail employed in the custom components and assembly that makes the sound of Rupert Neve Design products unique.Unlike equalizers based on capacitor circuitry (like the 5033), which are excellent for surgically sculpting the sound of a track, the RND 551 Inductor EQ is perfect for adding punch, vibrancy, and personality to your audio material.Designed for 500 SeriesRupert Neve: "It's relatively simple to create good-sounding modules for the 500 Series; it's much harder to recreate modules that have the same tonal characteristics as the "non-500" version, taking into account the limitations of this particular format, such as limited current, voltage, and space. We've experimented with a large number of different components and materials to revive the tonal soul of the Portico series, so our 500 series modules, apart from slightly lower headroom, sound exactly like their rack-mount counterparts and have an undeniable quality, the kind sought after in TOP-level studio equipment."Class A circuitry and transformer-balanced custom input and output stages make the 551 the ideal tool to elevate the audio quality of your recordings, especially digital ones. The tonal imprint is truly close to that of Rupert Neve EQs from 35-40 years ago. It is an EQ with a true vintage "soul".Power and audio connections are provided by the 500 series rack used.