Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 Product Features
The Portico 5033 Five
Band EQ and high performance line driver is a new equalizer with the
performance, features and musicality expected from Rupert Neve, the designer.
The 5033
features Mr. Rupert Neves custom input and output transformer designs, five
bands of EQ based on his traditional curves, -/+12dB input level adjustment,
five filter bypasses and comes available in either horizontal or vertical
formats.
At the
input and output of the 5033 lie custom designed Rupert Neve transformers,
which are much of the heart of the sound of Mr Rupert Neves classics. The EQ
section can be completely bypassed and the unit can be used as a very high
quality line driver utilizing these transformers, which can help to add sonic
sweetness to a source.
Low
Frequency and High Frequency Shelving Filters
For
opposite ends of the audio spectrum there are two separate shelving filters,
which are both engaged or disengaged using the same LED pushbutton. Each
shelving filter allows for a boost or cut of up to 12 db, providing steeply
rising or falling curve shapes. When these curves are boosted or cut
aggressively, they enable the second and even third harmonic to be varied in
relation to their fundamental, allowing the natural sound of a musical
instrument to be varied. When used less aggressively, one can attenuate bands
of frequencies above or below the turnover point to their desired levels.
These sections each provide EQ curves that approximate to 6 dB/ and give a true
Flat response when this section is engaged but not boosted or attenuated.
Low
Frequency (LF) Shelving Filter
Continuously
variable from 30Hz to 300 Hz, allowing for a wide range of applications, from
filtering out low rumbles caused by air conditioning units to taming an
instrument with too much low end or even adding a little bit of oomph to a
thin mix, proving to be an indispensable asset in the signal chain.
High
Frequency (HF) Shelving Filter
continuously
variable from 2.5 kHz to 25 kHz, giving this section of the EQ a valuable range
of operation. Whether you want to really bring out the presence and breath of
your vocals or simply add some air to your overall mix, the HF shelving
filter will give you that bit of sparkle youre looking for.
Mid Range
Parametric Filters
To cover
the crucial mid-range, the 5033 comes with three bands of parametric EQ, each
separately engaged and having a true flat response when each section is
engaged but not boosted or attenuated. Each section is capable of boosting or
attenuating up to 12 dB, and includes a variable Q control. Q controls
range from Q = 0.6 to Q = 3, allowing you to vary the bandwidth of the
attenuation or boost, whether a broad range of frequencies to gently give a sonic
section a slight boost or dip or using the filter with a very narrow range of
frequencies, acting almost as an audio chisel to hone in on certain offending
frequencies.
The Low Mid
Frequency (LMF)
Section is
variable from 50 Hz to 400 Hz. The Mid Frequency (MF) Section is variable from
330 Hz to 2.5 kHz. The High Mid Frequency (HMF) Section is variable from 2 kHz
to 16 kHz. Each section has been carefully designed to overlap neighboring
ranges, allowing for a very fine range of possible adjustments. 5033 user guide
DETAILED EQ
FREQUENCY POINTS
Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 Tech Specifications
DETAILED EQ
FREQUENCY POINTS
LMF
1st notch
not numbered - 65.1 Hz
2nd notch -
120.8 Hz
4th notch -
248.9 Hz
5th notch -
354.5 Hz
MF
1st notch
not numbered - 443.6 Hz
2nd notch -
693.9 Hz
4th notch -
1.481 kHz
5th notch -
2.225 kHz
HMF
1st notch
not numbered - 2.475 kHz
2nd - 4.748
kHz
4th - 9.612
kHz
5th -
13.545 kHz
The LF and
HF shelf frequencies are the 3 dB down points from the highest point of the
shelf:
LF
1st notch
not numbered - 68.4 Hz
2nd - 111.3
Hz
4th - 155.6
Hz
5th - 198
Hz
HF
1st notch
not numbered - 2.760 kHz
2nd - 3.240
kHz
4th - 5.6
kHz
5th - 10.9
kHz
TRIM
Provides
fine gain adjustment continuously over a range of +/- 12 dB.
ALL BYPASS
Push button
inserts or bypasses the entire EQ circuit
LF SECTION
Continuously
variable shelving filter with a frequency range of 30 Hz to 300 Hz;
continuously variable gain of +/- 12
LMF SECTION
Continuously
variable frequency range of 50 Hz to 400 Hz; continuously variable Q;
continuously variable gain of +/- 12; IN pushbutton inserts or bypasses LMF
Section
LMF IN
Inserts the
LMF Section into the circuit
MF SECTION
Continuously
variable frequency range of 330 Hz to 2500 Hz; continuously variable Q; continuously
variable gain of +/- 12; IN pushbutton inserts or bypasses LMF Section
MF IN
Inserts the
MF Section into the circuit
HMF SECTION
Continuously
variable frequency range of 5 kHz to 16 kHz; continuously variable Q;
continuously variable gain of +/- 12; IN pushbutton inserts or bypasses LMF
Section
HMF IN
Inserts the
HMF Section into the circuit
HF SECTION
Continuously
variable shelving with a frequency range of 2.5 kHz to 25 kHz; continuously
variable gain of +/- 12
HF & LF
IN
Inserts the
HF and LF Sections into the circuit
|
Rupert Neve Designs
5033 Review / See
All ZenPro Audio Reviews Here: Review Page
When it’s clean you want, coupled
with total control, the 5033 delivers. This is a serious “does not sound EQ’d”
sort of EQ in that it has a very natural sound to it and all the parameters of
adjustment you could want in a high end equalizer. A full 5 band design with
high and low shelves and 3 fully parametric midrange bands, each band is
switchable in and out of the circuit as well to achieve a highly coherent sound
at all times. It reaches from 30hZ to 25kHz and utilizes Rupert’s custom wound
transformers which deliver very low distortion and noise.
I can’t think of anything this EQ
can’t do except sound bad or obvious. It really is squeaky clean, no reason why
you could not use to track drums and then turn around and use as a 2 buss EQ
(grab a pair, it’s mono) while also delivering enough control for mastering use
(not a dedicated mastering EQ by any stretch and is completely variable so
recall isn’t easy, but sonically the 5033 could fit many a mastering situation
for project studio owners). You can flat out carve stuff up and get fairly
surgical, or widen those mid bands for gentle sculpting that never sounds
phase-y or obvious. Affects the frequency curve way more than the tone, which
remains clean and low distortion / noise.
Conclusion: When you want a do all
clean EQ that is completely variable up and down and can handle any chore you
have, the 5033 is a solid reach. The half rack mono format means grabbing a
pair is a lot of power to be had in a single rack space. It’s tweaky due to the
large range of control, but not as hard to dial in as other EQ’s.
|