Mega Rupert Neve Designs Demo With New 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor And Master Buss Converter

Rupert Neve Designs is celebrating its 15th year in pro audio by dropping a few new releases that will have engineers salivating. Earlier this month, the Texas-based brand announced its Master Buss Converter and we're excited to say that today brings us the launch of the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor. Before we get into our demo video that includes both pieces of gear, let's talk a little about what's going on with this new equipment.

Let's start first with the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor. Rupert Neve got his start making diode bridge compressors in the early 1970s and these designs have become known for bringing warmth and acting as the glue on mixes. The only issue when using a diode bridge compressor in the modern studio is that the controls can be slightly limiting (pun not intended). Not the case anymore, thanks to Rupert!

For the 5254, Rupert has brought the dynamics circuit of the Shelford Channel into a 1U rackmount unit with two on-board compressors. Whether an engineer is using the 5254 for dual mono or stereo compression, they will be able to really fine-tune their sound for each channel with Threshold, Gain, Blend, Ratio, HPF, and Timing knobs. Now it's possible to get that punchy diode bridge compressor sound and utilize it exactly how you want to.

With industry leaders like Pete Lyman adopting the RMP-D8 Dante mic pre as their converter of choice, Rupert Neve Designs set out to create a standalone A/D converter and came up with the Master Buss Converter. The MBC offers 24-bit/192 kHz reference conversion with the option to utilize one of two analog drive paths; a Class A transformerless path for transparency and a transformer-coupled path that adds weight and punch.

We could talk specs all-day about this new gear from Rupert Neve Designs, but we thought it best to demonstrate how it sounds in a demo video. Detroit-based country-rockers Teddy Roberts and the Mouths came into the Vintage King studio and we cut a version of their song, "The City," using the 5254, MBC, and the rest of the gear on the list below.

Studio Notes For Rupert Neve Designs 5254 and MBC Demo

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5024 Four-Channel Mic Preamp
Kick (Ch. 1): Shure BETA 91A
Snare (Ch. 2): Shure SM-57 (Silk Mode Engaged)
Overhead I (Ch. 3):  Coles 4038 (Silk Mode Engaged)
Overhead II (Ch. 4): Coles 4038 (Silk Mode Engaged)

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 511 Mic Preamp
Room Mic: Neumann U87 Ai (Silk Mode Engaged)
Electric Guitar: Sennheiser MD 421 II on Fender Bassman 100 (Silk Mode Engaged)

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 517 Mic Preamp
Bass: DI (Slight Compression, Silk Mode Engaged)
Pedal Steel: Royer Labs R-121 on Roland Jazz Chorus JC-40
Vocals: Neumann U87 Ai (Slight Compression)

Continue on to watch our video demo of the Rupert Neve Designs 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor and Master Buss Converter. In addition to the video, you'll find a playlist featuring several versions of the demo track, including a raw print, a version with the 5254, and a version with the 5254 and MBC. 

 

If you have questions about the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor or Master Buss Converter from Rupert Neve Designs, we're here to help! Please contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.