Rupert Neve Designs 535 500 Series Diode Bridge Compressor

Originally developed for the dynamics circuit of the acclaimed Shelford Channel, the Rupert Neve Designs 535 500 Series diode bridge compressor captures the soul of Rupert Neve’s original 2254 compressor while providing modern updates including advanced timing control, significantly lower noise, fully stepped controls throughout, and internal parallel processing capabilities.

WHAT IS DIODE BRIDGE COMPRESSION?

Where the VCA compressor found in the Master Buss Processor provides unmatched clarity, the weighty, harmonically rich tonality of diode bridge compression can be essential in pushing key sources like vocals, electric guitars, bass and drums to the forefront of a mix. By understanding the limitations of vintage units like the legendary 2254, painstaking effort was taken to reproduce the unique tone of these classics while improving the noise floor and accuracy, expanding inflexible time constants, adding full wave sidechain detection for improved dynamic response, and widening the range of threshold and ratio controls. Delivering the powerful sound of these iconic designs with enhanced flexibility for the modern age, the 535 Diode Bridge Compressor is a dynamic tool equipped to make a bold statement on virtually any mix or track.

EXPANDED FEATURE SET

The extra features include a reduced noise floor, expanded headroom, ratios from 1.5:1 to 8:1, six variable time constants, full stepped controls throughout, blend control to apply parallel compression within the unit, a widening the range of threshold and ratio controls, and a side chain high-pass filter.

The unified time control consists of six selectable settings, carefully chosen for different applications. This is a major departure from the fixed attack of the 2254. Fast and MF are for more transient applications such as drums, plucked acoustic guitars or fast dynamic vocals. MED and MS have slightly slower attacks which allow for transients to pass through while having a longer recovery time. SLOW and AUTO are both significantly slower and are meant to be used for a smooth level control.

By engaging the RND FAST mode, all of the attack and release times will increase per setting, ultimately taking the available time constants with the FAST switch from six to twelve. In addition, the two LED meters on the 535 provide highly accurate representations for both the output level of the compressor and the overall amount of gain reduction being applied by the input signal.

By using the Blend control, you can apply just the right amount of extreme compression into the audio path, allowing a single 535 to apply parallel processing. A great way to create an enhanced yet natural sound which remains the dynamics intact but adds color and punch to any source.

The Gain control has 31 detents and helps the user add make-up gain to the overall compressed signal to bring up its level with the uncompressed input signal. It is easy to evaluate the tonal effect of the RND 535 compressor (via the COMP IN switch) when the final compressed output level is matched by the uncompressed input level, which eliminates potential level differences.

The sidechain high-pass filter can allow lower frequencies to pass through the compressor, which can often make for a mushy or cloudy sound. The filter is set to 150 Hz, allowing you to focus on the more key frequencies of a pro audio vocal, acoustic instrument or overhead microphones on a drum kit.

RUPERT NEVE DESIGINS 535 FEATURES:

• Single-channel 500 Series diode compressor based Rupert Neve’s original 2254 compressor
• Reduced noise floor, expanded headroom, ratios from 1.5:1 to 8:1, six variable time constants, full stepped controls throughout
• RND FAST mode increases all of the attack and release times per setting
• Blend control allows you to apply just the right amount of extreme compression
• Sidechain high-pass filter allows lower frequencies to pass through the compressor