Rupert Neve Designs 535 500 Series Compressor

The new Rupert Neve Designs 535 500 Series Diode Bridge Compressor offers the same sonic quality as the acclaimed 2254 compressor, but with expanded functionality for today's recording industry standards, all in the compact 500 series format.

FEATURES OF THE RUPERT NEVE DESIGNS 535

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.

WHY BUY THE RND 535 COMPRESSOR?

If you have a 500 Series rack that will link two units, engaging the LINK control will allow one 535 to control the parameters of a second 535. When both modules have the LINK switch engaged, the control voltage will be shared between them, so when one unit is triggered, it will trigger the other unit equally. This can often help maintain a center image in a stereo source. 

When using a bus compressor, be sure to check the unlinked sound as well, making sure the compression on one side isn’t crushing the dynamics of the entire mix. So don’t wait, order your Rupert Neve Designs 535 Diode Bridge Compressor here from Vintage King Audio!