Rupert Neve Portico 5043 - Compressor / Limiter Duo - Manual (Page 6)

DESCRIPTION
5
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Rupert Neve Designs 5043 module is a half rack width, 1.75" (1U) module in the now well-
known Portico™ style. The 5043 is ideal for both tracking and mixing applications with selectable
Mixing Buss or Line inputs. The 5043 is an ideal choice for either standalone operation, or forming
the core of a larger mixing system. As with the entire Portico™ range, the construction takes the
form of a heavy and robust steel shell providing total magnetic screening and exceptional
mechanical stability. The front panel is machined from a solid .2" aluminum plate with a steel sub
panel behind it.
Alternative front panel layouts are available providing a choice of vertical or horizontal mounting
for the 5043. When the horizontal front panel is chosen, a single 5043 can sit firmly on a bench or
desktop on its detachable rubber feet. Two 5043's can be joined with the optional 5221-RM
Horizontal Joining Kit, which can be mounted across a standard 19" rack.
When the vertical option is chosen, up to eight 5043's can be mounted in the optional 5285-RM
Rack-Mounting Frame that is equipped with guide rails. This leaves a 3" width that can be used to
house a power supply or other master modules. The 5285-RM Rack-Mounting Frame also includes
basic rear cable management, and optional blank panels are available to fill any unused spaces
when the full complement of eight modules is not fitted.
The Portico™ 5043 embodies two independent Compressor-Limiters, "A" and "B". They can be
used independently or connected in sequence to provide two separate control slopes. The D.C.
control circuits may be linked via a front panel push-button so that the level of each unit, "A" and
"B", may be held in a constant relationship for stereo operation. Rear panel connections are
provided to enable linking of multiple 5043s. The linking may also be extended to the former
AMEK CIB and DMCL units.
THE WAY THE 5043 WORKS
A part of the audio signal is rectified and smoothed to produce a suitable control voltage for the
V.C.A. which has to respond very quickly and have low distortion. If the response is too fast, low
frequency signals will themselves, be "gain controlled"! If the response is too slow, the signal will
overshoot and the first few cycles will not get compressed. The speed and accuracy of the response,
known as the "attack", and the time frame that gain remains under the initial control, known as
"release" or "recovery", play a large part in the way a compressor sounds.
The Portico™ 5043 makes use of a very accurate, low noise, low distortion V.C.A. having,
essentially, no "signature" of its own. This leaves the designer free to use amplifier and transformer
combinations that are well proven and produce the desired sonic quality.
All Portico™ modules use input and output transformers and almost entirely discrete component
amplifiers to produce the musical "signature" for which they are known. These are factors that
enable the Portico™ 5043 to work unobtrusively within the context of a very high quality audio
chain.