John Kurlander Fairlight EVO - Audio Media

power an additional module. Whilstthe rear of each module is slightlydifferent, all have XLR I/O. The Porticorange also has a buss I/O. These aredesigned for use with other Porticomodules with a matching mix or bussinput, so a simple TRS patch cord canbe used if you add an EQ module to amic pre, for example.As each model has the same mic pre,let’s firstly have a look at the differencebetween the modules:5032 (EQ)The 5032 is a mic pre with a three-band EQ,including a low and high shelf with a boost or cut15dB. The high has a switchable curve of eight to16kHz, also a parametric with EQ and frequencycontrol from 80hZ- 8KHz using a x10 frequencymultiplier to cover the ranges of 80-800 and800- 8kHz respectively, and again a boost andcut of 15dB. Of course in true RND style, it is verymusical in its sound and operation. By that, I meansmooth but powerful EQ tools that can sharpenand enhance a natural sound.5015 (Compressor)The 5015 has the addition of a compressor,interestingly with its own separate I/O. Itsdesign uses a low noise, low distortion VCA-typeto produce a colourless character in its sound.Fully variable threshold, ratio, attack, release, andmake up gain controls are well laid out, and aneight-segment LED meter shows gain reduction. Aneat feature is the addition of a Feed Forward (FF)or Feed Back (FB) VCA control: FF means the VCAcontrol voltage is taken from the 5015 input beforethe VCA, whereas FB takes its control voltage fromthe 5015 output, hence ‘feedback’. This was howRupert Neve’s earlier designs were built, having aless accurate but more musical character, so if youwant to protect your levels from a dynamic sourceyou can use the fast switching FF, or get creativewith the more musical FB to enhance somethingsmoother. There is also a sidechain link to enable stereocontrol or ducking with anothermatching Portico Module.rupert neve designs portico seriesThe Portico 5032.5012 (Dual Mic Pre)The 5012 is simply a twin mic preamp with separate buss sends.The mic pre is identical on eachmodule. There is a large red micgain stepped switch from 0 to66dB of gain in 6dB separations,together with a fully variabletrim control of +/-6dB, perfectfor riding the input gain whenrecording extra dynamic material. A high-passfilter green backlit push-in switch delivers a 12dBper octave filter with a variable rotary controlcovering 20-250Hz. Other backlit switches arethe +48v phantom power, a phase invert, mute, abuss/compressor send, and the SILK switch (seebelow), whilst there is a tiny eight LED segmentmeter showing the output level. All of themodules employ the use of a Class A operation,which basically means it’s the best circuit designfor sonic detail and low noise.Lastly in all of the modules, there is a kind ofspecial boost button that RND has called ‘Silk’.Its function is described as, “reducing negativefeedback and adjusting the frequency spectrumto provide a very sweet musical performance”.A bit like a vintage sound switch, then.In UseSo for those that have read the opening paragraphand skipped the specs (I of course never do that),and just want to know how it sounds… Well, inshort, ‘bloody marvellous’. As a mic pre, you justcan’t go wrong. The transformer design has beenevolving for years in Rupert Neve’s brain, and hispursuit of sonic excellence is clear if you ever getthe chance to hear the man speak (there are someinteresting AES audio snippets of him on the RNDwebsite for those interested). Use on vocal andguitar was very clear and sharp, and althoughunfortunately I didn’t have a Neve classic micamp to compare, from memory I would say it wasless coloured in its character. I suspect this is whythere is the addition of the ‘Silk’ button, whichproduces a very contrasting change in the sound,with a smoother top end whilst more low midbecomes present on the recording. I couldn’t helpmyself but leave it in most times, however it does…move it away from the clarity of the source sound,which the amp seems to capture in supremedetail. I tried a variety of quality mics to see whatdifference it could possibly make over an averagequalityDAW interface with built-in mic amps, andwas amazed to see just howmuch it did. The level and qualityit seemed to draw out of eachmic was so much better.The addition of EQ in the 5032is a great choice and much likethe original Neve1073 mic Pre/EQ. As I mentioned in the detailsection, the EQ is smooth andmusical as you would expectfrom RND, and if you’re goingto EQ when recording, this is thekind of sound sculpturing to use.The 5015 with compression canbe a very useful one, especiallyas it can be used separately in a multi-moduleset-up. The VCA operation switch ‘FF’ or ‘FB’ givesyou a choice of two compression modes, and is alovely choice when recording vocals. I rarely EQ orcompress when I record, so dual channel wouldbe my choice. However, having the compressoris handy for those live recordings or places whenyour recording headroom might be compromised,after all there isn’t an undo for a clipped signal!Plus if I had a rack of the 5032 with EQ, that wouldbe perfect for a multi-mic drum recording.I couldn’t really find any faults with themodules. Some might ask for a Digi output, ora dedicated DI, or a full rack, but there are otherPortico modules that can do these. I like thesemodules; they are the Neve classics of today. ....................................INFORMATION Portico 5012 – GB£1,126.09 (exc. VAT)Portico 5032 – GB£1,213.04 (exc. VAT)Portico 5015 – GB£1,213.04 (exc. VAT) Rupert Neve Designs, Inc. PO Box 1969,Wimberley, TX 78676, USA +1 512 847 3013 +1 512 847 8869 www.rupertneve.com info@rupertneve.com UK Distributor: Sonic Distribution Ltd., Unit 23Westbury Close, Townsend Industrial Estate,Houghton Regis, LU5 5BL +44 (0) 845 500 2500 www.sonic-distribution.com/ukAUDIO MEDIA APRIL 201051