RU5046

5046

Rupert Neve Designs

Combining a newly designed FET circuit with an optimized optical circuit, the Rupert Neve Design OptoFET is a versatile dual-stage, dual-band compressor and wave shaper. With Dual-Stage mode, you can use the FET and optical stages in series for complete dynamics control, while Dual-Band mode offers blending of high and low frequencies between circuits for flexible tone shaping.Each compressor circuit has completely independent controls. Attack, Release, Threshold, make-up gain, and blend controls for parallel processing. You also get 150 Hz side-chain high-pass filters on each compressor. Global input and output trim controls make gain staging easy. Grit mode on the FET circuit enables powerful wave shaping with ample high-frequency harmonic distortion, while Bloom on the optical circuit increases low-order harmonics for warmth and enhanced bass. The compressor provides an adjustable 50 to 500 Hz crossover section which can flip the order of the comp circuits in Dual-Stage mode or control the blending of circuits in Dual-Band mode. Each compressor section has an independent 8-stage LED gain-reduction meter. Finally, the unit provides an XLR-1/4" combo input jack and an XLR output jack, and you can combine two units together for a true stereo link that enables either stereo or dual-mono processing.All-New FET Compressor Design While this FET compressor has some familiar characteristics, including ultrafast attack times and common ratio settings, there are also several features that make it instantly feel like a Rupert Neve Designs product and nothing else. All variable controls for the OptoFET are via high-quality, 31-detent potentiometers, standard to most current Neve products. The FET compressor includes variable Attack (with the fastest time being a blazing 100 microseconds), Release, Threshold, +20 dB of make-up Gain, and a parallel Blend control from 0% (dry) to 100% (wet).Ratio can be set to either 4:1 or 8:1 and the 125 Hz S/C high-pass filter can be toggled on to leave the low end of a source untouched. To further expand the OptoFET s creative capabilities, a unique new Grit mode transforms the FET compressor into a powerful wave shaper, introducing ample harmonic distortion focused in the upper frequency range. Grit can be used to either slightly accentuate sources, so they pop in just the right way or transform them into something entirely new. Grit is also especially useful when combined with the blend control to achieve an exacting amount of distortion character for a wide range of sources.Optimized Optical Compressor Design The circuit in the OptoFET was developed to be the ideal complement to the faster, high-frequency focused FET compressor. In contrast, the Opto compressor generates low-order harmonics while also having much slower attack and release settings. For controls, the OPTO compressor includes variable Attack (starting at 5ms), Release, Threshold, +20 dB of make-up gain, and parallel Blend controls, arranged in the same way on the front panel as the FET section.Ratio can be set to either 2:1 or 5:1, and it also includes a 125 Hz S/C high-pass filter. Where the FET section has its new Grit mode, the Opto section contains another unique new mode called Bloom. With Bloom engaged, the low-order harmonics increase significantly, instantly making sources warmer, rounder and more pronounced in the low end. Bloom can help make final adjustments without the use of a traditional EQ, especially when used with the Blend control.Dual Stage or Dual Band Some of the OptoFET s most unique and powerful features lie in the global control section:The serial order of the 2 compressors can be flipped while in Dual-Stage mode.The OptoFET can also become a Dual-Band compressor by simply pressing the X-Over In button, which engages the Crossover filters and the corresponding Crossover variable frequency control.With this mode engaged, each compressor is assigned to either the low- or high-frequency band, allowing for independ