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Rupert Neve Designs 511 500 Series Microphone Preamp

500 Series Preamp with Sweepable Highpass Filter
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Item ID: 511
Rupert Neve Designs 511 500 Series Microphone Preamp
Rupert Neve Designs 511 500 Series Microphone Preamp

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Rupert Neve Designs 511 500 Series Microphone Preamp
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The 5017 Sound in a Lunchbox

Rupert Neve Designs is expanding their 500 Series lineup with the 511 microphone preamp. The 511 combines the pristine sound of their acclaimed 5017 preamp, the sweepable highpass filter from their 5012, and the tone-packed Silk/Texture circuit from their Portico II. We're sure the 511 is going to be a workhorse preamp that would suit any studio.

Related Videos: 511 500 Series Microphone Preamp

Rupert Neve Designs 511 Microphone Preamp at a Glance:
  • Preamp circuitry from the 5017 preamp
  • Versatile tone shaping provided by the Silk/Texture circuit
  • Sweepable highpass filter circuit from the 5012 preamplifier
Preamp circuitry from the 5017 preamp

If you're a recording engineer you understand what we mean when we say this preamp gives you the Neve sound. With a preamp section taken from Rupert Neve Designs's acclaimed 5017 mic preamp, you get an amazing sounding signal path with that signature sound. Many products claim to have some lineage to Rupert Neve, but this preamplifier was actually designed by the man himself.

Versatile tone shaping provided by the Silk/Texture circuit

If the vintage Neve sound is what you're after, look no further. Rupert Neve Designs added their Silk tone shaping to the 511 preamp to dial in a warmer vintage sound. With its variable control you can get anything from warm round sounds to more modern crystal clear performance and everything in-between.

Sweepable highpass filter circuit from the 5012 preamplifier

Even with the compact 500 series design you get even more control of your sound with the 511's sweepable highpass filter taken from their 5012. You can remove the rumble and low-end that can muddy up your signal, and do it with surgical precision.

Rupert Neve Designs 511 Microphone Preamp Features:
  • Sonically flexible microphone preamplifier in 500 Series format
  • High-quality mic preamp taken from the 5017
  • Silk control gives you vintage to modern sounds
  • Tailor your low-end with a sweepable highpass filter
  • Compact and convenient 500 series design
Excellent sound quality and flexibility makes the 511 a great preamp for any project!

Resources

500 Series Buying Guide
Signal Processing Buying Guide
Best Preamps for Snare Drum
Jul 17, 2017
Article thumbnail
Hands On: Rupert Neve Designs 500 Series
Apr 15, 2013

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Frequency Response: 22Hz-22kHz
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Polarity Switch: Yes
  • EQ: Variable Highpass Filter, Silk/Texture Control
  • Module Slot Size: Single
  • Power Usage: ±16V DC
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 511

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Reviews

4.7

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Blows my mind!
I have been buying 500 series modules left and right. This module surpassed my expectations and blows my other modules out of the water. The silk (saturation) knob adds a lot of character and helps place things in the mix perfectly. I mostly use it for my vocal chain. I run the AKG 214 into the Neve 511 into the DBX 560a into the DBX de-esser. Not only does the mic sound good in the headphones for the artist that is recording but the song sounds great before I engage in actual mixing.

I plan on buying another one to have a stereo pair for my acoustic guitar mic'ed in stereo and my synthesizer that really strives in stereo.

Cheers!
by Kyle Rusk from Dallas, TX on
Music background: Audio Engineer, Artist and Musician.
An easy choice to make
I picked a 511 pre last year and just did a repeat. The quality built into it is evident as soon as you unbox and inspect. The silk setting gives you that vintage Neve sound if you want it, or you can dial it off for crystal clean detailed sound sources. Loving it on bass and guitar but amazing for vocals as well. An easy choice to make.
by Ron Flack from Canton Ohio on
Music background: Engineer, studio owner
Smooth as
Silk is the knob on the bottom which allow more signal to be channeled through the output transformer w/ more of that familiar Rupert Neve saturation. So good.
by Ron Flack from Sunny Canton Ohio on
Music background: Keys, Engineering
Almost Perfect
I have a Shelford Channel but can't use it with my Townsend Sphere because the Sphere requires two microphone preamps. I didn't won't to spend an extra $4000 for another Shelford.

A friend of mine has a pair of 511s and let me test it out for about one hour to record vocals with my Sphere. After that, I was sold and ordered two 511s the next day.

These are amazing for recording vocals with the Sphere. The sound reminds me of an Elam 251, a microphone that cost close to $11,000.

After my 511s came in, I re recorded hip hop vocals that I recorded with the UAD 1073 Unison Preamp. No comparison whatsoever. I cannot go back to the UAD Unison Preamps.

The vocal quality I get with the 511s is on par with my Shelford Channel. After tracking vocals, I convert the main vocal and hook vocal to mono and mix em with my Shelford. Pure Golden.

But…….The 511s are ALMOST PERFECT. My only complaint is this. No BLUE SILK, only Red and I don't like that. For the price of the 511s, the engineers should have added the Blue Silk Feature.

My only regret. I should have gotten a pair of 511s years ago.
by DSPOET1 on
Music background: Spoken Word & HIp Hop
A modern classic
These preamps are fantastic. Similar forwardness of an API 312 but smoother on the top end, which you can dial up using silk. You have to try tracking drums with these, at least snare and toms. Have used them as a utility preamp and it truly sounds good no matter what you are putting into it.

This paired with a quality mic or great DI will give you a truly useful preamp.
by NS on
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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?
Mitch Gallagher
Watching the studio-gear paradigm progress has been interesting. Years ago, of course, everything was analog. Then the digital era hit, and many of us switched to completely in-the-box systems for the advantages they provided. But these days, many studios (including mine) are switching to a hybrid approach - using the best of both digital and analog. A big part of the growing popularity of the hybrid approach has been the rise of the API 500 Series format, which condenses pro studio gear into compact modules that can be loaded into a rackmount or portable chassis. Rupert Neve Designs recently released a family of modules, including two brand-new pieces that were first shown at the 2013 Winter NAMM show. I was able to load up all four into a chassis and take them for a spin. There are two preamps: the 517, which combines an RND preamp with an opto compressor and RND's signature Silk control, and the brand-new 511, which is a preamp with Silk and a variable highpass filter. The 517 actually has two paths, mic and DI, which can be blended. Both modules sound phenomenal, with a full but open tone. The Silk control allows you to shape the tone, adding a subtly smooth texture. The 543 is RND's mono VCA compressor. It offers full control over all parameters, plus a choice of RMS or peak detection, feed-forward or feedback operation, and the ability to sidechain with or without a highpass filter in the path. I found it to be transparent, with just a touch of added "polish" - the tracks I ran through it sounded subtly enhanced in that beautiful Neve fashion. Also brand-new is the 542. This tape emulator module can do great things to your audio, adding beef and rounding out harshness while adding desirable harmonic content. You get a saturation control, a blend control for mixing in the effect, and the choice of 15ips or 30ips tape-speed simulation - as well as the ability to add Silk to the signal. Here's my favorite setting: 30ips, fairly heavy saturation, the blend set to around 50%, and a good amount of the "blue" texture setting. It's analog heaven! Rupert Neve has really hit the mark with these modules. All the Portico sound is there, with plenty of control and powerful sound-shaping options, but in the compact, affordable 500 Series format. Outstanding!
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See also: 500 Series Pre, Rupert Neve Designs, Rupert Neve Designs 500 Series Preamps