A Neve Module for Your 500 Series Rig
The first 500 series module designed by Rupert Neve, the 517 microphone preamplifier/compressor, brings fantastic sound quality and tone shaping capability to your 500 series rack. True to the lofty standards of Rupert Neve Designs, the 517 boasts transformer-coupled circuitry for untainted sound and an incredibly versatile feature set. The 517's preamp section, which is based closely on the full-sized 5017 design, sports 66dB of gain and an interdependent direct input with 30dB of gain. The mic preamp includes phantom power and phase reverse, and the instrument input includes a ground-lift switch and instrument thru function.
Related Videos: 517 500 Series Microphone Preamp & Compressor
One of the things that separates the 517 from other 500 series modules (and preamp in general) is its capability to blend both microphone preamplifier and the direct input together, giving you the option of combining, for example, the sound of a bass cabinet with the direct bass signal as you track. To go with this function, the 517 also features Neve's Vari-Phase control, which allows you to adjust the relative phase between the preamp and DI. When used with just the preamp or DI, this same Vari-Phase function allows you to continuously adjust the phase of your signal, an option which gives you considerably more control over how the tone balances in the mix compared to only a standard phase switch.
The compressor section of the 517 is equally as refined at the preamp section. This compressor uses a genuine LDR (light dependent resister) to achieve true opto compressor smoothness. In the tradition of many of the most heralded opto compressors, the 517's compressor section has a fixed attack, release, and 2:1 ratio, allowing you to dial in the degree of compression with a single threshold control. Finally, the 517 also features Neve's famous Silk function, which subtly enhances the signal by reducing negative feedback and shifting the 517's frequency response slightly. If you're unfamiliar with this effects, it's incredibly sweet and musical.
Rupert Neve Designs 517 Preamp/Compressor 500 Series Module Features at a Glance:- 500 series format for compatibility with API and other 500 series racks
- Microphone preamplifier with 0-66dB of gain with switchable 48V phantom power and phase reverse
- Direct instrument input with 0-30dB of gain (balanced or unbalanced operation)
- Blend control allows you to blend the mic pre and the DI signal together
- Vari-phase continuously adjusts the phase of the direct signal only
- Silk function for enhanced sound
- Opto compressor section with contiguously variable threshold control (2:1 ratio, attack, and release are fixed)
- LEDs for signal presence, clipping, and compression indicators
- Frequency Response: Main Output, no load, -0.2dB at 10Hz -3dB at 160kHz
- Noise: Measured at Main Output, unweighted, 22Hz-22kHz, Terminated 150 Ohms. With gain at unity better than -100dBu With gain at 66dB better than -62 dBu Equivalent Input Noise better than -128dBu Noise Factor 1.5dB
- Maximum Output Level: Maximum output from 20Hz-40kHz is +23 dBu
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: at 1kHz, +20 dBu output: Main Output: Better than 0.001% at 20Hz, +20 dBu output: Main Output: Better than 0.002% Silk Engaged: Better than 0.2% Second harmonic
- Crosstalk: Measured channel to channel: Better than -90dB at 15kHz
- Phantom Power: +48 Volts DC +/-1%
