Rupert Neve Designs 5024 Quad Mic Pre 4-Channel Microphone Preamp

Incorporating four channels of renowned preamplification, independent silk controls, two channels of DI inputs, and an M-S Decoder into a 1U enclosure, the 5024 is workhorse equipped to enhance the front end performance of any digital or analogue recording system. Each channel of the Portico 5024 is based around the custom transformers and class-A circuitry found in the 5012.

In addition to 72 dB of gain, the 5024's mic pres include individually selectable phase, mute, phantom power, a selectable frequency high pass filter, and the Silk circuit which yields the rich warmth and presence of the renowned classic designs. Channels 1 & 2 of the 5024 feature a high-Z input designed for instrument level sources. Channels 3 & 4 feature an M-S switch, which enables Mid-Side decoding without the use of multiple console channels.

The microphone input is balanced but not floating, being a variant of an instrumentation amplifer using a "Transformer-Like Amplifier" (T.L.A.) configuration with a toroidal Common Mode Rejection Low Pass Filter that excludes frequencies above 150 kHz. The T.L.A. is followed by an actual input transformer permitting a full +25 dBu input signal to be handled at unity gain without an input pad over the whole audio spectrum. This combines the advantages of both an "Electronically Balanced" and true transformer input. When the Phantom voltage is switched off, this input serves as a very high quality line input with an impedance of 10,000 ohms.

Much care was given in designing the 5012 to produce as little noise and non-harmonic distortion as possible. Carefully implemented signal paths and Class A operation are a large part of the 5012's sweet, whisper quiet performance.

The fine subtleties of circuit design relating to sonic performance are gradually becoming more clearly understood. For example, research has shown conclusively that frequencies above 20 kHz affect the way in which humans perceive sound quality. But, long before scientific evidence emerged a substantial body of musicians and engineers knew that equipment with apparently the same technical measurements could sound very different.

Incredibly small amounts of musically dissonant odd harmonics have a disastrous effect on the sound quality. Extraneous noise or interference that finds its way into a signal path seriously impairs performance of the whole chain.

Many control rooms make use of outboard gear that is not well protected from external signals. Poor grounding of such equipment can be a serious problem. "Electronically balanced" circuits much used in modern equipment, can give very good measurements on the test bench but they do not provide adequate rejection of the stray fields found in every working environment.

Input and output circuits must be freed from ground dependence so that only the "wanted" signal enters and leaves the processing path. Transformers are the ideal solution. The sweet and silky sound of my classic old favorite consoles was achieved with big transistors and large high quality transformers. Rupert Neve Designs Portico modules achieve similar quality today without the bulk or the cost.

In order that modules can work together as would be expected (i.e. in a proprietary console configuration) without producing hum, R.F. interference, or other interactions, the connecting interfaces, grounding, levels and impedances must receive careful attention. Each Portico module is a complete integral signal processor that delivers its specified performance independently. This is one of the reasons Rupert Neve Designs use transformers.

Much could be written about this feature, suffice to say, that it gives a subtle option to enhance sound quality in the direction of vintage modules. The Silk button reduces negative feedback and adjusts the frequency spectrum to provide a very sweet and musical performance. We suggest you try it and make your own judgment.

The M-S button engages Mid-Side decoding on channels 3 & 4. Channel 3 level controls the mid signal, and channel 4 level controls the side signal.

Instrument Inputs Balanced or unbalanced Hi-Z input for instruments using the Mic Pre's gain circuitry.

Level Meter -30 dBu to +22 dBu With reference to the output

Mute cuts of the output signal post metering and pre Buss Output. Be sure to mute the outputs before engaging phantom power.

The High pass filter is a valuable aid in any signal chain but particularly so in a microphone preamplifier. Signals below 30 or 90 Hz can be attenuated at 12dB / Octave, leaving the range above this unaffected. This gets rid of building rumble, air handling motor hum etc.

Phantom Power provides 48V phantom power to microphones

Phase Inverts flips the phase of an incoming source 180 degrees

Specifications:

• Frequency Response: Main Output, no load, –3 dB @ 2 Hz –3 dB @ 160 kHz
• Noise: Measured at Main Output, unweighted, 22Hz-22kHz, Terminated 150 Ohms. With gain at unity better than –92 dBu With gain at 66 dB better than –56 dBu Equivalent Input Noise better than –123 dBu
• Gain: Unity to +66dB in 6 dB steps, Trim continuously adjustable from –6dB to +6dB Line Input: Trim continuously adjustable from –6dB to +6dB
• Maximum Output Level: Maximum output from 20 Hz to 40 kHz is +25 dBu.
• Phantom Power: 48 Volts DC +/- 1%
• Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise: @ 1kHz, +20 dBu output: Better than 0.002% As above, Silk Engaged: Better than 0.2% Second Harmonic @ 20Hz, +20 dBu out Better than 0.004% @ 20Hz, +20 dBu out Better than 0.020% IM Distortion: Better than 0.002% Slew rate Better than 4 V/uS High Pass Filter: Frequency: Selectable either 30Hz or 90Hz Slope: 12 dB/Octave Bessel