Rupert Neve Designs 5025 Dual Shelford Mic Preamp with 5254 Shelford Compressor Package

The 5025 Dual Shelford mic preamp with 5254 Shelford compressor package from Rupert Neve Designs provides two channels of world-class preamplification and compression for recording and live sound applications. Rupert Neve’s flagship mic preamp and compressor have been refined and advanced for today’s studio, offering the sonic excellence you’ve come to expect from a legend in pro audio design. Whether you’re tracking vocals, acoustic instruments, drums or more, this package allows you to capture and shape audio with stunning realism and depth.

Transformer-Based Mic Preamp

Like Rupert Neve’s classic designs, the 5025 employs a custom input transformer to provide the first 15dB of gain. This transformer, integrated with the surrounding Class-A circuitry, is key to the preamp’s characteristic bold and mid-focused tone heard on so many iconic recordings. While the preamp’s harmonic richness comes mostly from the output transformer and Class-A amplifiers, the input transformer also adds its own musical coloration, subtly enhancing lows and highs in a pleasing, non-linear way.

Silk and Texture Circuits Offer Tonal Versatility

The Silk circuit gives you control over the amount and type of harmonic content in the 5025’s output stage. Adjust the texture from transparent to a sound with nearly 10 times the color of Neve’s vintage modules. The Red and Blue modes provide two unique tonal flavors so you can dial in the perfect amount of silk for your needs. Use Texture control to fine-tune high frequencies for extra air and shimmer.

Diode Bridge Compression With Variable Timing

The 5254 Diode Bridge Compressor uses diode bridge compression to produce a wide range of colors. Its unified TIMING control has six selectable settings, allowing you to clamp down on more transient signals or allow more transients through with a longer recovery. The FAST mode also allows for an increase in speed compared to vintage units, providing significantly more tonal and operational versatility. Faster TIMING settings will generally lead to more harmonic content, translating into more color. Slower TIMING settings will reduce harmonic content for more transparent compression.

Take Complete Control of Your Dynamics

In addition to the TIMING control, the 5254 can be further manipulated by the RATIO, THRESHOLD, GAIN, S/C HPF, S/C INSERT and LINK controls. The RATIO control allows you to set the slope of the compressor curve. The THRESHOLD control lets you adjust the point at which compression begins. The GAIN control adds make-up gain. The S/C HPF reduces the compressor’s response to low frequencies. The SC INSERT is an always-active send and return to insert EQ into the sidechain. LINK connects the control voltage between the two channels.