Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5042 Tape Emulator

Award-winning tape saturation emulation with genuine tape drive circuitry.




The Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5042 Tape
Emulator won the 2006 TEC award for signal processing hardware. The Neve
5042 provides a remarkable simulation of true tape sound through the
inclusion of genuine tape drive circuitry. When the Tape circuit is not
engaged, the Portico 5042 Tape Emulator may be used as a full,
transformer-coupled, high-performance line amplifier that includes a
gain range of + and -12dB.

The Portico 5042 2-Channel "True
Tape" Emulation and Line Driver unit's emulation circuit provides the
nostalgic rounding and compression usually only achieved by the use of
recording tape. This typically offsets the harshness often found in
digital recordings. The Portico 5042 incorporates an actual tape drive
circuit that feeds a tiny magnetic "head" which, in turn, is coupled to a
correctly equalized, replay amplifier. The only thing missing is the
tape itself!


Portico Series Awards:
Rupert
Neve Designs has been honored three TEC Awards since its inception in
2005. The Portico 5042 "True Tape" Emulator won for achievement in the
category of Signal Processing Technology/Hardware. The Portico 5015 Mic
Pre/Compressor (#482645) won for achievement in the category of Mic
Preamplifier Technology. The 5088 Discrete Analogue Mixer won for
achievement in the category of Large Format Console Technology.

Rupert Neve Designs received the Mix Certified Hit Award in 2006 for the 5088 Console and the Portico Range.

Rupert Neve Designs received the Future Music Platinum Award for the Portico Range in 2007.


How it works:
The
Portico 5042 Tape Emulator consists of two identical line driving
amplifiers having transformer balanced inputs and outputs. The sonic
quality of these amplifiers is such that, by providing galvanic
isolation, simple single-sided circuit topology and freedom from
grounding problems they are capable of enhancing the sonic quality of
many signal sources, especially those of digital origin. The sonic
"signature" is one of extreme purity and the image is consistent with
that of Rupert Neve's original designs of 35-40 years ago.

The
Portico 5042 host line amplifier has a much higher output level
capability than the "tape" circuit embodied within it. The gain of the
Record and Replay amplifiers has been adjusted so that with the TRIM
control set to 0 dBu, and the ENGAGE TAPE button out, an incoming signal
of 0 dBu, will cause the first meter LED to illuminate.

Now,
with the Engage Tape button pressed and the Saturation control at Min,
the same first meter LED will continue to light regardless of whether
the meter button is set to Input Level or Tape Level. This is the
minimum recommended record level. When the Saturation control is rotated
to Max, this is the maximum recommended record level.

An input
signal level that is appreciably below 0dBu (the 0 dB LED on the meter
not lighting at all), for example, if you are feeding the Portico 5042
from a consumer hi-fi source, the tape effect still works but you might
have to make up gain elsewhere in your system. Of course this would tend
to bring up noise, just as it would on a real tape recorder.

If
the incoming signal is low, (for example from a consumer hi-fi source),
it is recommended that you rotate the Trim control clockwise to bring
the incoming signal level up to the point where the first, or Line Up
LED is just illuminated. However, with the meter switched to Tape Level,
when you rotate the Saturation control clockwise the Tape Level meter
progressively illuminates. At Max, with an incoming 0dBu signal, the
Tape circuit is running just below clipping point.

Main Outputs
The
main output signals come from the output transformer secondary which is
balanced and ground free. A ground-free connection ensures virtual
freedom from hum and radio frequency interference due to ground loops.
Ideally the output of this module should be fed to a balanced
destination such as the input to another Portico module or one of the
many high quality vintage modules still in current use. The main outputs
may be used with one leg grounded without any change in performance.

Maximum
output level of the Portico 5042 is +25dBu, which provides a large
margin over and above the likely maximum requirement of any destination
equipment to which the Portico 5042 is connected.

Rackmounting Porticos:
If
you'd like to rackmount a single Portico, Neve offers the Half Rack
Joining Kit (see #482654). Or to rackmount two Portico units, Neve
offers its Horizontal Joining Kit (see #482653). Another option for
mounting single half rack units is the Raxxess Universal Rack Shelf (see
#421642).


Mr. Rupert Neve — the grandfather of pro audio

If
anyone could be considered for the title, "Grandfather of Pro Audio,"
the first name that would leap to mind would be Mr. Rupert Neve.
Recognized as the developer of the modern mixing console, Rupert's handiwork is found in thousands of studios around the world.

In
1997, Rupert became one of a very few personal recipients of a
Technical Grammy award. In awarding his Grammy, the Recording Academy
acknowledged Rupert's profound impact on the industry:

Mr. Rupert Neve Grammy Honors

"For setting the standard for quality sound reproduction through his
engineering and his innovative designs, which have made possible
unparalleled advances in the quality of recorded sound; in recognition
of his influence on a generation of audio designers; and for his
dedication to purity of audio reproduction."

The morning
following the amazing Grammy Awards ceremony in February 1997, Rupert
and Evelyn Neve hired a stretch limo to take them to the airport. After
all, for that day at least, Rupert was a star. Carrying the coveted
Grammy Trophy in its distinctive blue Tiffany bag, they headed for
security.

"What is this?" the security guard asked, puzzled by
the strange image on her screen. "It's our Grammy," Rupert replied. The
girl looked startled and in hushed tones said, "I'm so sorry sir. You'll
have to check this. We can't carry ashes in the cabin."

"No, no,
no," Rupert explained. "My Grammy - not Granny. Have a look if you
like." She opened it up and for a moment security at the airport came to
a standstill as girls screamed and all gazed in awe at the beautiful
replica gramophone. It was almost the best moment of the whole
proceeding.

Mix Magazine Hall of Fame

In
1989, Rupert was inducted into the Mix Magazine Tech Awards Hall of Fame
in recognition of his lifetime contribution to excellence in recording
and sound.

An Elite Fraternity

In 1999 he was honored as "Man of the Century" by Studio Sound magazine.

It
is Rupert's prized honor to have been selected by his peers in the Pro
Audio business as number one Audio Personality of the 20th Century.

At
the turn of the century, Studio Sound conducted a survey inviting
readers to vote for the Top Ten personalities of the industry in various
disciplines. The first was Audio Personality.

The Audio Century: Top Ten Audio Personalities of the 20th Century

1. Rupert Neve - champion of audio quality
2. Ray Dolby - household name
3. Sir George Martin - people's producer
4. Willi Studer - tape machine pioneer
5. Colin Saunders - founder of SSL
6. Alan Blumlein — inventor
7. Georg Neumann - microphone designer
8. Michael Gerzon - mathematician
9. Valdemar Poulsen — inventor
10. Les Paul - guitars and multitracks



Features

Dual channel tape simulation effects module
Winner of the 2006 Tec Award For Signal Processing Hardware
Genuine tape drive Circuitry for simulation of true tape sound
Analogue operation
Intended for recording, mixing and mastering Applications
Compact half-rack design
Heavy duty construction




Take the edge off your digital recording with the roundness of tape
saturation. Order the Portico 5042 Tape Emulator — the only thing
missing is the tape itself!




Portico 5042 Tape Emulator Specifications:

Line Amp Specifications (Measurements with tape circuit disengaged)
Noise: Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 400 Hz-22 kHz, Terminated 40 Ohms Balanced.
With Gain at Unity: Better than —100 dBu.
Frequency Response: Measured at +10dBu, trim at unity.
Main Output:
@ 10 Hz: —0.50 dB
@ 160 kHz: —3 dB
Maximum Output Level: Balanced and Floating Transformer Output: +25 dBu.
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise:
@ 1kHz, +20 dBu output level, no load: Better than 0.0015%.
@ 20Hz, +20 dBu output level, no load: 0.250% typical. Mostly 2nd and 3rd Harmonic
Crosstalk: Measured Channel to Channel: Better than —90 dB @ 16kHz
Buss Output:
Output
is designed to feed the RND 5014 Buss-mixer, Monitor Amplifier at the
internal system level of —2.5 dBu. Output level of the Rupert Neve
Designs 5014 is then equal to that of the 5042.
Tape FX Specifications
(Measurements with tape circuit engaged)
Maximum Output Level:
Gain trim at Unity, Saturation at Min: +25 dBu
Gain trim at Unity, Saturation at Max: +6 dBu
Noise:
Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 400Hz-22kHz, input terminated 40 Ohms Balanced
With Gain at Unity, Saturation control at Min: Better than —70 dBu
With Gain at Unity, Saturation control at Max: Better than —90 dBu
Frequency Response:
Tape engaged, 7.5 IPS -3 dB @ 16 kHz
Tape engaged, 15 IPS -3 dB @ 20 kHz
Low frequency response varies with input gain and saturation settings.
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise:
Tape Engaged: Approximately 1-2% 2nd and 3rd Harmonic below 1 kHz
Crosstalk: Measured Channel-to-Channel, Maximum Saturation - Better than —80 dB @ 16kHz








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