Portico 5014: Stereo Field Editor now shipping

Rupert Neve Designs announces the launch of the Portico 5014 Stereo Field Editor, an all new approach to stereo that redefines the boundaries and limitations of traditional 2 channel recording and playback.

For mix, mastering, and live sound engineers, the Portico 5014 allows users to control stereo ambience with its width adjustment, position images forward or backward in the stereo field with its depth control and provides the ability to further manipulate source material with its difference channel eq and insert. Designed with the same half rack dimensions as the rest of the Portico range, available in horizontal or vertical formats, and utilizing Mr. Rupert Neve’s custom transformer designs, the 5014 is a new tool for creating dimension and life in the modern recording engineer’s palette. 

The remarkably sweet sounds that may be distilled from an ordinary digital signal with the 5014 are achieved entirely in the analogue domain using Rupert’s discrete component circuits that encompass level controls, phase inversion, and a sum and difference network with three key features to effect stereo sources. The first key feature of the 5014 is its width control, which enables the user to add to or reduce the width of a stereo image (wide/mono) and adjust the level of ambience inherent in the recording. For instance, a drum buss that needs to be tightened up can easily be run through with the width circuit towards mono, or a background vocal buss that is smothering a lead vocal can be opened up to let the center material breathe. 

The depth control of the 5014 adjusts the spatial positioning of elements in the sound stage. A lead instrument or vocal can be placed up front in a mix and supporting instruments can be pushed back and adjust the placement of elements on the sound stage. In many cases, a center panned vocalist can be placed forward in a mix or virtually eliminated without adversely affecting the music bed.

The difference channel insert and eq creates new opportunities to manipulate stereo signals. In mastering use, lead vocals can be brought up or down in a mix, excessively sibilant overheads can be controlled, and mixes that were once beyond repair can be saved. As a creative tool the difference channel insert in on the 5014 are only limited by the users creativity.

Owned exclusively by Rupert and Evelyn Neve, Rupert Neve Designs Inc. was founded on passion, experience and a desire to build products embodying the highest musical quality. In continuing his legacy as a pioneer in audio circuit design, Mr. Rupert Neve is currently focusing his talents on creating innovative analogue solutions to the issues facing the modern recording engineer.