Rupert Neve Designs 542 Tape Emulator
Overview
The ultimate "color box".
The Neve 542 delivers a wide variety of elusive analog tones by incorporating a carefully crafted tape emulation circuit, complete with a soft-clipper that can tame the harshest sources, our unique Silk circuit with variable Texture control, and a Blend control to finalize exacting amounts of saturation.
TAPE EFFECT IN
Illuminated push-button switch that engages our 'tape' emulation circuit, which includes controls for saturation, blend and 15 / 30 IPS filter curves.
TRIM
Provides +/- 12dB adjustment of level on incoming signal levels, prior to the tape circuit.
SATURATION
Continuously variable control of the level being sent to the 'tape effect' circuit. Increasing Saturation levels drives the 'record' gain while simultaneously reducing the 'replay' gain so the overall output signal level remains consistent. The output signal level will decrease slightly as the MAX setting is approached due to the extreme saturation and soft clipping.
Saturation also controls a low frequency compensation circuit that boosts low frequencies a little more at lower saturation levels and tapers off at higher levels. This function can be useful searching for a balance between a cleaner, boosted low end (low saturation) and a denser, more saturated low end (high saturation).
15/30 IPS
Push-button switch that toggles between 2 different frequency responses commonly found at 15 or 30 IPS tape machine speeds. The 15 IPS mode has a significant "head bump" in the low frequencies… read more
BLEND
Continuously variable control of the mix of pre and post tape effect signals. This allows for precise control over the amount of saturation, tone and soft clipping produced. As the signal gets more saturated, reducing the blend can be an effective way to impart the sound of 'tape' while maintaining detail and transparency. NOTE: The blend control does not affect the amount of Silk Texture applied.
SOFT CLIP
The soft clip circuit engages when the drive meter hits 5 (first yellow LED) and becomes more apparent at higher levels. The soft clip can be used to tame sharp transient material like drums and can be further controlled by using the blend control.
SILK / TEXTURE
Illuminated push-button switch that toggles through the three available SILK modes: OFF, RED, and BLUE. RED enhances harmonic content in high mid and high frequencies. BLUE enhances harmonic content in low and low mid frequencies.
LEVEL / DRIVE METERS
Two eight segment LED meters are included for indicating output level and drive amount. The level meter displays the output level of the 542 before the Silk circuit, and the drive meter displays the level sent to the "record head" when the tape effect is engaged. The soft clip circuit is present at drive levels above 5.
- +/- 12dB adjustment of level on incoming signal levels, prior to the tape circuit
- Saturation controls
- Toggle between 15 or 30 IPS tape machine speeds
- Blend Knob to help maintain detail and transparency
- Clipping options
- 3 different modes enhances harmonic in high or low frequenciescentered around 60Hz and a more pronounced roll off in the high frequencies. The 30 IPS mode is generally a flatter response altogether with a "head bump" around 120Hz.
read less
The Neve 542 delivers a wide variety of elusive analog tones by incorporating a carefully crafted tape emulation circuit, complete with a soft-clipper that can tame the harshest sources, our unique Silk circuit with variable Texture control, and a Blend control to finalize exacting amounts of saturation.
TAPE EFFECT IN
Illuminated push-button switch that engages our 'tape' emulation circuit, which includes controls for saturation, blend and 15 / 30 IPS filter curves.
TRIM
Provides +/- 12dB adjustment of level on incoming signal levels, prior to the tape circuit.
SATURATION
Continuously variable control of the level being sent to the 'tape effect' circuit. Increasing Saturation levels drives the 'record' gain while simultaneously reducing the 'replay' gain so the overall output signal level remains consistent. The output signal level will decrease slightly as the MAX setting is approached due to the extreme saturation and soft clipping.
Saturation also controls a low frequency compensation circuit that boosts low frequencies a little more at lower saturation levels and tapers off at higher levels. This function can be useful searching for a balance between a cleaner, boosted low end (low saturation) and a denser, more saturated low end (high saturation).
15/30 IPS
Push-button switch that toggles between 2 different frequency responses commonly found at 15 or 30 IPS tape machine speeds. The 15 IPS mode has a significant "head bump" in the low frequencies… read more
BLEND
Continuously variable control of the mix of pre and post tape effect signals. This allows for precise control over the amount of saturation, tone and soft clipping produced. As the signal gets more saturated, reducing the blend can be an effective way to impart the sound of 'tape' while maintaining detail and transparency. NOTE: The blend control does not affect the amount of Silk Texture applied.
SOFT CLIP
The soft clip circuit engages when the drive meter hits 5 (first yellow LED) and becomes more apparent at higher levels. The soft clip can be used to tame sharp transient material like drums and can be further controlled by using the blend control.
SILK / TEXTURE
Illuminated push-button switch that toggles through the three available SILK modes: OFF, RED, and BLUE. RED enhances harmonic content in high mid and high frequencies. BLUE enhances harmonic content in low and low mid frequencies.
LEVEL / DRIVE METERS
Two eight segment LED meters are included for indicating output level and drive amount. The level meter displays the output level of the 542 before the Silk circuit, and the drive meter displays the level sent to the "record head" when the tape effect is engaged. The soft clip circuit is present at drive levels above 5.
Features:
- Tape Emulation Circuit- +/- 12dB adjustment of level on incoming signal levels, prior to the tape circuit
- Saturation controls
- Toggle between 15 or 30 IPS tape machine speeds
- Blend Knob to help maintain detail and transparency
- Clipping options
- 3 different modes enhances harmonic in high or low frequenciescentered around 60Hz and a more pronounced roll off in the high frequencies. The 30 IPS mode is generally a flatter response altogether with a "head bump" around 120Hz.
Specs
TAPE EFFECT DISENGAGED:
- TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE (NO SILK):
- @ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output level: Better than 0.0025%
- @ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output level: 0.07% Typical (2nd and 3rd order harmonics)
- NOISE: Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, Input Terminated 40 Ohm. Noise specifications may vary depending on which 500 series chassis is being used, and / or interference from stray magnetic fields.
- Unity Gain: Better than -100 dBV
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (Main Output, no load):
- 5 Hz to 60 kHz: +/- 0.25 dB
- 120 kHz: -2 dB
TAPE EFFECT ENGAGED:
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE (NO SILK)
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- 0.4% @ 3kHz typical
- 1% @ 175 Hz typical
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- 1% @ 6kHz typical
- 0.3% @ 1 kHz to 3% @ 50 Hz typical
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- 1 % @ 1 kHz typical
- 0.6% @ 400 Hz to 5% @ 20 Hz typical
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- 1.5% @ 20 kHz to 0.4% @ 1 kHz typical
- 2% @ 50 Hz typical
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- -3 dBu @ 28 kHz
- 0 dBu @ 10 Hz
- +5 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- -3 dBu @ 20 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +2.4 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- -3 dBu @ 120 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 10 Hz
- +3.15 dBu Peak @ 125 Hz
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- -3 dBu @ 100 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +1.3 dBu Peak @ 110 Hz
- NOISE (Measured at main output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, 40 ohm balanced source):
- Saturation @ MIN: Better than -100 dBu
- Saturation @ MAX: Better than -100 dBu
- Power Consumption (+/- 16 VDC): 110-125 mA
- TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE (NO SILK):
- @ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output level: Better than 0.0025%
- @ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output level: 0.07% Typical (2nd and 3rd order harmonics)
- NOISE: Measured at Main Output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, Input Terminated 40 Ohm. Noise specifications may vary depending on which 500 series chassis is being used, and / or interference from stray magnetic fields.
- Unity Gain: Better than -100 dBV
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE (Main Output, no load):
- 5 Hz to 60 kHz: +/- 0.25 dB
- 120 kHz: -2 dB
TAPE EFFECT ENGAGED:
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE (NO SILK)
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- 0.4% @ 3kHz typical
- 1% @ 175 Hz typical
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- 1% @ 6kHz typical
- 0.3% @ 1 kHz to 3% @ 50 Hz typical
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- 1 % @ 1 kHz typical
- 0.6% @ 400 Hz to 5% @ 20 Hz typical
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- 1.5% @ 20 kHz to 0.4% @ 1 kHz typical
- 2% @ 50 Hz typical
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- -3 dBu @ 28 kHz
- 0 dBu @ 10 Hz
- +5 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz
- 15 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- -3 dBu @ 20 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +2.4 dBu Peak @ 60 Hz
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MIN:
- -3 dBu @ 120 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 10 Hz
- +3.15 dBu Peak @ 125 Hz
- 30 IPS, Input @ 0 dB, Saturation @ MAX:
- -3 dBu @ 100 kHz
- -3 dBu @ 12.5 Hz
- +1.3 dBu Peak @ 110 Hz
- NOISE (Measured at main output, un-weighted, 20 Hz - 22 kHz, 40 ohm balanced source):
- Saturation @ MIN: Better than -100 dBu
- Saturation @ MAX: Better than -100 dBu
- Power Consumption (+/- 16 VDC): 110-125 mA
- Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
- Base Item
- Shipping Weight: 2.2 lbs
- Shipping Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 3 in
- Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 542
Documents and Manuals
For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Email: service@rupertneve.com
Web: https://rupertneve.com/support
Email: service@rupertneve.com
Web: https://rupertneve.com/support
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