Rupert Neve Designs Portico 500 Series User manual

545
500 Series Primary Source Enhancer
Operations ManualOperations Manual

1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type
plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.
The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the
apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/apparatus combination to
avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required
when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-
supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have
fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no
object filled with liquids, such as vases or beer glasses, shall be placed
on the apparatus.
16. Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a
risk of fire or electric shock.
17. This apparatus has been designed with Class-I construction and must
be connected to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing
connection (the third grounding prong).
18. This apparatus has been equipped with a rocker-style AC mains power
switch. This switch is located on the rear panel and should remain
readily accessible to the user.
19. The MAINS plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect
device, so the disconnect device shall remain readily operable.
20. NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment o and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the
receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly
approved by Rupert Neve Designs LLC, could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment under FCC rules.
21. This apparatus does not exceed the Class A/Class B (whichever is
applicable)
limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as
set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
ATTENTION — Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits
radioélectriques dépassant las limites applicables aux appareils
numériques de class A/de class B (selon le cas) prescrites dans le
réglement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par les ministere des
communications du Canada.
22. Exposure to extremely high noise levels may cause permanent hearing
loss. Individuals vary considerably in susceptibility to noise-induced
hearing loss, but nearly everyone will lose some hearing if exposed to
sufficiently intense noise for a period of time. The U.S. Government’s
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specified
the permissible noise level exposures shown in the following chart.
According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of these permissible limits
could result in some hearing loss. To ensure against potentially
dangerous exposure to high sound pressure levels, it is recommended
that all persons exposed to equipment capable of producing high
sound pressure levels use hearing protectors while the equipment
is in operation. Ear plugs or protectors in the ear canals or over the
ears must be worn when operating the equipment in order to prevent
permanent hearing loss if exposure is in excess of the limits set forth
here:
Important Safety Instructions
CAUTION AVIS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT OPEN RISQUE DE
CHOC ELECTRIQUE. NE PAS OUVRIR
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
ATTENTION: POUR EVITER LES RISQUES DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE. AUCUN
ENTRETIEN DE PIECES INTERIEURES PAR L'USAGER.
CONFIER L'ENTRETIEN AU PERSONNEL QUALIFIE.
AVIS: POUR EVITER LES RISQUES D'INCENDIE OU D'ELECTROCUTION, N'EXPOSEZ PAS CET ARTICLE A LA PLUIE
OU A L'HUMIDITE
WARNING — To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not
expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
Duration,
per day in
hours
Sound Level
dBA, Slow
Response
Typical Example
8 90 Duo in small club
6 92
4 95 Subway Train
3 97
2 100 Typical music via head phones
1.5 102
1 105 Siren at 10 m distance
0.5 110
0.25 or less 115 Loudest parts at a rock concert
PORTABLE CART
WARNING
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's
enclosure, that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.
Le symbole éclair avec point de flèche à l'intérieur d'un triangle équilatéral est utilisé
pour alerter l'utilisateur de la présence à l'intérieur du coffret de "voltage dangereux"
non isolé d'ampleur suffisante pour constituer un risque d'éléctrocution.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user of the
presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
Le point d'exclamation à l'intérieur d'un triangle équilatéral est employé pour alerter
les utilisateurs de la présence d'instructions importantes pour le fonctionnement et
l'entretien (service) dans le livret d'instruction accompagnant l'appareil.
This symbol indicates that this product must not be disposed of with other waste.
Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste equipment by handing it
over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and
electronic equipment. The separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment
at the time of disposal will help conserve natural resources and ensure that it is
recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment. For more
information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please
contact your local city recycling office or the dealer from whom you purchased the
product.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Block Diagram
Front Panel
545 Features
Specifications
Limited Warranty
1
1
2
3
4
5

Rupert Neve Designs 545: Primary Source Enhancer
Thank you for purchasing the Rupert Neve Designs 545 Primary Source Enhancer. We hope you enjoy using
this product as much as we have enjoyed designing and building it. The 545 Primary Source Enhancer is a
500-series module designed to greatly reduce the potential for ringing feedback while increasing overall vol-
ume in various live sound applications. The 545 contains a simple set of controls to manipulate the dynamic
envelope of the source, providing smooth transitions between periods of attenuation.
1
545 Block Diagram
2
3
OUTPUT
2
3
INPUT
+
OUTPUT STAGE
-
INPUT STAGE
--
CW
THRESHOLD +
CW
DEPTH
FAST
FAST
RMS PEAK
RMS/PEAK
RMS
PEAK
RMS/PEAK
FAST
FAST
-- +
PROCESSS ACTIVE
-
VCA
RMS

545 Front Panel
2
POWER
LED that illuminates BLUE
to indicate Power Status
Rupert Neve
Designs
545
-3
-18 +12
-10
0 -20
FAST
PEAK
THRESHOLD
ENGAGE
ACTIVE
DEPTH
Primary Source
Enhancer
POWER
ACTIVE
LED that illuminates GREEN when
the input source has overcome the
set enhancement THRESHOLD
DEPTH
31-detent potentiometer that controls
the amount of attenuation applied after
the input source falls below the set
THRESHOLD
PEAK
Illuminated push-button that toggles
between Peak and RMS detection modes.
The IN/BLUE position indicates the 545 is in
PEAK mode
ENGAGE
Push-button that illuminates GREEN
when the primary source enhancement
effect is engaged
THRESHOLD
31-detent potentiometer that adjusts
the dBu level where the primary source
enhancement effect begins
FAST
Illuminated push-button that toggles
between the two available time constants.
The IN/AMBER position indicates the 545 is in
FAST mode

3
545 Front Panel Features
ENGAGE
Push-button switch illuminates GREEN when the primary source enhancement eect is engaged.
ACTIVE
LED that illuminates GREEN when the input signal has overcome the set enhancement THRESHOLD.
THRESHOLD
31-detent potentiometer that adjusts the dBu level where the primary source enhancement eect begins. Typical-
ly louder sources will have a higher THRESHOLD setting.
** For vocal sources: Adjust the THRESHOLD control until the ACTIVE LED indicates a solid GREEN glow when the
person is talking/singing and dims when the person stops singing/talking **
DEPTH
31-detent potentiometer that controls the amount of attenuation applied after the input source falls below the
selected THRESHOLD setting. The ‘0’ setting indicates no attenuation is being applied and therefore won’t af-
fect the input source level. As the DEPTH control is rotated further toward ‘-20dB’ the amount of attenuation will
become more drastic.
** For vocal sources: Settings in the -5dB to -10dB range are good starting points to ensure the entirety of the
input source is fully audible. It is important to experiment with the DEPTH control, especially when used on highly
dynamic input sources. **
FAST
Illuminated push-button that toggles between SLOW & FAST time constant modes. In the OUT/SLOW position,
the attack and release times are slower and this mode is suitable for the majority of input sources. In the IN/FAST
position, the attack and release times speed up and this mode can be useful on input sources where faster tran-
sient detection is necessary.
** See page 4 to reference the specific attack and release settings for OUT/SLOW and IN/FAST modes. **
PEAK
Illuminated push-button that toggles between Peak and RMS detection modes. In the OUT/RMS position, the
trigger for the side chain is an average response and generally reacts slower than the IN/PEAK mode response.
In the IN/PEAK position, detection of the transients in the input source will be faster and help prevent those peaks
from sounding ‘chopped o’.

Maximum Input and Output Level +24 dBu
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise
1 kHz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load Better than 0.001%
20 Hz, +20 dBu Output Level, no load 0.1% typical (2nd and 3rd Order Harmonic)
Noise (Un-weighted, 22 Hz - 22 kHz, 40 ohm balanced source)
Primary Source Enhancer Bypassed Better than -100 dBu
Frequency Response (30 ft. Cable on Main Output)
30 Hz to 58 kHz +/- 0.25 dB
18.5 Hz -3dB
Threshold Continuously variable from -18 dBu to +12 dBu
Depth Continuously variable from 0 dB to -20 dB
Time Constants
RMS Mode
Attack AND Release
Slow (FAST push-button OUT) 200 mS
Fast (FAST push-button IN) 100 mS
Peak Mode
Attack (fixed) 20 mS
Release
Slow (FAST push-button OUT) 1 S
Fast (FAST push-button IN) 200 mS
Power Consumption (+/-16 VDC) 80 mA
Shipping Dimensions 7.75“ (19.7 cm) x 10” (25.4 cm) x 3” (7.62 cm)
Shipping Weight 2 lbs, 0.9 kg
4
545 Specifications

775-00034 Rev B2
5
PRODUCT WARRANTY
Rupert Neve Designs warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of
three (3) years from date of purchase, and agrees to remedy any defect identified within such three year period
by, at our option, repairing or replacing the product.
LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
This warranty, and any other express or implied warranty, does not apply to any product which has been improperly
installed, subjected to usage for which the product was not designed, misused or abused, damaged during
shipping, damaged by any dry cell battery, or which has been altered or modified in any way. This warranty is
extended to the original end user purchaser only. A purchase receipt or other satisfactory proof of date of original
purchase is required before any warranty service will be performed. THIS EXPRESS, LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN
LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTEND ALLOWED UNDER APPLICABLE
STATE LAW. IN NO EVENT SHALL RUPERT NEVE DESIGNS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of consequential damages or limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so this
exclusion may not apply to you.
WARRANTY SERVICE
If you suspect a defect in this product, please contact our support sta for troubleshooting by phone (512-847-
3013) or email ([email protected]). If it is determined that the device is malfunctioning, we will issue a
Return Material Authorization and provide instructions for shipping the device to our service department.
Rupert Neve Designs
PO Box 1969
Wimberley TX 78676
www.rupertneve.com
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]