Outboard Gear, Product News
Rupert Neve Designs 5254 Diode Bridge Compressor “holy smokes. Not kidding…the best compressor I’ve heard in 30 years of mixing”
Apr
Rupert Neve Designs 5254 Diode Bridge Compressor “holy smokes. Not kidding…the best compressor I’ve heard in 30 years of mixing”
Two channels of iconic diode bridge compression, thoughtfully improved and refined for modern tracking, mixing, and mastering.
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Originally developed for the dynamics circuit of the acclaimed Shelford Channel, the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor captures the soul of Rupert Neve’s original 2254 & 33609 units while providing modern updates including advanced timing control, significantly lower noise, fully stepped controls throughout, and internal parallel processing capabilities.
Classic Diode Bridge Tone
Capture the punchy, larger-than-life tone used on countless hit records for the last 50 years.
Advanced Timing Controls
Custom-shape your compression envelope with the unified timing control, which enables a much wider range of responses than vintage units or clones.
Custom Transformers and Class-A Line Amplifiers
Vintage warmth meets the improved headroom and precision of Rupert Neve’s updated transformer-coupled line stages.
31-Position Detented Controls
Accurately recall and match your settings with precision and speed.
Built-In Parallel Compression
Internal blend control enables you to subtly dial in more dramatic compression settings for color as desired.
Full-Wave Sidechain Detection
Enhanced from the vintage units’ half-wave design, the updated sidechain detector provides substantially more accuracy.
Stereo Linking
Run your compressors in either dual mono or stereo configurations.
Internal Universal Power Supply
EIC connection for world-wide AC power from 90-240V embedded in the 1U rack-mountable chassis.
“…holy smokes. Not kidding…the best compressor I’ve heard in 30 years of mixing.”
— KEVIN LEMOINE / GREEN DAY, SOCIAL DISTORTION
What is diode bridge compression?
Where the VCA compressor found in the Master Buss Processor provides unmatched clarity, the weighty, harmonically rich tonality of diode bridge compression can be essential in pushing key sources like vocals, electric guitars, bass and drums to the forefront of a mix.
By understanding the limitations of vintage units like the legendary 2254 & 33609, painstaking effort was taken to reproduce the unique tone of these classics while improving the noise floor & accuracy, expanding inflexible time constants, adding full wave sidechain detection for improved dynamic response, and widening the range of threshold and ratio controls.
Delivering the powerful sound of these iconic designs with enhanced flexibility for the modern age, the 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor is a dynamic tool equipped to make a bold statement on virtually any mix or track.
“A diode bridge is a very unique sound characteristic compared to other types of compressors. It is possible to create a cleaner sounding diode bridge than we have here, but we were after a particular flavor of harmonic content. As soon as you hear the sound, you know exactly what it is.”
—
Dennis Alichwer
Engineering Manager, Rupert Neve Designs