The Portico™ 5033 Five Band EQ and high performance line driver is a new equalizer with the performance, features and musicality expected from Rupert Neve, the designer.
The 5033 features Mr. Rupert Neve’s custom input and output transformer designs, five bands of EQ based on his traditional curves, -/+12dB input level adjustment, five filter bypasses and comes available in either horizontal or vertical formats.
At the input and output of the 5033 lie custom designed Rupert Neve transformers, which are much of the heart of the sound of Mr Rupert Neve’s classics. The EQ section can be completely bypassed and the unit can be used as a very high quality line driver utilizing these transformers, which can help to add sonic “sweetness” to a source.
Low Frequency and High Frequency Shelving Filters
For opposite ends of the audio spectrum there are two separate shelving filters, which are both engaged or disengaged using the same LED pushbutton. Each shelving filter allows for a boost or cut of up to 12 db, providing steeply rising or falling curve shapes. When these curves are boosted or cut aggressively, they enable the second and even third harmonic to be varied in relation to their fundamental, allowing the natural sound of a musical instrument to be varied. When used less aggressively, one can attenuate bands of frequencies above or below the “turnover” point to their desired levels. These sections each provide EQ curves that approximate to 6 dB/ and give a true “Flat” response when this section is engaged but not boosted or attenuated.
Low Frequency (LF) Shelving Filter
Continuously variable from 30Hz to 300 Hz, allowing for a wide range of applications, from filtering out low rumbles caused by air conditioning units to taming an instrument with too much low end or even adding a little bit of “oomph” to a thin mix, proving to be an indispensable asset in the signal chain.
High Frequency (HF) Shelving Filter
continuously variable from 2.5 kHz to 25 kHz, giving this section of the EQ a valuable range of operation. Whether you want to really bring out the presence and breath of your vocals or simply add some “air” to your overall mix, the HF shelving filter will give you that bit of sparkle you’re looking for.
Mid Range Parametric Filters
To cover the crucial mid-range, the 5033 comes with three bands of parametric EQ, each separately engaged and having a true “flat” response when each section is engaged but not boosted or attenuated. Each section is capable of boosting or attenuating up to 12 dB, and includes a variable “Q” control. “Q” controls range from “Q” = 0.6 to “Q” = 3, allowing you to vary the bandwidth of the attenuation or boost, whether a broad range of frequencies to gently give a sonic section a slight boost or dip or using the filter with a very narrow range of frequencies, acting almost as an audio “chisel” to hone in on certain offending frequencies.
The Low Mid Frequency (LMF)
Section is variable from 50 Hz to 400 Hz. The Mid Frequency (MF) Section is variable from 330 Hz to 2.5 kHz. The High Mid Frequency (HMF) Section is variable from 2 kHz to 16 kHz. Each section has been carefully designed to overlap neighboring ranges, allowing for a very fine range of possible adjustments.
