Rupert Neve Designs | 5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor

5254 Dual Diode Bridge Compressor Two channels of iconic diode bridge compression, thoughtfully improved and refined for modern tracking, mixing, and mastering. 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 compressor while providing modern updates including advanced timing control, significantly lower noise, fully stepped controls throughout, and internal parallel processing capabilities. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the 2254, and now the 5254 gives me all of that vibe, with a lot more detail and control. ” — JOHN O'MAHONY / MATT MAESON, SARA BAREILLES, MARINA 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, 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 AlichwerEngineering Manager, Rupert Neve Designs   Classic Diode Bridge ToneCapture the punchy, larger-than-life tone used on countless hit records for the last 50 years. Advanced Timing ControlsCustom-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 AmplifiersVintage warmth meets the improved headroom and precision of Rupert Neve’s updated transformer-coupled line stages. 31-Position Detented ControlsAccurately recall and match your settings with precision and speed. Built-In Parallel CompressionInternal blend control enables you to subtly dial in more dramatic compression settings for color as desired. Full-Wave Sidechain DetectionEnhanced from the vintage units’ half-wave design, the updated sidechain detector provides substantially more accuracy. Stereo LinkingRun your compressors in either dual mono or stereo configurations. Internal Universal Power SupplyEIC connection for world-wide AC power from 90-240V embedded in the 1U rack-mountable chassis. SPECIFICATIONS & DOWNLOADS USER MANUAL XLR LINE INPUT TO XLR LINE OUTPUTCompressor Bypassed.zSource = 40 Ohm Balanced INPUT IMPEDANCE10K Ohm OUTPUT IMPEDANCE40 Ohm MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL+4 dBu Selected: +26.7 dBu typical MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL+26.7 dBu typical NOISE10 Hz - 120 kHz: -104 dBu typical FREQUENCY REPONSE10 Hz to 120 kHz: +/- 0.25 dB typical THD+NFrom 22 Hz - 22kHz BW.@ 1 kHz @ Maximum Level: 0.0008% typical   COMPRESSOR NOISEFrom 22 Hz - 22kHz BW.zSource = 40 Ohms BalancedNOISE@ 0 dB Make-up gain: -84.5 dBu typical@ +20 dB Make-up gain: -64.5 dBu typical   COMPRESSOR TIMINGTIMING measurements represent the full range achievable between 1.5:1 and 8:1 ratio and FAST mode.FAST Attack 250μS - 2mS // Release 100mS - 200mS typical  MF (MEDIUM FAST) Attack 1mS - 5mS // Release 100mS - 200mS typical  MED (MEDIUM) Attack 3mS - 18mS // Release 350mS - 700mS typical  MS (MEDIUM SLOW) Attack 5mS - 40mS // Release 600mS - 1S typical  SLOW Attack 10mS - 80 mS // Release 800mS - 1.5S typical  AUTO Attack 5mS - 40mS // Release T1 400-900mS, T2 1-2S typical   PRODUCT DIMENSIONS19” (48.3 cm) x 9” (22.9 cm) x 1.65” (4.2 cm) SHIPPING WEIGHT24” (61 cm) x 13” (33 cm) x 4” (10.2 cm) SHIPPING WEIGHT10 lbs. (4.5 kg) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What’s the difference between the 5254 and the Master Buss Processor? The 5254 is a diode bridge compressor, whereas the Master Buss Processor is a VCA compressor. VCA designs are generally used for precise, clean level control, and don’t necessarily impart “a sound” of their own. A diode bridge design is more colorful, with lots of vibe and personality – great for adding thickness, weight, and warmth to tracks or mixes. Can the 5254 be used on stereo mixes or mastering? Absolutely. While the 5254 may not be quite as “precise” as the Master Buss Processor, it can provide a very special “glue” to stereo mixes or masters. If the color is too much for the source, you can always dial down the Blend control; lower ratios and slower time constant choices will also impart less color. How is the 5254 different from the compressor in the Shelford Channel, or the 535 Diode Bridge compressor? Aren't they all the same? The 5254 and the Shelford Channel compressors and line circuitry are basically identical, aside from the obvious additional features in the Shelford Channel. The 535 shares the same basic diode bridge design, but the lower voltage (inherent in the 500 Series format) and different line driving circuitry do have slightly different performance. Made in the USA