Rupert Neve DesignsNewton Channel Strip

Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel

Containing a complete recording signal chain, Rupert Neve Designs presents the Newton Channel: a microphone preamp, EQ, and compressor rolled into one box and simply oozing with character. Rupert Neve's work is nothing short of legendary, and this channel strip represents a modern take on the sound that studios have been chasing for decades.

Starting with the mic pre, a healthy +72dB of gain is available: 66dB on a coarse selector switch, and +/- 6dB available on Trim. Essential features like 48V phantom power and polarity inversion are available, along with an optional, variable highpass filter for clearing out lowend rumble. For further shaping, the equalizer stage can provide subtle bumps or substantial lifts or cuts. Low and high shelves with +/- 12dB of gain may be set to 60 or 150Hz and 8k and 16kHz, respectively. The Mid band provides a similar boost/cut range, but offers a wide range of frequencies from 220Hz to 7kHz—its Q setting is fixed but sits in a sweet spot between broad strokes and precision applications.

The Compressor found in the Newton Channel is the latest iteration of Rupert Neve's VCA compressor design and is capable of coaxing all manner of dynamics shaping out of any signal. Engage the compressor with its dedicated bypass switch, set it to be placed before or after the EQ as needed, then proceed to dial in your Threshold, Release, and Gain controls. Release times range from 50 to 500ms, allowing you to sculpt dynamic contours with ease, and up to +20dB of makeup gain lets you compensate for really squashing a sound. Finally, at the very end is the beloved Rupert Neve Designs Silk circuit, with two modes for adding harmonic saturation in the high or low and mid frequencies, and a Texture knob for dialing in the amount of desired saturation.

The Newton Channel is packed with goodies on its front panel, but there are a few noteworthy things around back. If you're rocking two Newton Channels, you can use the 1/4" TRS jack to Link two units together for matched compressor settings—ideal for stereo operation. Additionally, the Newton Channel has two outputs: standard Main Out and a -6dB Output—the latter is helpful to avoid clipping other units or digital converters with higher amounts of Silk saturation. If you're chasing the Rupert Neve sound, it's hard to go wrong with the Newton Channel.

Newton Channel Features

• Modern spin on the Rupert Neve Designs channel strip
• Microphone preamp, equalizer, and compressor all in one
• 12 or 31-position detented potentiometers on all variable controls
• Mic pre with up to +66dB of coarse gain boost, plus 6dB of Trim gain (+72dB total)
• Variable highpass filter from 20Hz to 250Hz
• 48V phantom power
• Polarity inversion
• 3-band EQ with bypass switch
• +/- 12dB boost/cut on all bands
• Low shelf frequencies: 60 or 150Hz
• High shelf frequencies: 8K or 16kHz
• Mid band variable from 220Hz to 7kHz
• Compressor with bypass switch
• Pre/post EQ routing option
• Soft knee, 2:1 ratio
• Threshold ranges from -30dB to +20dB
• Fixed 20ms attack
• Variable release from 50 to 500ms
• Up to +20dB makeup gain
• Custom output transformers with Silk
• Texture control offers variable control over amount of Silk harmonic saturation
• Silk Red emphasizes high mids and high harmonics
• Silk Blue emphasizes lows and low mids
• Rear panel ground lift switch
• Link jack for shared stereo compression settings
• Unity and -6dB outputs