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Rupert Neve Designs 543 500 Series Mono Compressor/Limiter

500 Series Mono VCA Compressor
$999.00

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Rupert Neve Designs 543 500 Series Mono Compressor/Limiter
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Primo 500 Series Compressor

Here's your unbelievably musical compressor, courtesy of Rupert Neve Designs! When you have the 543 in your 500 Series rack, you'll instantly be impressed. After all, this mono compressor has a strong lineage. Not only does it come from the brain of Rupert Neve, but it's also derived from the extremely popular Portico 5043. Now, you can get that unobtrusive, musical-sounding dynamic control into your favorite portable 500 Series format. The 543 sports individually controllable threshold, attack, release, makeup gain, ratio, sidechain highpass filter, Feed-Forward/Feed-Back selection, and Peak/RMS detection modes. When you have the compressor inactive, you can actually use the 543 as a transformer-coupled line amplifier for great results. And when stereo needs come about, just link two 543 units for unbelievable sound. With proven sound, thanks to its big brother in the Portico format, the 543 will be a sound addition to your 500 Series rack.

Rupert Neve Designs 543 Features at a Glance:
  • 500 Series format mono VCA compressor
  • Derived from the same design as the Portico 5043
  • Individually controllable threshold, attack, release, makeup gain, ratio, sidechain highpass filter, Feed-Forward/Feed-Back selection, and Peak/RMS detection modes
Put a world-class compressor into your 500 Series rack with the Rupert Neve Designs 543!

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Tech Specs

  • Processor Type: VCA Compressor/Limiter
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Controls: Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Gain
  • Threshold: -30dBu to +20dBu
  • Ratio: 1:1 to 40:1
  • Frequency Response: 18Hz-150kHz
  • Module Slot Size: Single
  • Power Usage: ±16V DC
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 543

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Clean and effective

First of all, I'm just a hobbyist with a tiny apartment studio. I don't claim to be a "pro" like most people who post reviews or YouTube videos.

So this is what I know from using this compressor:

With the "Feedforward" and "Feedback" switch, the only different I hear is the the feedback setting, you have turn up the ratio more because the unit is not compressing as much. Also, it doesn't sound like this compressor colors your tone and I guess that's how VCA compressor operate. For what this compressor costed, I wish there was a on/off switch to saturate or something. But I know zero about analog circuity and I wouldn't even pretend to know how these compressor work.

I leave this compressor on the RMS setting and I guess the Peak setting functions a little more like a limiter. As for the side-chain HPF, I don't use use it because the frequency is set a little high (or maybe I just don't know when to turn it on.)

Other than that, it does it's job well. I do, down the road, want to experiment with different compressors and get me a tube compressor.
Music background: Always learning
Rated 5/5

At Least Two Compressors In One

I shot this out versus the RND 535 and Tree LC/1 and it sounded better more often on more things, so I bought a second one. Now that I have two, I can really hear the magic in this thing as a bus compressor. I do a lot of acoustic stuff, so I require less obvious compression. In feedback mode it is soooo gentle... I want to say transparent, but yet it imparts some sort of finished magic and color that is simply not there without it. It makes everything that goes through it sound better.... you know.... much more like a record.

In feedforward mode it can do the typical VCA thing. I was initially worried about 20ms not being fast enough, but it will clamp down on acoustic guitar transients with room to spare if I want it too (and I don't). Seems like RND measure the attack time a little differently on this one maybe. It also feels like it varies quite a bit between feedback and feedforward mode. You have to use your ears to get the attack/release right on this, the typical numbers you might be used to are are a little different with this beast depending upon the setting. However, it will do the job.

For me the magic is in the feedback mode, however it is certainly capable of more aggressive compression in feedforward mode as well.
Rated 5/5

OUTSTANDING!

I began my recording career back in the summer of 1969. I have used all the great comps between then and now. This is simply the best VCA compressor I've ever used, period!!
The RMS/PEAK option is an amazing feature, along with the Feedback/Feedforward option too.
This gem is worth every penny and more, given the results it provides.
I ended up with five in my lunchbox!
Music background: Recording since 1969
Rated 5/5

Smoooooooth.....

Excellent, smooth, warm, professional quality, vintage tone. I except nothing less form Rupert Neve Designs.
Music background: Always learning
Rated 5/5

Wow

I was absolutely blown away by this compressor. Sales Engineer Drew Foster told me about how good it sounds. He was not wrong at all.. Even doing loads of compression, there are no unpleasing artifacts and it just adds weight to the sound. Just like Neve should.. Awesome..
Music background: Producer, Engineer
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