Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5017

Comprised of a rugged, portable chassis with world-class preamp, compressor and DI circuits as well as two channel operation, Vari-phase, Silk and DI/mic blending capabilities, the Portico 5017 is an innovative and powerful tool for recording or live performance.

The 5017 provides two preamps: one tailored for Mic/Line sources, and the other for Instrument level sources. Each channel has a dedicated line output, allowing for the 5017 to be used in a multitude of ways. From having full control over a vocal mic + an acoustic guitar to capturing a guitar/bass DI and mic'd amplifier simultaneously, the 5017 gives the power to the artist. 

Add an optical compressor and the Silk harmonics circuit to the equation, and the versatility of the 5017 is undeniable. 

Perhaps the most powerful features on the 5017 are the Blend and Vari-Phase controls. These controls work in tandem to dial in the ideal blend of a DI and Mic of the same source. Adjusting the Vari-Phase control once both preamps are set ensure no strange phase cancellation is working against you while blending 2 versions of the same source together.  

These controls can also be used to create a quick mix of a vocal and guitar without a mixing console, which is handy in either a live performance or live recording situation. And since the Mic Input also accepts line level sources, these features can be used to ‘re-amp’ sources that have already been recorded with the stellar instrument input. So many possibilities in such a compact box.

Based around a new LDR (light dependent resister) design, the 5017's opto-coupler compressor has been simplified to a single threshold control with auto make up gain. By default, the compressor is set to a fixed 2:1 ratio with fixed attack and release. To set the compressor, simply dial the threshold control down until the desired amount of compression is achieved. An LED light indicates when the compressor is active.