Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET Dual-stage Compressor

Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET Dual-stage Compressor

Mono FET/Optical Compressor with Dual Stage and Dual Band Modes, Grit, and Bloom Harmonic Enhancement, and Flexible Gain Staging

Unlimited Sound Shaping with the RND OptoFET

Since the late 1950s, optical-based leveling amplifiers have been cherished for their unobtrusive and highly musical dynamics control. A decade later, FET compressor/limiters, prized for their speed and precision, would become fixtures in top recording studios worldwide. Today, processing a signal through both types of compression is a common technique used in tracking, mixing, and mastering. Wouldn’t it be great to have it all in one convenient unit? That dream is now a reality. Featuring a newly designed FET compressor circuit and an optimized optical compressor circuit, plus harmonic enhancement and a comprehensive control set with Dual Stage and Dual Band modes, the Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET delivers virtually unlimited signal-shaping potential for the modern era.

Comprehensive control for unprecedented flexibility

An amazingly versatile analog compressor and waveshaper, the Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET compressor offers both optical-based and FET-based compression — plus harmonic enhancement — in a sleek 1U chassis. Each compressor features a comprehensive control set that includes Attack, Release, Threshold, and Ratio (switchable between 4:1 and 8:1 for the FET, and gentler 2:1 and 5:1 ratios for the Opto). Each section also includes dry/wet Blend, Gain, and a switchable 125Hz sidechain highpass filter, plus Grit and Bloom switches (for the FET and Opto compressors, respectively) that boost appropriate harmonic content when engaged.

On the left-hand side of the front panel is the Input gain control and a Signal LED that illuminates green for signal present and red for impending clipping. The right-hand side hosts an Output control and LED meter, plus a Power LED that illuminates green when the unit is switched on. Having access to ±12dB Gain controls for input and output, as well as for each compressor, gives you absolute mastery over your gain staging, allowing you to drive the stages for harmonic content and apply makeup gain as needed for an optimized signal chain. 

Dual Stage and Dual Band modes: unleash the beast

The front panel sports a clean, intuitive layout with the FET and Opto compressor sections flanking a central global section that is key to maximizing the unique flexibility of this unit. In Dual Stage mode, the Flip switch toggles the order of the compressors in the signal chain, which — without changing any other settings — can make a surprisingly dramatic difference in the sound of your source material. The X-OVER IN switch puts the OptoFET into Dual Band mode, engaging the crossover filters and the corresponding crossover frequency-selection pot. In this mode, each compressor is assigned to either the LF or HF band, facilitating independent processing of both bands simultaneously.

The variable Crossover control lets you dial in where the crossover is applied, from 50Hz to 500Hz. The Flip button also functions in Dual Band mode, assigning the FET or Opto to process either frequency band as selected. This can be particularly useful for bass sources, giving you complete control over the bottom end while boosting mids and highs for the ideal amount of string noise and texture. Whether you simply use the FET and Opto compressors in series or as a powerful, frequency-dependent tone-shaping tool, the Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET provides massive creative control that makes it easy to enhance your recordings with everything from transparent vocal smoothing to extreme envelope shaping with stunning harmonic texture.

MIL-Spec build quality in the Rupert Neve tradition

In keeping with the Rupert Neve legacy of military-grade parts and build quality, the OptoFET features a robust, all-metal chassis fitted with top-drawer switches and stepped, 31-detent pots, which allow for precise, confident parameter settings and quick, accurate recall. The rear panel is fitted with Neutrik XLR combo jacks for line Input and Output. OptoFET also employs an electronically balanced input stage and a custom RND transformer-coupled, balanced output — a critical component of the authoritative Rupert Neve sound.

The legend continues

Rupert Neve Designs is the company founded by legendary console designer Rupert Neve. Rupert’s 80-series consoles had a huge, punchy, and authoritative sound that defined ’70s rock. From London to New York to Los Angeles and beyond, top studios installed Neve boards as fast as possible. By 1977, with the introduction of the NECAM automation system, Neve consoles were the main component of the success formula for any recording studio with world-class aspirations. Today, Rupert Neve Designs continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge products that sound incredible and intelligently address the challenges of the digital age.

Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET Features:

• Dual-stage FET/Opto compressor
• Newly designed field-effect transistor compressor
• Optimized optical compressor
• Independent, comprehensive control sets for each compressor
• Dual Stage and Dual Band modes provide immense versatility
• Dual Band mode with Crossover control allows each compressor to process LF and HF frequency bands independently
• Grit and Bloom modes enhance harmonic content and allow for source waveshaping
• Flip switch toggles the order of the compressors in the signal chain
• Blend controls for each compressor for easy parallel processing
• Provides unprecedented dynamic and harmonic control
• Global Input and Output trims for complete control over gain staging and harmonics
• Combine 2 units for extremely flexible dual-mono processing of stereo sources
• Robust steel 1U chassis
• Designed and crafted in the USA

STL Pro Audio is exclusive NZ distributor for Rupert Neve Designs.