Rupert Neve 5046 OptoFet Dual Stage Compressor

General

Ruper Neve's 5046 OptoFet is, as the name suggests, a unit that combines an optical and a FET compressor, two classics. In a compact 1U rack unit, this combination offers a wide range of tonal capabilities. In Dual Stage mode, both compressors are used in series. This widely used studio technique delivers great control over dynamics, this is important with vocals and drums, among others, and is now easier than ever to deploy thanks to this module. Another option is the Dual-Band mode. In this, the signal is split into high and low with a variable crossover frequency and the two parts are split between the two compressors.

Parallel compression and harmonic capabilities

Both compressors in the 5046 OptoFet have fully variable attack, release, threshold and gain. They also have the additional features of parallel blend and side-chain high-pass filters. The parallel blend knob enables parallel compression: a handy trick that ensures that the dynamics in the original signal remain recognisable during heavy compression. The FET and Opto compressors are both equipped with a button that enables a mode with extra character: GRIT and BLOOM, respectively. These provide the rich sound and compression you can only get from analogue hardware.