Overview
Classic tone & control for your mic AND instrument.
The 517 includes a world-class mic preamp, one-knob compressor, an Instrument input with dedicated gain control and Vari-phase, Silk saturation and blend controls for INST/MIC – all in a single 500 series module.
Features
GAIN
A 12-way precision rotary switch covering from Line (0) and Mic from 0 to 66 dB in 6 dB steps.
+48V
Engages phantom power on the microphone input, as supplied by the 500 series rack.
POLARITY
Push button inverts the polarity of the signal path. The symbol “Ø” is often used to denote opposite polarity.
COMPRESSOR
Based around a new LDR (light dependent resister) design, the 517’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.
BLEND
The 517 can be used to combine and compress the Mic input and the Instrument input. For example, the Instrument input could be used for an acoustic guitar’s pickup output while the Mic input is being used for either a guitar amp speaker or a vocal. The blend knob can then control the tonal balance between the two sources.
SILK
Illuminated push-button that engages the Silk circuit, which enhances the source’s harmonic content by utilizing the custom Rupert Neve Designs output transformer.
VARI-PHASE
The VARI-PHASE control rotates the phase incrementally, allowing two signals with the same source to be phase aligned. This control is most apparent when the signals being combined are at roughly equal levels, and is generally used when blending an instrument’s direct signal with its amplified signal, as captured by a microphone.
INSTRUMENT GAIN
Front panel TRS Input and passive through for hi-z sources. Continuous gain control from 0dB to 30dB.
THRU & INST 1/4” JACKS
These 2 jacks can be used for a direct instrument input and a passive THRU output. This instrument has a dedicated gain control and can be blended with Mic Input signal.
Speacifications
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Mic Pre, Main Output, no load
- -0.1 dB @ 10 Hz
- -1 dB @ 120 kHz
DI Input, Main Output, no load
- -0.1 dB @ 10 Hz
- -1 dB @ 120 kHz
NOISE
- Measured at Main Output, unweighted, 22Hz - 22kHz, Terminated 150 Ohm. Noise specifications may vary depending on which 500
- series chassis is being used, and / or interference from stray magnetic fields.
- With gain at unity: better than -100 dBu
- With gain at 66 dB: better than -60.5 dBu
- Equivalent Input Noise: better than -125 dBu
DI
- With Gain @ Unity: Typically better than -100 dBu
- With Gain @ +30 dB: Typically better than -75 dBu
HIGH PASS FILTER
- Frequency: 80 Hz
- Slope: 12 dB/Octave Bessel
Microphone Input Impedance
- 10,000 Ohm
Instrument Input Impedance
- 1.6 Meg Ohm (3.3 Meg Ohm balanced)
Maximum Output Level
- Maximum output from 20 Hz to 40 kHz is +23 dBu.
GAIN
- Mic Pre: Unity to +66 dB in 6 dB steps
- DI: Unity to +30 dB continuous
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise
@ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output: Main Output: Better than 0.001%
@ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output: Main Output: Better than 0.002%
Silk Engaged: Better than 0.2% Second harmonic
VARI-PHASE
- @ 100 Hz: 2.9 degrees to 57.4 degrees
- @ 1 kHz: 33.5 degrees to 156 degrees
- @ 10 kHz: 149 degrees to -175 degrees
PHANTOM POWER
- +48 Volts DC +/- 1% (provided by 500 Series Rack)
POWER REQUIREMENTS
- Supplied by 500 series rack with 110-125 mA @ +/- 16V
COMPRESSOR
THRESHOLD
- Continuously Variable from -20 dBu to +10 dBu
RATIO
- Fixed at 2:1
ATTACK & RELEASE
- Fast Mode: Attack 5ms, Release 50ms
- Slow Mode: Attack 250ms, Release 500ms
TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION
- Measured @ Main Output.
MIC PREAMP AND DI
- @ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output: Better than 0.002%
- @ 20 Hz-20 kHz, +4 dBu output: Better than 0.02%
SILK
- @ 20 Hz, +4 dBu output: Better than 0.5%
- @ 50 Hz, +4 dBu output: Better than 0.1%
