Rupert Neve Portico II - Channel - Manual (Page 11)

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engineers follow the basic rule of keeping +48V off until all mics are plugged in and verify that faders
and/or monitor volume controls are down before switching +48V on. Most dynamic mics, ribbon mics
and tube condensor mics do not need +48V but some newer ones do or they will not work. Many
condensor mics require +48V Phantom power or they will not function. Contrary to some pundits, it
is highly unlikely that one can damage a non-phantom mic by switching phantom on and it is worth
noting that many consoles have been designed over the decades that have no provision to turn it off
(thus the name “Phantom Power”).
PHASE
Push button inverts the polarity of the signal path. The symbol “Ø” is often used to denote opposite
polarity.
MUTE
Just used for “silence”. Notice that it is above the +48V button and might be the easiest way to ensure
no huge thumps when turning +48V on or off. It also can to be used to prevent recording noises during
longer rests but in the age of workstations and easy edits this is a largely forgotten technique.
HIGH PASS FILTER
HIGH PASS FILTER KNOB
For selecting the frequency where the filter begins (-3db) to roll off low frequency signals. This is a 12 dB
per octave Bessel filter designed to musically preserve important timing information while cutting low
frequency noise and garbage like air conditioning rumble. We may suggest that while recording that the
lowest practical setting is generally the safest because it is difficult to try to recover lows with an EQ (6
dB/oct) that may have been chopped off with a filter (12 dB/Oct). You can always chop more later but be
aware that too much filtering can and probably will introduce “time-smear”. High pass filters tend to be
over-used in recent years possibly as a misguided remedy for the too-many-overdubs epidemic ;>)
HPF IN
Engages the HIGH PASS FILTER. Note that the S/C HPF over-rides this button.
S/C HPF
This routes the High Pass Filter into the circuit that the compressor uses to determine level, commonly
referred to as “the side-chain”. Note that the rest of the circuit and output will not have those lows
filtered out. This function tends to be very useful because typical sounds often have more energy in the
low octaves and can cause excessive compression. Our ears may tend to associate loudness with mids
or high mids for some sounds and one may be wanting the compressor to regulate and smooth perceived
loudness. Removing some amount of low frequencies that the compressor “sees” can help especially if
one is compressing deeply (-8 dB or more).
ALL EQ SECTION
All EQ In
Pushing this button enables the entire EQ except for the HPF (High Pass Filter). It is generally used as
confidence check to compare the untreated signal with the signal treated by EQ to verify that one is
doing more good than harm. It is also used by purists to ensure that there is minimal electronics in the
signal path.