Rupert Neve Portico II - Channel - Manual (Page 13)

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LMF/HMF IN
Engages both the Low Mid and High mid sections and allows one to adjust the mids.
HMF -15 / +15 (Boost /Cut knob)
Adjusts the amount of High Mid Frequency audio. One can cut or boost by up to 15 dB at frequencies
selected by the knob above it. “Flat” is indicated as “0” (straight up).
Q (the right one)
Adjusts the width of the HMF curve very similar to the way that LMF Q control does.
HZ (HMF)
Infinitely adjustable center frequency for the High Mid section. It spans between .7 kHz and 14 kHz
with a straight up center at approximately 5 kHz.
DE-ESS (Off/Bypass switch is when set fully counter-clockwise)
Used to refine and control the dynamics of the high mids and most often used to soften excessive
sibilance. While controls of this type are generally referred to as “De-Essers”, this circuit goes beyond
the norm and allows one to reduce loud occurrences of whatever band that the High Mid EQ is set for,
including from 700 Hz to 14K and with Q’s from .7 to 5. This is a new function designed especially for
the Portico II and is a special high-mid limiter separate from the compressor that is described later. This
de-esser is especially useful because the HM EQ is not only always available but is designed to work in
conjunction with the boost/cut control. Note that for particularly difficult de-essing tasks that the regular
compressor also can be used with an external EQ in the side-chain (jacks on the back). In this scenario,
it may be helpful to use the “POST COMP” button so that the compressor has a chance to “ride” the
signal before the dedicated de-esser in the EQ section.
We might suggest that the generic name “De-Esser” may be a bit misleading if it is suggesting that it is
there to remove “esses” as much as possible, a pesticide for sibilance if you will. Generally the best way
to use a de-esser is simply to control esses to where they sound natural again. There are 4 main causes
of excessive sibilance and often all 4 are involved 1) the singer has a gap in their teeth, 2) the mic has a
resonant peak, a boost in its frequency response right in that 5 kHz to 8 kHz zone, 3) EQ boosted in that
5 kHz to 8 kHz zone, 4) distortion in the signal path. The best way to deal with the tooth gap problem
is a bit of wax or paper between the teeth of the source. The best solution for the mic is usually to use
a different one. With the EQ problem either less EQ or more EQ in the opposite direction. And finally
the answer to the signal path distortion problem is to use more gear designed by us, ha ha. That said,
the De-Esser feature will probably be most useful at mix time and particularly mixing vocals recorded
by those that were not aware of the 4 potential problems. Another misleading thing about the De-Esser
name is that this one can be used for many different tasks given the control ranges and may be useful to
tame occasionally loud or painful mids on all sorts of instruments.
HF -15 / +15 (Boost /Cut knob)
Adjusts the amount of High Frequency audio. One can cut or boost by up to 15 dB at frequencies
selected by the knob above it. “Flat” is indicated as “0” (straight up).
HF IN
Engages the HF electronics and allows one to adjust the highs, the air, the brightness and did we say
“air”?