Rupert Neve Designs MBT Master Bus Transformer

 

Create Tonal Magic with the HPF & Shelf EQ
The MBT starts its tonal journey with a sophisticated high-pass filter (HPF) featuring a full-spectrum frequency selection. Ranging from an impressive 100Hz to a deep 15Hz, this feature shines when you’re dealing with mixes demanding maximum loudness. What follows is the innovative 2-band Shelf EQ section. Designed with three octave ranges, soft slopes, and minimal phase shifts, this EQ embodies elegance and simplicity. Whether you’re aiming to sculpt your tones subtly or give them a significant boost, the MBT delivers. The Low Frequency (LF) EQ offers both the nuance to refine and the power to amplify, ensuring your tracks have just the right amount of heft and resonance. In contrast, the High Frequency (HF) EQ provides an expansive range of corner frequencies, enriching everything from the upper midrange to the highest trebles. The artistry of the MBT lies in its intricate interactions, urging users to explore, experiment, and evolve their sound.

Breathe In New Life with the Color Comp
Introducing the fresh optical compressor design of the Color Comp – the perfect tool for instilling your audio with rich depth and vibrant character. You can tailor its behavior, opting for a smooth 2:1 compression ratio or a punchier 5:1 setting. The high-pass side chain filter, adjustable from 20Hz to 350Hz, ensures that your low frequencies remain untouched, allowing the compressor to focus on the meatier parts of the signal. With the Blend control, you can merge compressed and uncompressed signals, perfect for those times when you wish to dial down on the harmonic content or dynamic range. The Color Comp’s nuanced settings, from threshold adjustments to release times, offer a spectrum of sonic possibilities, making it an invaluable asset for your audio toolkit.

Find New Dimension with Width
Dive into the realm of spatial enhancement with the MBT’s Width section. Crafted with inspiration from the acclaimed Stereo Field Editor, this section emphasizes increasing stereo spread while retaining low-end clarity. The adjustable HPF, ranging from 50Hz to 800Hz, ensures a balanced and spacious output, maintaining focus even as it creates sonic expansiveness.

Control Harmonics Like Never Before with Super Silk
The legendary Silk circuit, cherished by Rupert Neve Designs enthusiasts, has evolved into the Super Silk with the MBT. With the power to manipulate both even and odd-order harmonic content, the Super Silk offers unparalleled control over your sound’s character. Whether you’re seeking the shimmer of the Silk Red or the depth of the Silk Blue, the Super Silk ensures your audio always hits the right notes.

Drive and Control Levels with I/O Amplifiers
Completing the MBT’s sonic journey are its Class-A input and output amplifiers. Expertly crafted to maintain the perfect gain staging, these amplifiers ensure that every nuance of your sound is captured, processed, and delivered with unmatched clarity.

FEATURES:

• Rupert Neve’s signature Class-A, Transformer-Coupled paths.
• Breath new life into tracks with a diverse suite of controls.
• Unlock harmonic depth with the Super Silk circuit.
• Add dynamic character with the opto-based Color Comp.
• Sculpt tones using the refined LF & HF shelves.
• The Width section crafts an expansive stereo field.
• Precise level management with the I/O amplifiers.

MBT Front Panel Controls:

• Input Level: LED indication (GREEN at -20dBu, RED at +23dBu).
• Input Trim: 31-detent potentiometer (+/- 12dB range).
• HPF Freq: 31-detent potentiometer (15Hz to 100Hz).
• HPF In: Push-button, illuminates GREEN when engaged.
• LF: 31-detent potentiometer (+/- 9dB LF Shelf gain).
• LF Freq: 31-detent potentiometer (30Hz to 240Hz).
• HF: 31-detent potentiometer (+/- 9dB HF Shelf gain).
• HF Freq: 31-detent potentiometer (3kHz to 24kHz).
• EQ In: Push-button, illuminates GREEN when engaged.
• Threshold: 31-detent potentiometer (+24dBu to 0dBu).
• S/C HPF: 31-detent potentiometer (20Hz to 350Hz).
• Comp In: Push-button, illuminates GREEN when engaged.
• Gain Reduction: LED indication (GREEN for compression).
• Release: 31-detent potentiometer (100mS to 1.5S).
• Ratio: Push-button (LO 2:1 and HI 5:1 ratio).
• Blend: 31-detent potentiometer (dry 0% to wet 100%).
• Gain: 31-detent potentiometer (0dB to +20dB).
• Width In: Push-button, illuminates GREEN when engaged.
• Width HPF: 31-detent potentiometer (50Hz to 800Hz).
• Width: 31-detent potentiometer (MIN to MAX).
• SILK In: Push-button, illuminates PURPLE when engaged.
• Blue: 31-detent potentiometer (low frequency SILK emphasis).
• Drive: LED indication (RED for optimal transformer harmonics).
• Red: 31-detent potentiometer (high frequency SILK emphasis).
• Harmonics: 31-detent potentiometer (transformer harmonics).
• Zener Drive: Push-button, illuminates AMBER when engaged.
• Bypass All: Push-button, illuminates RED for master bypass.
• Output Trim: 31-detent potentiometer (+/- 12dB).
• Output Meters: Stereo 16-segment LED (output level in dBu).
• Power: LED (GREEN when ON).

MBT Rear Panel:

• Power: IEC 3 pin grounded AC power inlet (100-240 VAC, 50/60Hz, max 70 Watts).
• GND Lift: Slide switch (lifts XLR Output Pin 1 from chassis).
• Output: Balanced XLR (up to +25.5dBu at 1kHz with custom transformers).
• Input: Balanced XLR combo jack (up to +26.8dBu at 1kHz).