Neve 2254/R Limiter Compressor

From the first Diode-bridge compressor, the 2252, through to the early cubic 2254 modules, Neve® compressors have been held in very high regard as often treasured studio essentials. Now, the Neve 2254/R takes this treasured circuit design into the 21st century with a modern 19″ rack format for seamless integration into your studio racks.

The Neve 2254/R Limiter/Compressor uses exclusive Marinair^® specification transformers on the input, bridge-driver, sidechain and output stages to produce the sweet sound made famous by the classic 2254.

The Neve 2254/R and its predecessors, the 2252 and 2253, were the first dynamics processors to exploit the electrical properties of diodes in their control circuits to produce compression curves. Rupert Neve discovered that distortion properties were significantly reduced by mounting two diodes in a bridge configuration, allowing for ideal compression curves when carefully controlled voltages were applied. As a result, the 2254/R’s diode-bridge circuitry produces a wide range of compression types, ranging from subtle & smooth to aggressive & overdriven.

Though modern in construction, the Neve 2254/R Limiter/Compressor remains true to the original 1969/1970’s models by using class A discrete circuitry throughout its audio signal path, including a discrete transformer-balanced output which evolved from the early Neve^® console line output modules.

Multiple 2254/R’s can be linked together via the control voltage link. When units are linked together, they all share a common sidechain to control their gain reduction; whichever unit receives the loudest signal at any given moment becomes the threshold trigger for the group.

The independent compressor and limiter sidechains function as closed loops in isolation from each other. This provides the ultimate dynamic control of transients and giving you the ability to use the Neve 2254/R as a creative tool in the studio.

The Neve 2254/R includes sweepable fast attack control for the limiter, an enhancement on the original. Ranging from 2ms to 100us, this feature allows you to dial in precise limit attack times for your music.

The Neve 2254/R’s moving coil meter can be applied to various points in the signal chain, including the input & output gain stages and gain reduction stages. This system is complemented with a dual colour LED meter to indicate signal at -10dBu and clipping at +25dBu.

The Neve 2254/R’s Limiter & Compressor circuits feature several recovery options, including an auto-recovery setting.  In the AUTO position, both the attack and recovery times are composite and self-adjusting. Speeds are rapid for isolated peaks while remaining slow for persistently high levels, so the impression of a standard dynamic range is preserved as the programme rides on a slowly moving ‘gain platform’.

Every setting on the 2254/R can be recalled in a matter of seconds using the Neve^® Recall Software application, simply connect the 2254/R via USB to your DAW computer to access the Neve Recall Software program.

Features

• Classic mono limiter/compressor made to the exacting late-1960s design
• Hand-made in Burnley, England using original Neve specification transformers
• Original Neve 2254 discrete, Class A circuit design
• Transformer-coupled circuits used in Input, Bridge-driver, Sidechain and Output stages
• Manual Fast Attack Time adjustment and transparent level control
• Independent Limiter In/Out and Compressor In/Out selection
• Total bypass switch
• Multiple units can be linked together to provide multi-unit side-chain control from a single unit
• Compatible with Neve Total Recall software, simply connect the 2254/R using USB to a host PC or Mac running Neve Recall software
• Hand-crafted and hand-wired by Neve in Burnley, UK