Rupert Neve Designs 5057 Orbit

Simple 16x2 summing mixer

While the 5060 Centrepiece and 5059 Satellite offer various options for controlling level, pan, inserts and monitoring, the 5057 Orbit is designed for simple mixing and seamless integration into a DAW-based workflow. Sixteen inputs are available via DB25 connectors, the first eight of which can be precisely centred via switches on the front panel. Parallel to the XLR main outputs, which are enhanced with transformers, -6dB attenuated outputs are also available, allowing the user to drive the 5057 Orbit's mix bus harder into saturation without overdriving the next device in the signal path.

Born to Drive

The 5057 Orbit is more than just a linear tool in the DAW workflow. When the mix bus and output transformers are driven into saturation, non-linear, musical overtones are created that have a major influence on the sound of the mix. The 5057 Orbit utilises a specially designed output transformer configuration originally developed for the highly acclaimed Shelford Channel. This transformer combination is at the heart of the famous Rupert Neve sound and makes the 5057 Orbit more than just an ultra-clean in-the-box mixer. With the 5057 Orbit, you can achieve the extraordinary richness, harmonic complexity and depth in the mix that you know from the great Neve consoles that have characterised the sound of countless hits. This gives every mix its own unique sound.

Classic Sounds on Demand

Every style of music and every mix contains the sound idea of the sound engineer. The infinitely adjustable texture control with Silk Red and Silk Blue modes gives you complete control over the harmonic density and tonality of the mix and helps you find your own sound. Silk Red mode accentuates the saturation of the transformer in the high and mid frequencies to enhance the vibrant midrange overtones associated with Rupert Neves vintage equipment. The Silk Blue mode adds saturation to the low and mid frequencies to give any source a rich and dense sound. Unlike an EQ, the Silk and Texture controls saturate the output transformers and add the musical overtones to the source material depending on the amount of texturing. The user can choose to drive the 5057 Orbit's mix bus hard, select Silk Red or Blue and turn up the Texture control to get a rich, punchy vintage sound, or switch Silk off completely to get a clear, open sound.

Dream configuration

Even though the 5057 Orbit is designed as a stand-alone device, several 5057s can be cascaded via the buss link to achieve a higher channel count, for example. However, the 5057 Orbit can also be used as an extension in a summing system together with the 5059 Satellite for flexible summing and routing or the 5060 Centrepiece for additional mixing and monitoring functions. This combination of devices forms the core of a top-class analogue modular console system that can compete with any traditional large studio setup.

Channel separation and precision

With exactly defined channel levels and precise mix bus attenuation via high-quality stepped circuitry, the purist signal path of the Orbit has a vanishingly low crosstalk and the channels are matched to each other with an accuracy of +/-0.1 dB. This gives the mixes a wide and high-resolution stereo image. Ideal for the DAW workflow.

DAW-based recall without compromise

Frequent mix recalls are a challenge. The elegant simplicity and fixed levels of the Orbit allows for fast and reproducible DAW-based recall from mix to mix while providing the rich, unrivalled sound quality of Mr Neve's transformer-coupled Class A mix bus.

There are many summing solutions - but only the 5057 Orbit, the 5059 Satellite or the 5060 Centrepiece offer the legendary sound of Rupert Neve.