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The RNDI’s signature sound is the product of new custom Rupert Neve-designed transformers and class-A biased, discrete FET amplifiers. The carefully orchestrated union of these two elements is key to the RNDI’s unique response, delivering a powerful and vibrant direct sound capable of reproducing the full harmonic depth of basses, guitars, acoustic instruments, and professional line level sources. With portable, powerful, larger-than-life tone for your instrument and amplifier signals, the RNDI is truly the first standalone DI worthy of the Rupert Neve name.

 

The Development

After coming into existence during an experimentation with new transformer designs, the RNDI was fine-tuned over a series of listening tests against the the most popular high-end DIs available. It was in these tests where the RNDI always seemed to add another dimension to the sound and bring the instruments to life. The lows felt richer, deeper and fuller, and the highs had outstanding clarity without any added harshness. Most importantly, the design team noted: “As musicians, the RNDI consistently stood out as the DI we wanted to play through.”

 

The Elements of Direct Tone

The RNDI’s signature sound is the product both of new custom Rupert Neve-designed transformers and class-A biased, discrete FET amplifiers. The carefully orchestrated union of these two elements is key to the RNDI’s unique response.

 

Game-Changing Headroom

In instrument mode, the RNDI’s high input headroom of +21.5dBU is capable of handling not only instruments, but professional, line level sources like interfaces, CD players and drum machines without a pad. This allows the RNDI to serve as a way to “Re-Preamp” any previously recorded track using your interface and a desired pre-amp. To do this, simply connect a channel output of the interface to the input of the RNDI and connect the RNDI’s output to the preamp and engage 48V. By “Re-Preamping” you can apply the tone of another preamp to the source and more accurately automate or control the drive level on the preamp.

 

In speaker mode, the RNDI can handle the screaming output of a 1000-watt power amplifier (92 Vrms or 266Vp-p) to capture the full tone of the instrument, preamplifier, EQ, inserts, and the amplifier’s output stages before it hits the speakers. This technique allows the engineer to avoid any bleed in a live environment and any unwanted tone added by the speaker cabinet or microphone. When used with modern speaker emulation plug-ins, this technique allows the engineer to take advantage of both the flexibility of digital modeling and the superior non-linear response of an actual analogue amplifier.

 

Groundbreaking Direct Tone

When class-A, discrete amplifiers meet Rupert’s custom transformers, good things happen to your tone. The RNDI is imbued with the unique components and design knowledge that makes it worthy of the Rupert Neve name

 

Huge Headroom

The high input headroom of +21.5dBU is capable of handling professional, line level sources without a pad – and in speaker mode, the RNDI can handle the full output of a 1000-watt power amplifier (92 Vrms or 266Vp-p).

Rugged Solid-Steel Frame

The rugged steel chassis features an industrial-grade powder coating, and is built to withstand the severe stresses of life on the road

Takes All Kinds

The RNDI has immensely consistent performance across a wide variety of sources due to its 2M Ohm discrete FET input and high headroom. You can confidently use the RNDI with basses, guitars, acoustic instruments, keyboards, and even professional line level devices. In instrument mode, you can even connect a professional line level interface output to “Re-Preamp” a previously recorded source

Drive Longer Lines

The low impedance transformer coupled output – below 50 ohms – is capable of driving long lines with unrivaled high frequency performance

1/4” THRU Output

In instrument mode the THRU output can feed the amplifier input for reinforcement. In speaker mode, the THRU is used to feed the amplified signal to the speaker

Best in Class Phase Coherence

Phase coherence is excellent at all frequencies, which keeps the sound well-balanced and natural, and is especially vital when blending the direct signal with a microphone capture of the same source

Ground Lift

A ground lift switch is provided on the back to help fix any problematic grounding.

Phantom Powered

The RNDI is powered by standard 48V phantom power. Power is indicated by a blue LED on the front panel

Neve RNDI Active Transformer Direct Interface

SKU: RNDI
$299.00Price

Noise:

Measured Output, un-weighted, 22Hz-22kHz, source impedance 150 Ohms to 10K Ohms
Better than -110dBV

Input Impedance

Instrument Setting: 2.2 Meg Ohm
Speaker Setting: 200k Ohm

Output Impedance

Less than 40 Ohms

Frequency Response

+/- 0.25dB from 25Hz – 44kHz
+/- 1dB from 12.5Hz – 63kHz
-3dBu @ 92kHz

Maximum Input Level

Instrument = +21dBu Typical Speaker = +41.5dBu, 92 Vrms (266Vp-p)

Maximum Output Level

+11.5dBu output at maximum input level

Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise

@ 1kHz, +20dBu input level:
0.25% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)

@ 1kHz, -20dBu input level :
0.015% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)

@ 20Hz, -20dBu input level :
0.75% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)

Power Requirements

Phantom power, 4.5mA @ +48VDC

Weight

1.5lbs

Dimensions

6.25” long x 4”wide x 1.5” high

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