Rupert Neve Designs RNDI Active Transformer Direct Interface

Undiminished Tone and Vitality

The RNDI delivers a powerful and vibrant direct sound capable of reproducing the full harmonic depth of basses, guitars, acoustic instruments and professional line level sources. This direct interface conveys the undiminished tone and vitality of the source instrument while balancing and isolating the original signal. This stand-alone DI, which is 100% worthy of the Rupert Neve name, offers a portable, powerful and larger-than-like tone for your instrument signals and amplifier signals.

Unique Response and Sound

Enjoy rich, deep and full lows and outstandingly clear highs without harshness as the RNDI delivers that "extra dimension" sound. The transformers provide a superior, passive isolation whilst adding very musical harmonics and dimensions to the sound. The unique response is the result of a carefully orchestrated union of the new custom Rupert-Neve designed transformers and the class -A-biased, discrete FET amplifiers.

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 the flexibility of digital modeling, and the superior non-linear response of an actual analogue amplifier.

Highlights

• Big and bold direct tone for basses, guitars, keyboards, and Piezo-equipped instruments
• Custom transformers deliver powerful low end and sweet highs without sacrificing clarity
• Flat frequency response within the audible 20Hz-20KHz range
• Extended response below 10Hz and above 100KHz
• Transformer and active circuits provide complete circuit isolation
• Extremely low output impedance and phase shift provide excellent, consistent results
• 1/4" In and Thru jacks; gold-plated XLR output
• Speaker/Instrument and ground lift switches; LED current consumption meter
• 48V Phantom powered
• Rugged steel chassis built to withstand life on the road

Technical Specifications

• 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