Roger Mayer 456HD-500 500 Series Tape Emulator

Availability: Discontinued

SKU
324970
  • Roger Mayer 456HD-500 500 Series Tape Emulator, inspired by the desirable qualities of a tape recording.
  • Used in primary tracking, remixing, and mastering applications.
  • An innovative new way to experience modern dynamic and harmonic control.
  • Features Zero Latency and no extra CPU load, plus the ability to multi-track in real-time recording applications.
  • Class A audio signal path with very high bandwidth.
  • Developed with top producers and engineers, achieving critical acclaim and featuring on many records by top artists.
Our price £714.00

Inc VAT

Roger Mayer 456HD-500 500 Series Tape Emulator


The 456 is now pioneering a new benchmark, the process has been acclaimed by several World-leading record producers and engineers and is used in primary tracking, remixing, and mastering applications.

It is universally recognised that this process is a game-changer and not to be thought of as just another tape emulator. It brings a far more sophisticated approach to real-time dynamic control and its performance exceeds that of any tape recorder previously produced.

Facilitating high-definition tape recording, it brings all the desirable sonic advantages of analogue tape processing to your DAW with no latency and no tape hiss.

The 456HD® Analogue Wave Shaping Process is an innovative new way to experience modern dynamic and harmonic control in real-time with zero latency. It was inspired by the desirable qualities of a tape recording and can reproduce their dynamic compression and harmonic properties accurately to correct and enhance Pre & Post Digital Recordings.

 

Main Features

10 tracks of the latest affordable 456-500 rack-mounted 500 series units can be housed in a 3U standard rack space. The power supply rail used in the 500 series rack has been boosted to +48V DC and then further regulated and smoothed clean to obtain virtual DC Battery performance to enable recording studio analogue designs to work with the same headroom and performance with this rack format.

Mixing time is reduced as each track fits or gels into the mix effortlessly. Small changes in equalisation also work very well and the tracks are very malleable. The resulting mix will be very loud and powerful without having to limit the 2-track mix heavily further.

Zero Latency and no extra CPU load plus the ability to multi-track in real-time recording applications are just some of the advantages. It continually processes each of the positive and negative peaks independently with zero attack and release time thus maintaining the full audio fidelity of the original signal with desirable analogue recording qualities.

When the 456 has been used in Primary Tracking or Recording the enhanced results obtained with percussive and vocal sounds stand out from the normal and can be easily appreciated.

This ultra-high-speed analogue processing will effectively improve the dynamics both when using it as a pre-recording analogue processor before a conventional DAW and also in post playback from the DAW.

Live recording or tracking using multiple instances of the 456HD® are very beneficial for Drum, Vocal and Instruments and in many instances obviate the need for further limiting to control input levels.

What the 456HD® Process brings to the table cannot be duplicated by any digital plug-in and also makes equalisation very easy to use.

It is very quick and easy to use and can be used with conventional DAW setups or the more advanced professional setups that have external converters, analogue mixing, and other analogue effects. All levels of digital 0VU protocols are catered for.

The audio signal path is completely Class A with very high bandwidth. The -3dB point has been set to above 100Khz. The low end extends to below 10Hz. Peaks are accurately high speed manipulated with ease and maintain the original phase position in the waveform. This can be observed using the latest high-speed storage oscilloscope technology.

Hand-built in the UK, this is a completely discrete analogue design using only selected low noise transistors, low noise metal film 1% resistors, and metallised film capacitors from the world’s top manufacturers all combined in a design to provide the ultimate studio-quality audio.

 

Key Features:

  • Recorded sounds have less undesirable digital recording artefacts and immediately sit better in the mix.
  • Real-time multi-track recording and monitoring with zero latency.
  • Mixing time is reduced.
  • 2 track mixes have significant power increases whilst maintaining dynamics.
  • A 456 processed 2 track mix will stream very well at even low-quality settings.
  • No extra DAW CPU load and unlimited simultaneous tracks can be digitally recorded only limited by your DAW when using the 456.
  • Quick and easy to set up.
  • Performance exceeds that of conventional mechanical tape recorders. Repeatable performance and no tape alignment or maintenance ever needed.
  • Cymbals and Over Head Drums now have more definition and sustain and sound real again.
  • Vocals have less sibilance and spitting.
  • Continuous high-speed independent processing of both positive and negative peaks with virtual zero attack and release time constants enable asymmetric sources: eg: kick drum to be recorded easily with maximum
  • Definition of acoustic instruments is enhanced thus making their position in a mix much easier to obtain with increased dynamic power.
  • Post-production recordings can also benefit from the 456HD® process.
  • 10 tracks of the latest affordable 456-500 rack-mounted 500 series units can be housed in a 3U standard rack space. Other smaller capacity 500 series racks are readily available.
  • Final 2 track Mix Masters should also have the 456-process applied especially if mastering for CD or for uploading to a streaming platform.
  • Producers can now use fewer post-recording processes to obtain the desired sounds and the results they are now obtaining could not have been obtained without the use of the 456.
Specification
Specifications
  • Input Level: Nominal -20 dB to +4 dB unbalanced
  • Input Impedance: 10 kΩ or greater
  • Output Level: -4 dBu or 3.5 V peak unbalanced
  • Output Impedance: 50 Ω
  • Dynamic Range: 96 dB
  • Headroom: Maximum input level +32 dBm - internal headroom 20 dB
  • Dimensions: 37 mm x 139 mm x 133 mm (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 700 g
  • Power Requirements: +16.2 V DC @225 mA regulated