Craig Ross: Comparing the Portico II and Shelford Channels

[@dostacos1]

The Shelford seemed a little more focused and vibey. Great comparison, dude could talk me calmly through my own death.

[@michaelpate6700]

"dude could talk me calmly through my own death." HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAAA!

[@rayrav__]

😂

[@intheblink]

I dream of one day having the financial means to have a studio full of Neve gear. It’s all so beautiful looking and beautiful sounding. Just really great engineering.

[@CHILE_TZ]

what is replacement for Portico II channel? I dont see any high voltage transpatent preamp.

[@romulomc]

it doesnt exist

[@AlexOnAudio]

Rupert Neve said the Portico II Channel was his pinnacle achievement. Neve, the company, told me they had to stop making it because the regulations that govern what electronic components you can use in consumer devices changed, and it was no longer possible for them to make the Portico II as a result.

[@andreasoberg2021]

Would Shelford be useful on synths? I have the minimoog and Moog One

[@alexanderstuartpetty485]

I greatly prefer the portico II. Just, wow.

[@mikedennis6979]

I love the clarity and sonority of the Portico on vocals ... Just say'in

[@AlexOnAudio]

I have a pair of Portico II channels that I use for tracking and mastering. These things are incredibly versatile and turn everything they touch into sonic goodness.

[@TheDubminer]

props to the musician too. nice clear playing.

[@Musical.Maze.1]

Can you get transparent & neutral sound out of the Shelford Channel? Thanks!

[@humusiclab8974]

Clarity vs body. Body wins! Shelford in this case is killing.

[@magnusorsigmundsson2655]

I have two porticos absolute magic on everything best buy ever for my recordings

[@rickythethird]

would you recommend the SHELFORD OR PORITCO

[@AlexOnAudio]

​@rickythethird The Portico every time. I saw a video where Rupert Neve called it his greatest achievement and the culmination of his life's work. He's not wrong; Portico II channels are amazing! Not to mention, they pair incredibly well with the Portico MBP.

[@ottomanmuzic5744]

shelford on guitars and portico on vocals

[@tcos332]

Agreed that’s what drives me nuts about people saying oh this one sucks or this ones better… compared with what Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitar, mic’d triangle lol? Btw I’ve always wanted to see/try that 5060 mixer in background.

[@zanem9022]

@@tcos332 preamps make so little difference. There is probably like 8% difference between the two sound versions, shelford has slight more lows. And it's overpriced

[@JB-bs7vn]

what microphone is that? Thanks in adavance.

[@Dionysus667]

1 Vote for Portico here.

[@JamesCurwood]

I'm not familiar with the mic but after listening a bunch of times I feel like I must have both channels. To my ears the Shelford really shines on vocals while the Portico matches the clean but musical string sound I'm often going for. I want to try 47-style mic plus the Portico on a fiddle. I can't wait to try that input transformer and compression on electric bass. Yum!

[@philipbard2333]

I don’t know if he’ll see this but I enjoyed Craig’s “Dead Spy Report’ album that he made in the 90”s. Going to dig out my copy to listen to the track “Better”.

[@SevenSinsChoppers]

Both sound amazing. The Shelford seems thick with additives. The Portico seems more transparent and true sounding. Really a matter of preference but I liked the Portico on her song here.

[@germanikolaas]

I liked the shelford for the guitar and portico for her vocals

[@SpacehotelMusic]

Portico wins for me, but I'd take/use/love either (I have the Portico). I think Portico is a good all rounder.

[@mitsanut5869]

Shelford seems to sound softer and not as tonally sharp as Portico but it doesn't seem to lose any of the dynamics. It would be interesting to see how they both sound with other instruments. Nevertheless, it's just another piece of gear to my wish list. The question is how can I accomplish to get all the things on my list without breaking the bank...

[@darrylweller6143]

Which pre do you like for acoustic guitar?

[@chrischoir3594]

What huge guitar tones were silvetones?

[@shane2973]

Wow! great little snipet of the song, really nice. I thought the shelford was almost angelic sounding on the acoustic guitar. The notes just sing with this beautiful shimmer to them, can hear it on the higher notes. The Portico didn't have that, but seemed to be less bottomish on her voice which I thought brought it forward a bit more. I think he nailed it with both of these units you can do anything, I would LOVE each, but almost $7,000 is something I will never be able to do for an acoustic and vocal which makes me sad because these sound amazing to me

[@simonetraina2428]

Is portico II out of stock now?

[@RupertNeveDesigns]

Yes, the Portico II Channel was discontinued a few years ago. But we still produce the Shelford Channel (more vintage topologies) and the Newton Channel (more modern, like the Portico II)!

[@AlexPettyMusic]

​@RupertNeveDesigns Was it discontinued because the higher quality components in the Portico II fell out of eco compliance and you didn't want to reengineer a mk2 version with sonically lesser parts?

[@jimlereveilleur-ms7wc]

more dynamic with portico

[@revelationsoundstudio]

The Portico II has a puncher more open sound that makes the tracks more exciting. I don't want smooth as much on a smoking guitar track

[@RupertNeveDesigns]

more open is certainly correct, the detail through the extreme highs and lows is the biggest difference between the two preamp designs. Many engineers prefer the "mid focused" sound of the vintage front end design, which is why we make both! Same thing with the EQs and Comps, all are high quality but the versions in the shelford and pII channels are very different.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

@@RupertNeveDesigns I hope you continue with your Portico 5033, and other half Rack horizontal gear. Perhaps in this shut down faze we are having more video examples could be created of your slower selling gear to boost sales . 😊

[@CHILE_TZ]

what is replacement for Portico II channel? I dont see it.@@RupertNeveDesigns

[@shane2973]

@@CHILE_TZI think it might be their new newton

[@ModulerDrone]

The Shelford is much smoother while having the same overall character. Interesting

[@chacra6studios79]

shelford sounds gas... 2 please

[@JulianFernandez]

she´s great!

[@willmcelroy6376]

portico sounds a little better on her voice to me. guitar sounded better thru shelford but only slightly.

[@saintclarityakacasanovabro7992]

Warning the Shelford is a piece of gear you have to really spend time with. To get out its maximum potential, and that's only because of the mass amount of features and knobs it has

[@mitsanut5869]

Not taking into the account that turning knobs on such fine piece of equipment is just undoubtedly too much fun ...

[@cowboytonydee]

Liked the Shelford on the guitar more and the Portico on the vocal best although this wasn't the proper mic for that vocal

[@ganaorganador]

What a cool guy.

[@Gabrielrose.mp3]

Both for me!

[@zeitakulobusta]

All the 'A is better than B hands down!' comments - their complex boxes - gain level, eq, comp settings, silk etc aren't directly comparable and your relying on someone's approximation but they could also vary wildly from what you're hearing. TLDR: this one take isn't the only sound these boxes can make.

[@saragutter9966]

THE SHELFORD BLOWS THE PORTICO AWAY. SOUNDS LIKE A RECORD.

[@JulianDavidMusic]

Agreed!

[@narco73]

Damn, I was hoping to disagree...

[@frankjum]

Almost sounds like they are phasing out the Portico.

[@RupertNeveDesigns]

Definitely not planning to do that! Beauty of the Portico's is in the balance between transparency with the ability to add tone, and precisely control the sound. The Shelford Channel is all about vintage tone, but with significantly more control and versatility than its vintage counterparts. The shelford has a warmer / smoother sound on individual tracks (especially flat), but on certain tracks the context of the mix or on tracks were you want more detail in the extreme lows or highs the Portico is often a better choice

[@frankjum]

Rupert Neve I stand corrected. Thanx

[@Pladdz12345]

Lovely 😊

[@a1k2i31]

Demo sound 5:45

[@richardvancleaf469]

One channel of audio. $3500.00

[@frankjum]

Only Neve right? lol

[@SpacehotelMusic]

The parts separately would cost more and wouldn't sound as good (High voltage rails, shielding etc). Add it up you actually get a lot for the money in this one box + it's all super high quality with no dodgy lunchbox power supplies, no wall warts etc (this applies to the Portico II in my experience but also the Shelford clearly).

[@siriusfun]

Sounds about right.

[@gitarman666]

$4000 now so must have done something right, just ordered a pair, ouch$ and ahhhh😮

[@AlexOnAudio]

The Portico II Channel incorporates the circuitry from the 5088 console. This includes Rupert Neve's renowned transformer design and Class A circuitry, which contribute to the signature sound quality and performance of both the Portico II and the 5088.

[@nickpiscopo5]

5:45

[@mungukim111]

i think just little different

[@saintclarityakacasanovabro7992]

The Shelford, the Portico and a Avalon 737 for rappers.

[@CHILE_TZ]

In recording you have two basic steps . First require high quality components (needed for recording) and second is subjective and matter of perception of certain thing. So, there is no " which one is better " . You can have same equipment and record two different instruments or vocalists. On one you will like "this" on second you will like "that" part of equipment. If you would have both ,many times you will bite your tongue because you say "that one was better " time before. I hope it explains

[@wabisabi6802]

Shelford hands down. 😎👌

[@naitsabes3328]

Is he the guitar player of Lenny Kravitz?

[@RupertNeveDesigns]

no, same name though!

[@stevetauscher590]

Shelford hands down.

[@christopherpederson1021]

Shelford sounds better all around I think

[@starboy2013]

I think you are splitting hairs.

[@RupertNeveDesigns]

Most great recordings are going to be a product of engineers splitting about 100 hairs in the right direction to enhance the way the music feels and communicates it's meaning. True that either of these pieces isnt going to get in the way of the music, they are both very high quality / versatile pieces, but especially once you start layering more and more tracks the differences and decisions can really add up.

[@humusiclab8974]

I would rather add clarity to the full body Shelford than try to add body to Portico II.The Shelford is noticeable wider in the lower miss and still clear, just not sparkly, Very light eq to the top end would satisfy all those who like the shiny object better.