The Best Channel Strip ever? | Portico II by Neve | MEGA Review

[@1beatburner88]

I been using this for almost 10 years. I love it forever.

[@DragonBiscuit]

Best review ever of the Portico II channel. I’ve just purchased a pair of them - had to source from different dealers - as they are now discontinued. Thanks for helping me decide!

[@DavidLopez-xi1jl]

How much did you pay for them?

[@LytosOfficial]

I own a Portico II, two 542 Tape Emulations and and old but gold stereo 9098 Amek Neve Compressor/Limiter. All of them are incredible pieces of gear. Also when I was working as an engineer in a very big studio, we had a Neve Console 9098 with total recall and an Amek Media 51... Missing those bad boys! Really good review, as always Dom!

[@africanrevolution3551]

BEST VIDEO ON GEAR REVIEW!!!! HANDS DOWN!!!! very HARD to find PROPER CLEAN videos on gear reviews on KZbin!! Thanks Dom!!!

[@jonesc0426]

FINALLY!!!!! I have been WAITING for a Portico review in depth.

[@drampadreg1386]

Just one of the many reasons I will miss Rupert Neve in such a major way. He's earned a place in the history of music working up until his 94th year, dying in Feb 2021. Recording would not have been the same without him. I heard he developed silk by manipulating the magnetic fields between coils in transformers, what a result. He also founded Focusrite when George Martin commissioned a preamp, the ISA. You just can't keep a good man down!

[@SeanDivine]

Couldn’t agree more Dom, great video. This is a gem of a channel strip and the compressor is INCREDIBLY versatile!

[@okcguitarbear410]

Dude!!! Thank for doing this! It looks like you are having a blast! Sounds great.

[@artysanmobile]

To me, a great EQ is one I can’t overuse. This is a classic example, with 12db boosts sounding perfectly valid. Such a giant step up from what Neve put in their classic, early consoles.

[@anayaandre]

Wow! you are right we need more videos like this. I have one collecting dust because didn't know how to use it properly. Now I'm putting this baby to work. Thanks

[@natcoziay]

Thanks for the video! Great review. I've been looking for examples like this on the Portico 2 Channel. You answered all of my questions. I am sold on this machine. I will be getting one! Or two!

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

I’m only three minutes into watching your video, but I tell you honestly, this is one of the best preamplifiers with EQ ever made. I have an original Neve 1064 mic pre-with EQ, and the portico II channel is identical in sound to it. I like it so much I bought two of them!

[@sameerkulkarni1574]

Hi Dom, Looking forward to this :) I have the portico II [Master bus processor] and been using N loving it since 4 years .. Very keen on your take on that beast too .. Looking forward for the Master bus processor episode as well !!

Thank you Dom for making this awesome gear accessible for us! We wouldn't have the opportunity to know it and analyze its sound if it wasn't for this type of content. Super valuable! ❤️

[@jsrmusic7779]

You have been my only saviour Dom ❤️❤️🙏🙏. Keep blessing us from your knowledge

[@PuRe_AdDicT]

Looking forward to it :D

[@thaexception3406]

Comprehensive video! Using Access Analog got me to watch this hardware video after using their Portico II Master Buss Processor which is lovely and they have it unlimited use right now which is better than owning and using one at home!

[@Juliano_DJOL]

Man I've always wanted one of these! I started out mixing on a neve board and ever since I've always been under impressed w everything from SSL to CLA and other channel strips and pres and pretty much just faking the neve sound on other hardware lol But this little dude here is the cream of the crop the neve hardware! Somebody needs to emulate this asap! Even if it was just half the sound... Now that I'm working at home again I'm missing those powerful invisible compressors and crystal clean 5k-10k and even the scratchy low mids I use to complain about sometimes smh

[@DomSigalas]

I know exactly what you’re talking about. The great thing with Neve is it can sound amazing on everything - you can’t mess things up! This is not true for many other brands and processors. Neve is CREAM ! If you want an emulation you really should check the Neve plugins from Steinberg. Hidden Gem. I’ve shown them on several videos - they are really close to the hardware!

[@Juliano_DJOL]

@@DomSigalas Thanks, yeah I looked into them when they came out recently or maybe I had just seen them for the first time, it was last year sometime I think, but I was all hyped up until I saw the were like $300 each and only had the eq and comp...plus you have to use an iLok with them :( I have an old iLok but I doubt it would work so after getting that too it would be over $500 which is just too much for me right now. If they had the portico 2 master bus I would make it happen some how tho haha!!!! If I was to invest that much I would prolly just try to get the little 543 Limiter Compressor and or an EQ or the Tape FX module they have that's the same size rack mount as the 543. I have been keeping an eye on the big dawg master bus 2 on eBay and the prices haven't budged and if anything have gone up. SMH But I am in the market for a solid master bus comp/limiter (hardware) if you or anyone else know of a similar less expensive one. For the right one I feel like I would spend anywhere from $2,000-$3,000 but if would have to be THE one cause I'm hoping it will be the last one I need for 20+ years! If I can't find a comparable one I will most likely ended up shelling out the $4,500 but I'm prolly about a year away from breaking down and doing that at the moment...plus I kinda wanna wait and see if the make a plug in version of the MB2 even tho deep down I know it won't be the same or what Im trying to get haha! What I might do in the meantime now that Im thinking about it tho is see if the Neve plug ins have a free trial... Cause hey if they sound good they could do the trick, just hard to risk it for some in the box FX I already have 10 of... Great Advice tho!

[@Juliano_DJOL]

@@DomSigalas out of the 500-1000s and even 5000s series channel strips, EQs, compressors, and limiters is there one you would suggest or one you've heard that stands out to you? I saw the Tape FX thing they have too...a Mic pre would be great but what I'm really trying to get is the comp/limiter for doing outboard master bus FX. When I lived in Atlanta I worked at a studio that had a 5043 I think it was, not def tho, but I would take my mixes up there when I was almost done and run all my songs thru that and a few other things as like a cheap mastering kinda thing. Like I would take 5+ songs and bounce em out and back and do a little comp and sparkle, then bounce em back and save that as my mix, sometimes I think used to even do like a parallel thing. But now I dream of being able to do that whenever I want...

[@Juliano_DJOL]

I just looked up the 5043 and not sure if thats what I used to use or not cause the one I used to use was def black and was a full rack but not as thick as the Master Bus 2 it was a dual channel, thin, full rack. Black and it had a compressor and limiter can't remember if it had eq tho, it was actually the same unit they used on a lot of the original Outcast ATaliens album which is what drew me to it originally. It barely got used tho I might see if they will sell it to me now... Everybody just used the Avalon pre's and then the SSL eqs from the board. The Avalon 737 is what I used to want but now I'm thinking if I spend the money I wanna try to get something with some FX cause I have a few good pre amps now. Sorry Kinda brain storming here lol

[@donsalice8527]

Dom is the very best! I've learned so much from him!

[@playmakersmusic]

I don't really look for hardware, but if it's a Dom video, I'll watch!

[@DomSigalas]

[@soundblankie]

Mmm that sounds good, I'll have that. Thanks Dom!

[@masterastakhovsound]

Tennis man !!! It’s really cool . Magic sound neve ❤️🔥❤️🎶

[@CinderellaVasia]

Great analogue toy! I would love to see more examples with more instruments. Especially strings. Thank you, Dom for sharing all these tips. 😘😘😘

[@chrisstaubyn]

INCREDIBLE!

[@roberttakatsu3926]

For a mono drum feed impressive

[@IvoMusicOfficial]

I own and use The Ssl Fusion in combo with my Tegeler Creme Rc,Pultec style Compressor and Eq togheter they ar e beast with no limits!

[@magnusorsigmundsson2655]

I have two of the portico II channel strips absolutely love them on vocals bass el and acc guitars always beautyful and the silk adds great coulors blue on bass is great

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

Do you ever use two on stereo buss for EQ’ing or compressing?

[@ItsDJNuName]

Where do you buy them?

[@magnusorsigmundsson2655]

at Sweetwater few yers back they are hard to get now

[@magnusorsigmundsson2655]

just yesterday I put a mix through two Porticos before mastring the mixes@@onethousandtwonortheast8848

[@Gabrielrose.mp3]

Drums sound fire!!!!

[@MR_Cellarpop]

Great review.

[@strictlydubrecords]

Yes, Dom! This is excellent. Tell us please how that bass was recorded? Straight from DI or head or from cabinet to mic? Very interesting how Portico can colour that bass.

[@ErixSamson]

great video, as usual

[@hottrakz]

what mic did you use for the singer

[@SailikSarkar]

JUST LOVE YOUR CONTENT , AND GOT INSPIRED BY YOU , SWITCHED TO CUBASE , from logic cause you showed us how powerfull it is , and your explanations , got damm ,, greatt , no words to tell ... looking forword to buy black box hardware .. should i buy .. plzz suggest ....... #love from india 😍😍😍😍

[@DomSigalas]

Thank you so much my friend! Groove on!!!! :)

[@SailikSarkar]

@Dom Sigalas ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@CalRichards]

Will you be talking about the Steinberg Portico plugins?

[@jonesc0426]

I second this :)

[@Somedei]

Great vid as usual Dom. Please make a review of your SSL unit

[@DomSigalas]

Coming soon!

[@Matias.Arce83]

Hey Dom… how is it going??…. I have 2 of these puppies, I think they are amazing, but so far I haven’t found the official reason why they discontinued them… maybe the format??? Maybe because the price wouldn’t make sense since you have the Shelford series and now the Newton… Do you have some insights???

[@princepunnackal5546]

Great review Dom. One question: what's the setup you are using to monitor the linrin signal when you are running material through the Portico? Its displaying the live wave form coming in from the portico without printing it to a track.is that right? Havent used it thus way in Cubase, super handy for postprocessing

[@Asohimusic]

Dom thanks a lotttttttt for keep inspiring the artists like me all over the world. I need your help very badly for one issue, which is how to hear the sound of midi from my external midi instrument which is Roland TB 03. I installed this synthesizer in Cubase Pro 11 and all settings are applied, its working well, like I can record midi and I can see the fader jumping, I can see the recorded midi notes but I dont hear any sound coming out of my recorded track. I tried all the ways of routings but no help. I called Steinberg tech support and they did the remote session but they also couldnt find the way to make it work, except adding the Roland TB 03 in the device input instead of my input of interface channel and I can only do one at a time and every time I have to keep changing the signals. I could not add TB 03 as an external instrument in Cubase audio connections section because the list Cubase have for external devices, it doesnt have TB 03 on that list. I googled it but did not find the best solution, BUT I found one person on google and he said " I dont know what I did but I made TB 03 working perfectly fine in Cubase". So Dom you are the master of Cubase and I know you must have the right answer, how I can make TB 03 works in Cubase? If that person on google can make it work, so why cant I. I will really really appreciate if you can help in this. Blessings!!!!

[@mdl555]

Excellent vídeo as usual. I made my own channel strip with a 511, a 543 and a 551. Not the same but close I guess ..

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

The 551 is three band eq if I’m not mistaken and the Portico II channel is 4 band and most importantly is a “mastering grade” level piece of gear. I think that means the Portico II channel has detents on the eq for precision. Does your 551 have detents? The 543 is the same type of VCA compression as the Portico II channel. Now the 511 is not the same, close, but not the same. One reason its different is the voltage rails of the Portico II channel are the same as the 5088 console. The voltage rails in the 511 is lower and i believe the transformer is different, too. I called Rupert Neve Designs and they feel the 511 is really very close to that of the vintage 1073/1066/1064 sound.

[@aseomg]

Holy Chri...sorry Dom. At the start of the video you reminded me of a certain person from my childhood I was told to believe in, lol

[@DoctorJRx]

Hey Dom.. Can you do a video on record hardware synths in cubase .. not guitars etc .. just synths. I been working mainly in the box but just got a couple hardware synths and im really struggling to get this right especially recording in stereo !! cheers !!

[@Jouyan.T]

I've had Avalon, Universal Audio Manley Voxbox and Portico for a few Weeks. At the end I kept the Portico. It's such a joy to work with this piece. Any idea why this has been discontinued? Very nice and helpful video btw :-)

[@DomSigalas]

No idea! I realised it was discontinued after I released the video. I guess it was very expensive to produce (and they were not selling enough units?) and I can tell why. But I am just speculating 🤔

[@Jouyan.T]

@@DomSigalas what do you think why they were not selling enough units? The price point is maybe one reason. But an Avalon or voxbox are also in the same price range. Maybe more people prefer tube sound?🤔

[@AlexOnAudio]

​​ Neve support said they discontinued it because new environmental regulations would have required them to redesign newly sold units with sonically inferior components. They didn't think they could achieve the same result with the available compliant components and so they decided to let the Portico II Channel remain as is without a revised version.

[@massimocesareAnnaloro]

Bravo!

[@petercutler3136]

Great great great great great great great great great great great vid. Thank you !!!

[@dspoet1]

I have a Neve Shelford Channel and from watching this video, I can tell the Portico II is better and more versatile. Ima take what you taught in this video and apply it to my SM7B with the Neve Shelford Channel. What kind of acoustic treatment do you have in your studio? What camera are you using to record the Portico II?

[@DomSigalas]

Aaaah lucky you! The Shelford is also very very nice- very characterful. I use GIK acoustics panels- really nice and look good. I think for this one I used a Sony a6600 to shoot the Portico :)

[@dspoet1]

@@DomSigalas Appreciate the video. I really learned a lot. Keep doing ya thing.

[@barneyrubble8255]

Why do you think the portico is better than your shelford?

[@AlexOnAudio]

​@@barneyrubble8255it's far more versatile

[@anthonyalexander7246]

The summit everest is also real nice.

[@vibrantmistartist9297]

could you make a video on how you record you're videos? what software you are using etc.?

[@DOPWELLMUSICPRODUCTIONS]

what about the plugin?

[@mediawebrecords]

very Nice unit...i like the eq ing with guitar ----good ears...men...!!!

[@chychanovsky-soundproducer]

Thanx bro for video!! Do you master tracks using Portico 2? Do it needs some additional converters?

[@Sesaon3]

Tommy Fleetwood has stood in for Dom this week :-)

[@romerikelyd5181]

Have one and love it! Too bad this channel strip is discontinued :/

[@DomSigalas]

I just found out a few days ago! Seems like it's now vintage and rare hahaha

[@marc8vino]

@@DomSigalas They are still selling them at Sweetwater.

[@DomSigalas]

@@marc8vino Grab one while you can then hahaha

[@laylow215]

I'm looking for the Link so I can purchase it

[@Sagerydian]

The portico II channel strip is not sold by RND anymore, is it? I don't find it on their website.

[@zweiklangmusic]

Great detailed review, thanks. Can you use the Portico for mastering?

[@DomSigalas]

I use the Portico II MBP for mastering- video coming soon!

[@loutang82]

Awesome. Were you paid for this? Was the unit free?

[@marc8vino]

Great video.I've been watching your stuff and now subscribing. Is the compressor the same on the Porticos and the MBP minus the limiter? Right now for tracking I am using the shelfords (x2) into the MBP for a touch more compression and limiting just a touch from each step. Then into Burl ADC. Then later the MBP on main mix or master. The portico seems very precise with the EQ and sounds like a cleaner Preamp or at least a different type.The shelfords can be clean as well. I need to sell my LA-610's and some other gear I don't use and get two porticos for a 2nd option to the shelfords. Sounds like the main compressor on the Porticos are the same as the MBP minus the limiter? That would mean I would be getting an alternative to the Shelford preamp and EQ because I can already run through the compressor with the MBP. Still...a different preamp and EQ would be nice. Love the RND stuff and I love the shelfords into the Burl and they can be set to very clean almost transparent. I record rock, folk, blues, Hard rock so I usually color a bit.

[@DomSigalas]

Thank you! The compressor seems to be the same (even though I am not sure if the topology is identical). But in the channel it’s missing the high pass filter sidechain, the limiter and of course the most important thing is driving the SFE to the compressor. I would love to have a second Portico Channel II for processing busses because the EQ is beautiful. How do you like the Shelford Channel Compressor? Sounds like a tasty piece of gear!

[@marc8vino]

@@DomSigalas Thanks for replying. I love the shelfords and my chain. I have not pushed them that hard to see everything it does. I still play it a little safe when tracking. I use a REDD mic so with the built in pre I don't use the Shelford pre amp that high. I have a pair of Shcoepps sdc stereo so maybe I might play with pushing the shelfords with those. It doe's have a -6BD output that I need to try so I can push it a bit more. I keep watching this portico channel when I get breaks and just called Sweetwater to put to on hold for me when the come in August. I think it's the last shipment they are receiving before they are no longer available. My rep said it was no problem putting 2 aside so maybe they are getting a fair amount for this last shipment? I'm pretty much selling all my other channel strips and pre amps and will choose between porticos and Shelford. It should be more than enough variety within them to cover everything I want. I hope you can get a Shelford even just to do a demo like this one. It's very informative to get another persons perspective. You do a great job with this. Thanks Again.

[@janosgrausza8790]

I think in a blind test, that could only give as much as the better plugins.

[@chrisstaubyn]

Dom, How long have you had the Portico II?

[@DomSigalas]

About more than a year now Chris :)

[@eddrupz1805]

Would the Portico II be overkill if I already have a silver bullet and SSL Fusion? Is the compressor/EQ worth $3000?

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

I think it is worth it.

[@MR_Cellarpop]

I love it

[@DomSigalas]

So good right?

[@MR_Cellarpop]

@@DomSigalas Yes, i bought mine maybe 7 years ago.

[@MR_Cellarpop]

@@DomSigalas maybe you can do a similar review on RND MBP :). Not many good deep reviews of that.

[@DomSigalas]

@@MR_Cellarpop it’s coming! I am also comparing it to the SSL Fusion- that’s gonna be a good one ;)

[@MR_Cellarpop]

@@DomSigalas great😀

[@deadislander]

I bought one. In the mail rn. Omg.

[@DavidLopez-xi1jl]

How much?

[@deadislander]

@@DavidLopez-xi1jl $3k at the time only saw this now haha

[@Bcwilderness]

brilliant is that using the external plugin feature in cubase ,or what is the best way to get the hardware in the mix thanks

[@Bcwilderness]

wow are those drums one mic sound abs killer

[@DomSigalas]

External plugin feature, exactly :)

[@Bcwilderness]

@@DomSigalas have you a walkthrough vid on how to do this dom, many rhanks

[@CorteviosAllen-xm1bj]

Do you guys recommend I sell my Avalon 737sp for this? I only track vocals and it may save me from buying a TT CL1B??

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

Did you see the imitation CL1B piece by WARM audio? Its not a perfect clone of the original but for 75% savings its pretty close.

[@tjosselin]

Sounds good :-) But I have a small question for you: Is it possible to use the Cubase Channel Strip instead of the Portico hardware?-) Why will you use one or the other?

[@DomSigalas]

They have different use cases. The Portico and any other outboard channel strip helps you get a great sound on your way into your DAW :) this is a very important aspect when you’re recording and producing your music and you can ensure a great quality recording. Then, the channel strip helps you shape and mix your recordings- they work in synergy :)

[@mimidhof2179]

Yeah great one. Try the 1073...

[@artg7909]

Cubase Jesús LOL... kool man!

[@shaner36]

is it musical vs 1073?

[@gitarman666]

why was this discontinued? I’m looking to buy 2 shelfords but will that just get replaced in a few years The used porticos 2 are about $3000 So it makes one wonder what gear holds its value after initial investment of $8000+

[@SpacehotelMusic]

Too expensive for RND to keep making (and parts compliance costs in California I believe). If they were still making it now, with the exact same quality parts it would be more expensive than the Shelford probably around or over 4k. It's a great front end channel strip and holds its value used (actually due to rarity it's going up in price)

[@gitarman666]

@@SpacehotelMusic Well it’s good too know they are holding their value, I did opt for 2 Shelford Channel Strips I could’ve got by with 1 and an API strip but I was thinking 2 buss mix They sound really, really good better than I anticipated so I’m not regretting the purchase But def not cheap

[@akeelstudiom8940]

How are you, Dom? I want you to start a project and I want that complete project.

[@IbelieveandfollowJesus]

Muchas gracias Dom por tus aportes aclaradores, motivadores, destacables... y tan esperados. POR FAVOR ten presente hacer tus demostraciones de dispositivos análogos y digitales, acompañados de una carpeta con archivos de alta resolución WAV 48 kHz / 24 Bit DESCARGABLE; ya que mediante la plataforma de KZbin no se puede apreciar plenamente el audio. Gracias, ¡BENDICIONES DE LO ALTO!

[@ichoffiziell1359]

Dom, SSL Fusion ore This Neve

[@Zenvo-uu9tm]

7:14 10 cats came to the studio

[@DomSigalas]

Hahahaha

[@PuRe_AdDicT]

Discontinued since March >< When are you selling yours xD

[@DomSigalas]

Whot whot whot? For real???

[@ThomsenTower]

@@DomSigalas "As of March 2021, the Portico II Channel has been discontinued, but it will be supported indefinitely." (From Rupert Neve site.)

[@xeeton]

I think you really removed the clarity of your voice when you set the de-esser like that

[@weststarr2046]

Send me 1 or 3 over here DOM homie....good present 👈🏾😎✨!!

[@dmn2273]

220hz puts some hair on your chest lol

[@Juliano_DJOL]

That looks like a new version or u just kept that ish clean af! Wash your hands b4 u get bear it lol!

[@christopherpederson1021]

I'd take the Shelford over this any day

[@blvkqmusicgroup]

How come?

[@barneyrubble8255]

Yeah how come?

[@christopherpederson1021]

@@barneyrubble8255 The diode bridge compressor sounds insane, and the eq is extremely punchy

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

@@christopherpederson1021As an owner of a vintage neve 1064 pre amp/eq unit, I can tell you two things: the 1064 is right up there with the 1073 in sound magic and the Portico EQ and pre are 99.98% equal. In blind tests, I couldn’t tell them apart. So the Shelford is better than a 1073/1064 vintage unit??? If you think so, I must get my hands on one and see for myself. Now, the diode bridge comp is a different topology than the Portico II comp. I understand the Shelford diode comp is like a 2254 or a 33609.

[@gitarman666]

Me too but mainly because I don’t have a choice since portico is discontinued But I do prefer the 1u Rack size Until they come that’s all I can comment on without parroting other user’s comments

[@xXValomatXx]

You are lifting the high shelve starting at 25khz? Do all the dogs in the neighbourhood react to it? Because humans won't hear it :D

[@DomSigalas]

It’s a shelf, you can hear it trust me! 😇

[@kostas3337]

Κοιμάσαι καθόλου??

[@flomakasi]

you are my Jesus-Christ !