OCL-500 Compressor

OCL Compression for the 500 Series Format

Since its introduction in 1998, the Pendulum OCL-2 Compressor/Limiter has become a modern classic. In fact, the OCL-2 changed the way users think about opto compression! Our custom opto cell provides fast, invisible compression without the artifacts and suggish response inherent in vintage designs.

The new OCL-500 has the same compression circuit as the OCl-2, but uses a transformerless class A solid-state gain makeup circuit in place of the tube stage. The result is clean, transparent compression that can be used to shape the dynamics of any source while preserving its tone. Like the OCL-2, the OCL-500 has a wide variety of time constants and dynamic control to optimize the compres- sion characteristics, including a sidechain hi-pass filter.

Specifications

Format: API® 500 series standard, fully compatible
Input Impedance: 20K!, balanced
Output Impedance: less than 50!
Max. Output Level: +27dBu, balanced
Threshold: off to 20dB of gain reduction at +4dBu
Ratio: 1.5:1 to 15: 1, soft knee
Output: Off to +20dB of makeup gain
Max. Gain Reduction: 27 dB
Frequency Response: +/- 1 dB from 10Hz to 95kHz
Noise Level: better than 78dB below +4dBu, 0-30kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion: less than 0.01% with no compression

Fast Features

OCL-2 compression profile with our proprietary opto cell · Six time constants with fast, rms, multi-slope and average · Class A solid - state (no tubes) · Sidechain hi-pass filter · Single-space 500 series rack format · Handcrafted in the USA

Notes:
0dBu = 0.775 Vrms
All noise measurements are unweighted, 20 - 20,000 Hz bandwidth
All Specifications are subject to change without notice