The AudioScape Opto Compressor is a carefully designed optical valve compressor that honours a legendary 1960s model, the Teletronix LA-2A, celebrated for its smooth, musical compression and unique tone. Its dynamic control relied on an incandescent light bulb and optical sensor, with audio passing through tubes and transformers for its signature sound.
Inspired by this iconic 1960s design, the AudioScape Opto Compressor faithfully recreates its character, utilising AudioScape’s own T4B opto-attenuator, NOS valves, and robust transformers.
The AudioScape Opto Compressor is a faithful recreation of a classic 1960s optical compressor circuit, enhanced with modern updates for improved performance and versatility. It incorporates NOS tubes, NOS carbon-composite resistors, and a custom in-house-built T4B opto-attenuator to deliver unmatched authenticity and classic tone. Designed to replicate the sonic elegance of the original, it is built with the finest components and meticulous craftsmanship.
One key modern enhancement is the relocation of the R37 high-frequency control trim pot from the back of the unit to the front panel, making it far more accessible. In the original design, this trim pot was factory-set for a flat side-chain response. With the control now adjustable, turning it counterclockwise filters out low-frequency, high-energy content, shifting the focus of compression to higher frequencies. This modification makes the AudioScape Opto Compressor more versatile, allowing greater precision in shaping the compression range.
The in-house-built T4B opto-attenuators follow vintage specifications, using the resistor across the panel true to the original schematics, unlike the newer JBL-era T4Bs commonly used elsewhere. The AudioScape Opto Compressor also stays true to the original spec with 1/2-watt carbon composite resistors, Cornell Dubilier, Panasonic, and Nichicon capacitors, NOS vintage tubes, and custom-wound Cinemag transformers. Its T4B opto-attenuators are crafted using the highest-grade photocells and replica EL panels, rigorously tested against vintage UREI, Kenetek, and Drip T4s to ensure outstanding performance.
Features
- Handcrafted in the USA
- Stylish 3U 19″ Rackmount USA Made Case and Front Panel (aesthetically period-correct)
- Premium, NOS Tubes in Audio Section – New Production Tubes Don’t Cut it in this Circuit
- AudioScape T4B Opto-Attenuator – Custom, Hand-Built and Sonically Period-Correct (true to vintage tradition).
- Exclusive, Custom-Wound Input Transformer (exacting replica of the original)
- Exclusive, Custom-Wound Output Transformer (exacting replica of the original)
- Cornell Dubilier (CDE) Polypropylene Capacitors
- Panasonic Radial Polyester Capacitors
- NOS Allen-Bradley Carbon Comp Resistors
- Carling (the BEST!) Toggle Switches
- +40dB Make-up Gain
- Analog dB Gain-Reduction Meter Perfectly Calibrated
- Davies Original-Styled Knobs
- Electronically Balanced +4dBu circuitry
- Neutrik XLR Input and Output connectors
- Alpha potentiometers and Rotary Switch
- Stereo Link via Cliff TRS Jack (Located on Back of Unit)
- Custom 120V/240V Power Transformer
