538 Stereo Opto Compressor

Description

A compressor with a pedigree

• Ted Fletcher’s historic opto compression design.
• Perfect ‘Hard-Wired’ by-pass for instant comparisons.
• Wide range ratios from gentle to brutal.
• Accurate UV compression metering on a real meter,
• Extreme stereo width control.

The ‘538’ is designed for creative compression effects that are difficult to achieve with plug-ins. It’s capable of extreme compression just as Ted’s original Joe Meek SC2 V5; amazing drum sounds! It’s also super-quality ‘Levelling Amplifier’ with the sparkle of a well-designed opto compressor.

Mechanical

The ‘538’ occupies two spaces in a standard API 500 series rack using ‘normal’ and ‘aux’ ins and outs for L and R.

Inputs and Outputs

Left and Right balanced or unbalanced.

Compression

Optical compression using historic opto cells from Ted Fletcher’s personal stock. Switchable hard-wired (relay) by-pass.

Imaging

Variable width control from full ‘mono’ via true L/R stereo up to 150% stereo width.

Metering

Easy-to-read analogue meter reading audio (UV) or compression depth (comp).

Note; TFPRO538 is designed to interface with the extended 500 series protocol. Recommended 500 series racks are Bento 6S and Midas L6 and L10.

Raging Test

TFPRO538 stereo compressor. Comps switches in after 6 seconds, then off at 19 secs. Then on at 30 then off at 40 secs. After a gap, width control moves to ‘mono’, then sweeps up to 150%.