Description
Compress Creatively.
From transparent vocal smoothing to extreme envelope shaping with massive harmonic texture, the OptoFET is a highly versatile analog compressor & wave shaper that combines a newly-designed FET compression circuit with an optimized Optical compression circuit into a single rack space.
There are two primary compression modes: in Dual-Stage mode, the FET and OPTO compressors are used in series for complete dynamic control over critical sources, accomplishing a common recording & mixing technique with ease. In Dual-Band mode, each compressor is assigned to either a low or high frequency band that can then be processed independently, which expands the tone-shaping and dynamic control of the OptoFET into uncharted territory.
“Up until recently, it was a Distressor into a CL 1B for vocals...the OptoFET did everything I wanted it to do in a single rack space without having to take up 4U, which is huge. It’s an amazing tool to have.”
All New FET Compressor Design
For many years, the engineering team at RND has experimented with FET compressor designs – but it wasn’t until the OptoFET concept was solidified that releasing our first FET circuit felt ‘right’. While this FET compressor has some familiar characteristics, including ultra-fast attack times and common ratio settings, there are also several features that make it instantly feel like a Rupert Neve Designs product and nothing else.
To start with, all variable controls for the OptoFET are via high quality, 31-detent potentiometers, standard to most of our current products. The FET compressor includes variable Attack (with the fastest time being a blazing 100 microseconds), Release, Threshold, +20 dB of Make-up Gain and a parallel Blend control from 0% (dry) to 100% (wet). Ratio can be set to either 4:1 or 8:1 and the 125Hz S/C high pass filter can be toggled on to leave the low end of a source untouched.
To further expand the OptoFET’s creative capabilities, a unique new ‘GRIT’ mode transforms the FET compressor into a powerful wave shaper, introducing ample harmonic distortion focused in the upper frequency range.
GRIT can be used to either slightly accentuate sources so they ‘pop’ in just the right way or transform them into something entirely new. GRIT is also especially useful when combined with the Blend control to achieve an exacting amount of distortion character for a wide range of sources.
Please note, the S/C HFP on the FET is disabled when in GRIT mode.
Optimized Optical Compressor Design
RND has created several optical compression circuits over the years – including the Color Comp in the wildly popular MBT (Master Bus Transformer) – but the circuit in the OptoFET was further developed to be the ideal complement to the faster, high-frequency focused FET compressor. In contrast, the OPTO compressor generates low-end harmonics while also having much slower attack and release settings.
For controls, the OPTO compressor includes variable Attack (starting at 5 milliseconds), Release, Threshold, +20 dB of Make-up Gain and parallel Blend controls, arranged in the same way on the front panel as the FET section. Ratio can be set to either 2:1 or 5:1, and it also includes a 125Hz S/C high pass filter.
Where the FET section has its new ‘GRIT’ mode, the OPTO section contains another unique new mode called ‘BLOOM’.
With BLOOM engaged, the low-order harmonics increase significantly, instantly making sources warmer, rounder and more pronounced in the low end. BLOOM can help make final adjustments without the use of a traditional EQ, especially when used with the Blend control.
A NOTE ON GRIT + BLOOM
Unlike our SILK circuit, which enhances 2nd and 3rd order harmonics through saturation of the physical output transformer, the effects of the OptoFET’s GRIT and BLOOM modes are produced through the interaction of each compressor’s circuitry with newly-developed side-chain circuits. This can lead to far more dramatic wave-shaping effects, with harmonics extending far beyond those produced by SILK.
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