Pendulum Audio OCL-500

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 sluggish response inherent in vintage designs.


Pendulum Audio OCL-500 Features :

• OCL-2 compression profile with 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

The OCL-500 features the same compression circuit as its predecessor from yester-decade, but a transformerless, class A, solid-state gain makeup circuit replaces the tube stage from the OC-2.
The result is clean, transparent compression that can be used to shape the dynamics of any source while preserving its tone.

Also, drawing off the OCL-2, the OCL-500 has a wide variety of time constants and dynamic control to optimize the compression characteristics, including a sidechain hi-pass filter.

Pendulum Audio OCL-500 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


Time Constants :

Position   Type               Description

F              Fast               Peak-averaged by the opto-cell
A             Average         RMS response
V1           Vintage 1       Three-stage multi-slope (auto)
V2           Vintage 2       Slower three-stage multi-slope (auto)
M1          Manual 1       Medium attack, medium release
M1          Manual 2       Slower attack, slower release


Average and Vintage 1 are the presets in the Quartet.
Vintage 2 is the Vintage preset in the Quartet II.
M1 and M2 are manual attack and release settings often used in the OCL-2