Opal Comp: A New Era in Compression with John Oram & Acustica Audio

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Introducing Opal Comp, a new groundbreaking compressor/limiter plugin that embodies the unmatched expertise of audio design master, Mr. John Oram.

Following the success of our Opal Equalizer, Opal Comp is poised to redefine compression in the world of audio plugins.

This dual-mono plugin, available in VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU formats, has been faithfully sampled to offer one of the best high-quality dynamic processors from the esteemed John Oram, chosen over the years by many industry professionals, including the legendary Al Schmitt.


The Perfect Blend: Merging Two Technologies for Superior Results.

Opal Comp aims to deliver the essence of the precision compressors and limiters that were meticulously crafted in England to meet rigorous standards of quality and durability, as with all Oram products.

It's based on the Sonicomp compressor technology, known for its precision optical and solid-state limiter/compressor capabilities, echoing the legendary Oram Sonics Sonicomp 2. Furthermore, it elevates this sonic character with Acustica's Hyper 3 technology.


Key Features.

Dual-Mono Solid-State Excellence: Faithfully sampled dual-mono solid-state limiter/compressor for enhanced audio control and flexibility.

Feed-Forward Compression: Opal Comp features a feed-forward compression mode for precise control over dynamic range.

Transparent Peak Management: Vintage-style optical system with a soft, round knee for transparent peak management.

Hyper 3 Technology: Enhanced with Acustica's Hyper 3 technology for advanced audio processing capabilities.

Numeric Input/Display Parameters: Easily tune your settings with precision.


What you get.

Much like its hardware counterpart, the Opal Comp plug-in boasts a meticulously calibrated VU meter for precise level reduction and gain, a 'hybrid' optical/solid-state design, a feed-forward compression mode, and an array of additional controls that ensure unrivaled versatility in a charming pastel blue interface, preserving the aesthetic appeal of the original units in the digital realm.


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Opal Comp GUI

Opal Comp comes in a 'standard' version and an alternative 'ZL*' version, which operates at *zero latency and is thus suitable for use when tracking (at the cost of extra processing resources).

For more in-depth information about the Opal Comp plugin, please refer to the user's manual. It contains comprehensive details and instructions to help you understand the product better.


How Does Opal Comp Perform?

It sounds just like an Oram in a truly astonishing way. The musicality of this plug-in is nothing short of awe-inspiring, characterized by an exceptionally smooth and clean sound.

The unique magic lies in its hybrid compression, blending vintage-style optical compression with a soft, round knee at the compression threshold, and a solid-state stage renowned for its instant peak control.


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Super-responsive knee display for real-time monitoring.


When fine-tuned control is required, such as in a final mix scenario, the optical component transparently manages peak excursions, gently compressing the program's average level to reduce dynamic range, all set for an output gain boost. Meanwhile, the solid-state stage excels at taking immediate control of peaks.


About John Oram: A Legend in Audio Engineering.


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John Oram is a legendary name in the audio industry, boasting an impressive 23 Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards nominations.

His multifaceted career, encompassing roles as a musician, producer, touring drummer, mixing engineer, and technical engineer, has led him to collaborate with some of the most iconic bands and audio companies since the early 1960s, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Vox and Trident Audio.

He was part of the Vox team that designed the Wah-Wah, The Fuzz Box, and the Continental Organ, leading to the circuitry design for the VOX AC50 and the Super Beatle amplifiers.


Acustica Audio Opal Comp | Demo





Technical information & compatibility.

• Supported formats: VST2, VST3, AAX, and AU.
• Available sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz.
• Windows 10 and 11 compatible.
• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) to macOS 13 (Ventura) compatible.
• Intel, AMD, and ARM compatible.
• Apple Silicon native (Rosetta not supported).


Price and availability.

Opal Comp introductory price: €59 | 46% OFF until November 23, 2023 (reg. price €109) Get it here!

The product is at an introductory period for the first four weeks after release or until the first official version is released; this implies that the product may receive improvements, changes, or fixes available through Aquarius Desktop updates.


Try our FREE 30-Day Trial
Note: Opal Comp trial version includes 44.1 - 48 - 88.2 - 96 kHz sample rates.
Please remember that trials expire 30 days after authorization, and we strongly recommend not using trial products in commercial sessions or any important project.


Opal Comp user's manual


Opal Comp webpage: https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/OPALCOMP

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aMUSEd wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 4:07 pm https://www.uvi.net/opal.html
https://www.acustica-audio.com/shop/products/OPALEQ

Pre-dates UVI. AA wins.

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Just installed the demo and gave this a little bit of a test run. Hmm.. not so sure about this one. It's rather pumpy and weird in it's default settings. You really need to tweak a lot to get usable results but it always feels really unstable. The only exception being the FF mode, that one works nicely but then you end up with very slow release settings instead.

Whatever the marketing blurb says, this thing ain't transparent at all. It reminds me a bit of the way the Alesis nasty little compressor does it's attack and initial release stage, which can be cool in some situations but for ordinary tasks this one is a bit of a dud, or at least that's my initial impression of it. I'll keep testing it on more material and see if I find some sweetspot.
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot

"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle

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When i read or hear "new era in compression", I pass by.

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lobanov wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:07 pm When i read or hear "new era in compression", I pass by.
try new era of eq by relab, very good :?
aliasing plugin owner
:?

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A new era in turning things down.

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martiu wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:18 pm
lobanov wrote: Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:07 pm When i read or hear "new era in compression", I pass by.
try new era of eq by relab, very good :?
My reaction is the same :phones:

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I'm sure this one is pretty close to the hardware but I guess I just don't like the hardware box either then. :shrug:

It's just too grabby without being punchy in a solid way. I don't know.. maybe I just don't know how to operate it. Don't really have time to find out as I'm already fully stocked on compressors, including quite a few from Acustica Audio (my favorites still being Tulip and Sunray).
"Wisdom is wisdom, regardless of the idiot who said it." -an idiot

"They don't ban hate speech; they ban speech they hate." -an oracle

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