Alice 538R Rackmount OPTO Stereo Compressor

Product Overview

The Alice 538R OPTO compressor is a full-size 1U rackmount stereo optical compressor based on the acclaimed Alice 538T 500-series design, bringing Ted Fletcher’s historic opto topology into a mains-powered unit for mix and bus duties. It combines OEP transformer-balanced inputs and outputs, a side-chain input and dual analogue VU meters to deliver musical, non-linear compression that ranges from gentle levelling to aggressive drum crush. A continuously variable stereo width control using mid/side processing lets you move from mono through true stereo to extended stereo, opening up creative imaging options that are difficult to replicate with plug-ins.

Key Features

• • 1U rackmount OPTO stereo compressor derived from the Alice 538T 500-series module.

• • Ted Fletcher photoresistive feedback compressor design, inspired by classic Joe Meek SC2 V5 circuitry for musical bus compression.

• • OEP transformer-balanced left/right inputs and outputs for high headroom and subtle analogue character.

• • Variable stereo width control using mid/side processing, from full mono through normal stereo to wide, enhanced imaging.

• • Dual analogue VU meters switchable between signal level (VU) and gain reduction (COMP) for precise metering.

• • Non-linear compression ratios from around 1.2:1 up to roughly 8:1, with attack from about 1–10ms and release from approximately 200ms to 1.5s.

• • Line-level frequency response 20Hz–20kHz within about 1dB, noise at least 80dB below operating level and dynamic range over 100dB.

• • Maximum balanced output around +26dBu from 50 ohm floating outputs, with universal 85–285V AC mains power and Neutrik XLR/TRS connections.

Applications

Use the Alice 538R OPTO compressor on mix bus, drum bus, instrument stems and vocals when you need characterful optical compression combined with flexible stereo width control. Its transformer I/O, wide operating range and classic opto behaviour make the Alice 538R OPTO compressor equally at home in hybrid DAW studios, analogue mix rooms and broadcast production chains where reliable stereo bus processing and distinctive tone are required.

Pair the Alice 538R OPTO compressor with Alice mic preamps and EQs in our dynamics processors to build complete analogue tracking and mix chains. To explore more related Alice outboard, visit our Alice brand page and the main microphone preamps categories on Broadcasters Warehouse.