DarkComp

DarkComp

A mix-bus optical compressor built on an authentic T4B-style opto core (with 12AX7 tube stage and transformer body), shaped for bus “glue” duty. It keeps the smooth opto soul — gentle knee, program-dependent optical recovery — but borrows a tighter initial attack from FET designs, and offers both CLASSIC (feedback, vintage opto) and MODERN (feedforward, tighter) detector modes. Adds a sidechain EQ, output EQ, parallel mix, and transformer color on top.

Main panel — compression

GAIN (0…40 dB) — Input/makeup gain into the opto stage (the LA-2A “Gain” knob).

PEAK REDUCTION (0…100) — The main compression amount. Higher = more leveling/gain reduction. (The LA-2A’s single compression control.)

COMP / LIM switch — COMP = gentle leveling-amp ratio; LIM = harder limiting.

MODE (CLASSIC / MODERN) — Detector topology. CLASSIC = feedback, authentic opto behavior, smoother and more vintage. MODERN = feedforward (SSL-style), tighter and more controlled. Default MODERN.

ON/OFF — Compression in/bypass.

Metering

VU — Switchable between GR (gain reduction) and OUTPUT level via Meter Mode.

ADV panel

MIX (0…100%) — Parallel compression, blends dry with compressed.

INPUT (−18…+18 dB) — Pre-compressor input-gain trim.

KNEE (−10…+10):

• negative = harder knee — compression kicks in more abruptly at threshold, snappier/more aggressive.
• 0 = stock — the compressor’s natural opto knee.
• positive = softer knee — compression eases in more gradually, smoother and more musical.

OUTPUT (−12…+12 dB) — Final post-everything output trim.

EQ display + EQ MODE (SC / OUT) — One 6-band parametric EQ display that toggles between two destinations:

• SC — Sidechain EQ: shapes what the detector hears, so the compressor reacts more or less to certain frequencies.
• OUT — Output EQ: post-compression tone shaping on the audio itself.

Drag bands on the display; per band On, Type (Bell/LShelf/HShelf/LCut/HCut), Freq/Gain/Q.

Transformer (combobox) — Output transformer emulation, 17 options (None, Carnhill, Sowter, Cinemag, Marinair, Haufe V72, Triad HS-30, Reichenbach, EA Edcor, Neve 1272, API 2520, UTC A-20, Peerless S-415, St Ives, Lundahl LL1538, Jensen JT-11, Tamura TKS-27). Adds output character/color.

Oversampling

x2 / x4 / x8 (combobox) — Anti-aliasing. Default x4.