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So I am looking at the description of a Carvin CG200 - Optical Compressor.
The description reads:

Carvin's 2 CH Optical Compressor/Gate delivers the classic, distortion-free, studio sound that top engineers and musicians demand. We didn't skimp and use the typical VCA's that go into inexpensive compressors. The difference is easily audible. Your sound will be open and natural – not boxy and sterile – even under heavy compression!

Are they touting this product more then it should be? Has anyone had experience with this compressor in a studio environment.
Obvously its not gonna be a UA comp, but they making this sound like its better than your normal dbx comp or whathaveyou.

Comments

moonbaby Mon, 11/14/2005 - 06:48

I wondered about that claim, too. A bass player who uses my room had one. The gate was a bit choppy and I personally didn't think that it sounded any better than, say, a dbx 166. I think that all they did was take the little LED opti-jobbies that are used in their power amps as "limiters" and adapt them to that box.A good VCA-based design is still very valid and is more variable, envelope-wise, than an LED design. Not very impressive.

JoeH Mon, 11/14/2005 - 14:05

It's all in the ear of the beholder in this case. Aside from taking the circuit apart (or reading the schematic), theres' no way to tell exactly what kind of opto circuit is in there. The cost is probably the give-away. My guess it's the LED variety, but who knows?

I don't view Carvin as a very high-end/esoteric company, (although I've never used their stuff to comment on the sound or quality) but they do seem like a brand that tries harder than the big guys. My guess is that it's someone else's design, and they put their name on it, in a "contractual" arrangement.

blaumph2cool Mon, 11/14/2005 - 21:23

dwoz,

You don't think they're pointing out a fact on stuff like
"Your sound will be open and natural – not boxy and sterile – even under heavy compression!"?

They practically make this thing sound like it will cure cancer.

Just on a side note. I have used one of their mixers in live sound environment and it was very good.

-Chris

anonymous Mon, 11/14/2005 - 21:53

blaumph2cool wrote: dwoz,

You don't think they're pointing out a fact on stuff like
"Your sound will be open and natural – not boxy and sterile – even under heavy compression!"?

They practically make this thing sound like it will cure cancer.

Just on a side note. I have used one of their mixers in live sound environment and it was very good.

-Chris

So, the sound will be open and natural. WHat does that mean? Means nothing. The words evoke certain feelings, but in themselves mean nothing. Not boxy and sterile...again, what do these mean? Nothing! What's "heavy compression"? undefined!

"we didn't skimp and use the typical VCA's"... that's like me saying "I didn't skimp and use the typical diesel fuel in my honda civic"...of COURSE they didn't use VCAs...its an OPTO for chrissakes. meaningless words.

"The difference is audible"...I'm sure it is. That isn't an assertion of quality.

"classic, distortion-free, studio sound that top engineers and musicians demand"...this sounds like a statement of quality, but it really means that they've built something that their paid endorsers will use, if they are paid to do so.

dwoz