Pushing the Pendulum OCL-2

[Jaffa Gate]

Wondering when using my Pendulum OCL-2 for mastering is it ok too push the vu's over 0 by cranking the output slightly (i am trying to get more gain from something else and using less L2) it sounds fine but is this a bad thing too do in my mastering , should i always have these needle's under 0.
Thanks
Jaffa

[Bang]

I say close your eyes and let your ears tell you the answer.

[Cellotron]

I agree with the above poster - the VU meter is useless in comparison to your ears in judging how much compression or makeup gain to apply.

Anyway - specifically regarding the OCL-2 - from my own uses I find if you send too much signal into it (with its input meters showing levels consistently going over 0dB VU) then the threshold control doesn't have that much headroom and things even with a threshold set at -1dB (and even with long attacks and small ratios) get really "grabby" and things are often overly flattened and smoothed to the point of really losing punch on any percussive elements.

For some things with majorly sharp transients this can be a good thing - but I find for getting best ability to shape results with the OCL - especially if all you want to do is just nudge things and not really do any real dramatic gain reduction - it really helps to attenuate the signal a bit (i.e. about 3dB more than I generally find I have to do with my API2500) before it hits the comp. For most tracks I run through the OCL I most often find the best sounding setting is where the VU when measuring GR barely ever moves.

As far as using its output makeup gain - I find the OCL-2's definitely sounds euphonic and can be useful to have - although be aware that as you push this higher you also can move the noise floor up a bit too. Replacing the input tubes mine came stock with (unbranded 90's era Chinese 12AX7's) with NOS GE 6072A's made a huge difference in lowering the self noise on my box.

As always - take this advice with a big grain of salt and just use your ears to find the best settings as each and every individual track will have different needs.

To be honest I'm not as much of a fan of the OCL-2 as many others who own it who post here - as noted I find it too often a bit too grabby to be used that often for most tracks I receive - and I also find the threshold controls and output controls to be a bit too "tweaky" for side matching and recalls to my taste and really would like to get these modded with switches (the smaller 12step Grayhill's might in fact fit the tiny bit of space back there) - and perhaps add an optional pad to its input as well. I plan to check out a few comps in the near future - so I might in fact end up putting the OCL-2 on the market if I like one of them a lot more than OCL-2 and if the mods I want to do don't seem easily feasible to my tech.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Brad Blackwood]

IIRC, the OCL-2's makeup gain is post the compression element - it's purely a gain stage. IOW, increasing the makeup gain has nothing to do with the compression/limiting that you are doing.

[Cellotron]

Originally Posted by Brad Blackwood

IIRC, the OCL-2's makeup gain is post the compression element - it's purely a gain stage. IOW, increasing the makeup gain has nothing to do with the compression/limiting that you are doing.

Agreed - from all my uses of it adding make up gain doesn't effect the sound of the compression at all.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[audioartist]

I believe that the output stage on the OCL2 is the same output
circuit as is in the dual tube mic pre. (MPD 1) I own them both
and have worked sessions with the owner and designer. Now,
bear in mind that this is not an apples to apples example but,
when tracking, the first thing Greg did on the several MPD 1's
we were using was, to turn the outputs all the way up. Try
listening with no signal to see if cranking the output adds any
appreciable noise. I can't remember the last time I switched the
meters to anything other than G/R.
If you really want to slam levels without using a plug in you need to get the
PL2 limiter (I'm not a salesman, just a fan)

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by Bang

I say close your eyes and let your ears tell you the answer.

Exactly! Especially with tubes, which have a lot of internal headroom. I had my OCL-2 modified with an additional drive control while retaining a passive output control as well. That way you can overdrive the internal tube stage as much as you want without going over standard level on its output (whatever your "standard" may be). In that case you have to use your ears anyway, because you're extending the language that the OCL-2 can speak.

BK

[Jaffa Gate]

Amazing answers from some real exp.,
Bang
"I say close your eyes and let your ears tell you the answer."

And the Bob Katz endorsement makes me know its Sunday and all's well

Should I take the step into the hardware limiter, or get another comp,

Cellotron

Are you a bigger fan of the API 2500 than the OCL-2 (I know they must be very different)
I just think the API 2500 might be a contender as next(missing) in my chain,

thanks

Jaffa