Ocl-2 OR Gyratec X

[omnia]

Hi guys, this is the first analog comp I'm getting and I really cant decide which one to go for between the two. (mastering use, I now have MD4 in 6000,hedd,Weiss EQ1 LP/DYN, K-stereo)

I know Ocl-2 is quite versatile and great sounding but there's also the saying that it's a boring comp, and some people chose Gyratec 10 over the Ocl-2 they had for years. Then I'm wondering in what way the ocl-2 is boring ? and are there things you can achieve with ocl-2 that the GX is lack of ?

It's too bad I'm not able to audition the two so it would be great if anyone
here can upload some samples to hear.
Any inputs would be appreciated !

[yareck]

I don't know why people say it's boring, OCL-2 is very good sounding electro-optical compressor. Gyraf G10 is vari-mu AFAIK.

[MAzevedo]

I haven't heard the Gyratec (I'd like to, though). Regarding the OCL-2:

I wouldn't call it boring, but it's very, very clean. (Especially if you upgrade the stock tubes to a nice set of NOS tubes.) It has just a smidge of 'euphonic sheen' to it. When I want opto compression, I have the OCL-2 and a Requisite L2-M. The L2-M has loads of color, and many times it's magical. There are also lots of records that just turn to mud going thought it, even before any gain reduction happens. For those cases, the OCL-2 is just the ticket.

From what I know of the Gyratec, the idea of X AND OCL-2 is much more appealing than X OR OCL-2. They seem like they'd be much more complementary than replacements for each other.

I would also say that I would never drop that much cash on a box I couldn't demo, or at least couldn't return in 30 or 60 days if it didn't work for me. The relationship between the tools and the workflow is way to personal to commit to anything I'd put in my chain unheard.

[gyraf]

Originally Posted by MAzevedo

From what I know of the Gyratec, the idea of X AND OCL-2 is much more appealing than X OR OCL-2. They seem like they'd be much more complementary than replacements for each other..

Spot on... The G10 Vari-mu was by design aimed at complementing the earlier G3, which is a cleaner-type electro-optical compressor. They're a team :-)

Jakob E.

[Stereophonic]

I love my OCL2! It really comes to life when the side-chain is tweaked.
timothy

[yareck]

I've also heard demo of the Gyraf X somewhere on GS. For me, sounds like Manley vari-mu on steroids.

[ISedlacek]

These two units are as different as something could be: OCL-2 (maybe too) clean sounding, non-coloured, non-exciting, non-sexy vs G10 - full of power, warm aristocratic feeling, vibrating larger than life, velvety, sexy ...

But these two are so different that the choice OCL-2 or G10 is not really within similar use possibilities ...

You can rather ask OCL-2 or STC-8 ? or (even more exciting - yet rather clean) Vertigo VSC-2 ?

G10 is great (I use it daily), but in different department ...

[thermos]

I only have the OCL-2, its the only comp I use for mastering. I wouldn't really call it boring per se, as the tone of just running material through it (with no gain reduction) definitely puts a stamp on it. Slightly velvety, smoothing etc. It is a clean character though. I personally only use it for 1/4-1 db tops reduction or so, which is what it seems really good at. I don't think it sounds great when you are trying to do large reduction.

I'm very happy with it. I've heard Ivo's samples of the Gyratec X and thought it sounded amazing. Linked compression on a master is a no go for me though, so I lost interest in it. I have the G14 and love it, it adds a little more fun to the signal that the OCL-2 purposefully misses.

Also, I echo the importance of upgraded tubes. The reduction sounds sweeter, the unit is quieter, and it just sounds more expensive.

[yareck]

+1 for OCL-2, it's clean but wouldn't say boring.

The sound is simmilar to my Glory Comps in terms of clarity, except the GCs are punchier and faster. Both have very good bass IMO.

[omnia]

great info I got here, thank you everyone this's really helpful !
Actually I was pretty sure I would need the Ocl-2, (with the Bob Katz mod, and NOS tube), but the same time I also wanted to know better about the X, and see if I should get the X first, and pick up the pendulum in the future.

ISedlacek, thanks again for your post! I actually found a early thread of yours, with some mp3 samples of the 2 comps, but I guess the audio links dont exist anymore, do you by any chance still have them available, maybe on your own site or ? I still hope I can hear sth from them before going to the bank...

can the gyraf x work in a less-coloured/power, more gentle kind of way with different settings ?

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by omnia

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can the gyraf x work in a less-coloured/power, more gentle kind of way with different settings ?

Sure !! It very much depends on how much extra you drive the input or output. If just little, you have quite a clean beast in your hands ...

I am afraid the sound samples have gone ...

[omnia]

anyone here know Jakob from Gyraf ? I sent a PM to him, also an email from their ordering page but haven't heard anything back..

Jakob pls get back to me if you see this, thanks !


Chris

[gyraf]

Hi Chris,

PM'ed you.

We've been at the music show at Frankfurt, which is why you haven't heard from us earlier.

Jakob E.

[Aarhus Lydstudie]

Originally Posted by omnia

anyone here know Jakob from Gyraf ? I sent a PM to him, also an email from their ordering page but haven't heard anything back..

Jakob pls get back to me if you see this, thanks !


Chris

I know him (we live in the same city), and Jakob is a great guy - I only have good things to say about him thumbsup

BTW: I've only had the Gyratex X for a month now, but it's a great unit and really sexy!