Chameleon Labs 7802 compressor
Chameleon Labs 7802 is a stereo opto compressor with a tube gain stage, characterized by a very smooth and soft compression.
An opto compressor uses a light source that increases its brightness when the input signal amplitude gets higher. The gain varies with the light intensity: with high brightness, there is more compression and vice versa. The light changes are quiet slow, so the compression applied is quiet slow and natural too. The resulting effect is very pleasing in the audio mastering stage, where the compressor is generally set with slow attack and release times to achieve a more natural and warm compression effect.
This opto compressor uses a triode tube too (only one for both channels), by which it is possible to compensate for the gain reduction caused by the compression. The tube gain makes the sound even smoother and rounder, thanks to the even harmonics (overall the second one) added to the sound; this saturation effect, however, is very subtle in this unit, maybe because there is only one triode.
Attack and release times can be both set by a unique five position rotary switch, with the following attack times: 10 ms, 22 ms, 32 ms, 47 ms and 70 ms. The release time is proportionally higher than attack time and is program material dependent.
The compression ratio can be set by a switch, and it is possible to choose between a 2:1 ratio for compression, and a 4:1 ratio for limiting. In both cases, the compression effect is achieved with a soft knee, which contributes to create the soft and smooth tone that characterizes the optical compressors. I always use in this unit the 2:1 ratio for mastering, because it gives a more natural and relaxed tone.
A very interesting and important feature of this compressor is the sidechain HPF filter, that is fixed on 90 Hz with a 6 db / octave roll off. This filter allows to achieve a compression effect that is less influenced by low frequencies, so to minimize the pumping effect, that can be very obtrusive in bass heavy tracks. In the mastering stage, this filter is very useful; applying it, it is possible to use even very fast attack / release times (with a 2:1 ratio), while the sound and the compression effect remain natural and pleasing. On the other hand, when the HPF filter is turned off, it is suggested to use slower attack and release times, for avoiding an excessive pumping effect.
The stereo link switch allows to apply the same amount of compression on both the channels, so to avoid any unwanted stereo image shifting in stereo materials. Unfortunately, this switch doesn’t set one channel as the master and the other as the slave, which is a very desirable feature in the mastering stage: so, with stereo tracks, it is necessary to set both the channels at the same time, even with the stereo link switch engaged.
In summary, Chameleon Labs 7802 is an opto compressor with a very pleasing, smooth, delicate sound, and it’s able to smooth out harsh and disturbing transients as well as excessive macro dynamics; the only weakness is the lack of a master channel when the stereo link switch is on.
An opto compressor uses a light source that increases its brightness when the input signal amplitude gets higher. The gain varies with the light intensity: with high brightness, there is more compression and vice versa. The light changes are quiet slow, so the compression applied is quiet slow and natural too. The resulting effect is very pleasing in the audio mastering stage, where the compressor is generally set with slow attack and release times to achieve a more natural and warm compression effect.
This opto compressor uses a triode tube too (only one for both channels), by which it is possible to compensate for the gain reduction caused by the compression. The tube gain makes the sound even smoother and rounder, thanks to the even harmonics (overall the second one) added to the sound; this saturation effect, however, is very subtle in this unit, maybe because there is only one triode.
Attack and release times can be both set by a unique five position rotary switch, with the following attack times: 10 ms, 22 ms, 32 ms, 47 ms and 70 ms. The release time is proportionally higher than attack time and is program material dependent.
The compression ratio can be set by a switch, and it is possible to choose between a 2:1 ratio for compression, and a 4:1 ratio for limiting. In both cases, the compression effect is achieved with a soft knee, which contributes to create the soft and smooth tone that characterizes the optical compressors. I always use in this unit the 2:1 ratio for mastering, because it gives a more natural and relaxed tone.
A very interesting and important feature of this compressor is the sidechain HPF filter, that is fixed on 90 Hz with a 6 db / octave roll off. This filter allows to achieve a compression effect that is less influenced by low frequencies, so to minimize the pumping effect, that can be very obtrusive in bass heavy tracks. In the mastering stage, this filter is very useful; applying it, it is possible to use even very fast attack / release times (with a 2:1 ratio), while the sound and the compression effect remain natural and pleasing. On the other hand, when the HPF filter is turned off, it is suggested to use slower attack and release times, for avoiding an excessive pumping effect.
The stereo link switch allows to apply the same amount of compression on both the channels, so to avoid any unwanted stereo image shifting in stereo materials. Unfortunately, this switch doesn’t set one channel as the master and the other as the slave, which is a very desirable feature in the mastering stage: so, with stereo tracks, it is necessary to set both the channels at the same time, even with the stereo link switch engaged.
In summary, Chameleon Labs 7802 is an opto compressor with a very pleasing, smooth, delicate sound, and it’s able to smooth out harsh and disturbing transients as well as excessive macro dynamics; the only weakness is the lack of a master channel when the stereo link switch is on.
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