Drawmer - OC1 Opto compressor

The Drawmer OC1 combines the essential functions of an analogue optical compressor in a 500-series format to meet the needs of a modern production environment.

Its gentle response to dynamic variations makes it suitable for vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass guitars and mix buses, delivering a natural sound that preserves the nuances of the signal and facilitates precise work in creative, recording and mixing contexts.

Every parameter remains fully adjustable thanks to controls for threshold, ratio, attack, release, input level, output level and the Wet/Dry setting for parallel compression. The 21-position rotary controls facilitate reliable recall of settings, a valuable advantage when multiple projects require exactly the same parameters.

PGM mode automatically adapts the release time to the signal being processed, minimising pumping effects and ensuring a smoother response when gain reduction becomes significant.

With the OC1, Drawmer offers two modes that alter the behaviour of the compression circuit to act separately on the extremes of the spectrum:

- BIG reduces the influence of low frequencies in the detection chain, which helps to maintain a solid foundation without causing excessive attenuation of the rest of the signal.
- AIR preserves the high-frequency details that are often attenuated during compression, bringing greater definition to vocals, acoustic instruments or cymbals, with a clear sound that retains a natural character without generating audible artefacts.

The CRUSH function adds progressive harmonic saturation, the intensity of which varies according to the input level applied to the module. The bass gains in density, the midrange takes on greater presence and the treble retains a controlled brilliance, enriching the signal’s analogue character without the need for additional equipment.

When multiple modules are installed in the same compatible chassis, the Stereo Link system automatically synchronises their gain reduction to ensure consistent behaviour during stereo or multichannel processing.