0% up to 48 Months on over 110 Brands!
New & Current Vintage King Card Holders
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Cookie Policy
$
905
.00
Your Savings:
$
244
.00
Msrp:
$
1,149
.00
No interest if paid in full within 12 months
Learn more
PayPal Credit, Express Checkout and Pay in 4 available.
In Stock
Orders placed by 4:00pm ET Monday - Friday will ship the same day.
To inquire if this item is available to ship sooner or is in one of our stores, please call 888.653.1184 or chat with us.
SKU
50867
Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500 500 Series Tube Compressor
Acme’s Opticom tube compressor/limiter comes to the 500 Series format
MFR# XLA-500
Product Description
Smaller Size, Same Compression
In a new era of condensed circuits and smaller sizes, Acme Audio has taken their Opticom XLA-3 MKII and brought it to the 500 Series platform for the first time ever with the Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500. While the design has been scaled down, the 500 Series module remains a tube compressor with one tube in its makeup. With a transformer in and out, the unit is all cinemag and still features the triple optoelectronic circuit of its predecessor. The unit features the same functionality, but with a more focused sound and some beefy results.
The Birth of the Opticom XLA-3 MKII
Despite falling in love with the naturally smooth compression of the Teletronix LA-2A in his years of engineering and producing, Acme Audio’s Al Sutton (Kid Rock/John Fogerty) pined for something more from the storied limiter. That certain “something” revolved around adding multiple speeds to the classic unit’s single speed of compression. The end result was the Acme Audio Opticom XLA-3 MKII, which brought three speeds to one box via a unique triple optoelectronic circuit. A smaller version of this circuit now finds a home in the 500 Series version as well.
Selecting The Right Speed
The original design of the LA-2A has tended to vary from unit to unit, providing engineers with different results based on what they own. The Opticom XLA-500 brings three speeds, Slow, Medium and Fast, together into one single module. At its slowest compression speed, the Opticom XLA-500 features slow attack and release times, which closely resemble a broadcast limiter that just holds the mix together. The medium speed is where fans of the LA-2A will find their favorite setting, as this is the option that is closest to the speed of the original Teletronix unit. Set to the Fast option, the unit can be compared to an all-button 1176 and creates some crunchy sounds on bass and drums.
Reviews and Testimonials
"On a recent mix for Fergie’s new album the amp section on the Opticom provided the character we needed to make her vocal stand out. If you want gentle compression or ton’s of attitude the Opticom has you covered!"
- Tony Maserati
Product Specifications
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Tube or Solid State | Tube |
| Channels | Single-Channel |
| Chassis | Module |
| Module Type | 500 Series |
| Module Slot Count | 2 Slots |
| Compression Type | Optical |
Product Reviews
-
I love these XLA-500s. This is my third one. They have the LA-2A vibe but are like it’s scruffy little brother. The output section saturates from rich to full-out distortion. The compression is creamy. Highly recommended for a tube opt compressor with attitude.
-
Love the gritty sound
* Required Fields
Related Blog Posts
-
Buyer's Guide: Compressors/Limiters
05.23.2019Read More
Compressors and limiters are some of the most important and versatile tools that any audio engineer can use. Virtually every modern recording uses compression somewhere in the chain of tracking, mixing, and mastering. This ubiquity makes them valuable but also creates confusion when considering the many choices in the marketplace. To help straighten that out, we’ll discuss the main types of compressors and the terminology that explains their usage.
The purpose of a compressor is to even out the audio signal in order to tame loud transients and bring up lower amplitude material. Compressors were born out of necessity to fill that very straightforward role, to protect radio transmitters from overly hot signals, and to keep recordings in a narrower dynamic range that was easier to reproduce on tape or record. Continue reading → -
Vintage King Summer Sale Rolls On With Outboard Gear Deals
06.18.2019Read More
Last week on the blog, we covered all of the different microphones deals happening during the Vintage King Summer Sale. As we roll on to week two of our Summer Sale, we turn our attention to things that will shape, bend, and change your audio... That's right, we're talking outboard gear.
Pick up some new gear during our Summer Sale and beat the heat by cranking out the hottest tunes of the year in your air-conditioned studio! Continue below to check out these deals on some of our most popular preamps, EQs, compressors, and more. Hurry, these deals only last through Monday, June 24th! Continue reading → -
Buyer's Guide: 500 Series
07.12.2019Read More
The 500 Series format consists of a whole slew of different signal processing modules in a compact rack unit. Mic preamps, equalizers, compressors, DI boxes, filters, effects... You name it, you can find it in a 500 Series version from a wide variety of manufacturers.Most of those manufacturers participate in the VPR Alliance, established to set standards for the format to ensure that the end user can rely on consistent specifications with regard to voltage, current draw, size, etc. along with proper compatibility with existing modules. The essence of this idea is to make it simple for the user to mix and match modules from different makers, thus allowing for the broadest range of implementation for their products. Continue reading → -
Studio Spotlight: Tiny Thunder Audio
01.07.2021Read More
Serge Espitia is a mastering engineer out of Maplewood, New Jersey. With over a decade of experience in the music industry, he has spent time working in some of the most recognizable studios in the world, including Blue Jay Recording in Boston, and East Side Sound, Stratosphere Sound and Masterdisk in New York.
In 2011, Serge began putting together his own Brooklyn-based studio space under the banner of Tiny Thunder Audio. Eventually, he headed to New Jersey and shifted focus from tracking and mixing to predominantly mastering.
Recently, we sat down to talk with Serge about the history of Tiny Thunder, his philosophy on mixing vs. mastering, and some of the gear choices that he’s made for his studio. Continue reading →
Have a better price in mind for the Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500 500 Series Tube Compressor that you've been checking out?
We're willing to work on it!Please fill out the form below with your contact information.Once the form is submitted, a Vintage King Audio Consultant will contact you as soon as possible with our best price on this product.
Please fill out the form below and a Vintage King Audio Consultant will contact you with a ship date for the Acme Audio Opticom XLA-500 500 Series Tube Compressor.