Pynamic 500 Series Compressor Limiter

The Pynamic 500 is a recreation of the PYE 4060 PWM Compressor Limiter in the convenient API 500 Series form factor. Original PYEs were renowned for their rich, gluey sound making them perfect for mixing anything from guitars to snares to bass. The Pulse Width Modulation compression type is quite rare and is very unique sounding. It behaves like thinning scissors, removing material from the waveform at 250 kHz intervals based on the ratio and release settings. It can go from very usable aggressive pumping compression to light transient shaving all very transparently. Not a VCA, FET, diode or VariMu compressor, the Pynamic is perfect for augmenting your dynamics options!

Pynamic decided to only use discrete through-hole components like the original and even hand-wind their own custom transformer for the Pulse Width circuit. All components are high end brand semiconductors from Panasonic, Nichicon and Wima. Adding a High Pass filter to the sidechain adds a whole extra level of usability where the kick drum or other low frequency information is triggering unwanted compression.

ABOUT PYE

PYE started out as a technical instruments manufacturer in Cambridge, England, and eventually got into making television receivers and cameras for broadcast. After developing the earliest British transistors in the 50s, they developed one of the first Class A solid state compressor/limiters in the 1960s. Their PYE Limiter was an essential part of the 'British sound' of the classic rock era.

The PYE compressor saw extensive use at London's famed Olympic Studios during the golden era of rock recording in the late 60s, when the Rolling Stones (Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed) and Led Zeppelin (debut album) were among the many artists recording there. Eddie Kramer had a stint at Olympic, and made regular use of the PYE comp on the classic early recordings of Jimi Hendrix.

FEATURES:

• Wet/Dry Mix knob & Variable Attack time knob added for super versatility
• Original Ratio & Release settings on stepped switches
• Pro audio quality Input and Output transformers
• Built with the highest quality discrete components
• High Pass filter added to sidechain to extend versatility (80 Hz)
• Handmade original inductors for the PWM compression circuit
• Provides the full voltage of the original circuit
• Faithful recreation of the original

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

• Ratios: 1:1 , 2:1 , 3:1 , 5:1 , 20:1 (limiter)
• Comp Attack: <0.5ms original speed (fast) up to 50ms (slow)
• Limiter Attack: 1ms original speed (fast) up to 100ms (slow)
• Variable Attack Time Knob: Fast is original, slow is 100x slower
• Release: 100ms, 200ms, 400ms, 800ms, 1600ms, 3200ms
• Sidechain High Pass Filter: 80 Hz
• Bypass switch: True Bypass
• Noise Floor: -90 dB
• Distortion: < 1% @ 30 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz
• Max Current: +16 VDC @95 mV over 2 slots/-16 VDC @95 mV over 2 slots