In this article, we will be checking out ACME Opticom XLA-3 and Brainworx bx_opto.
We will be reviewing the qualities and specifications of both plugins. Then, we will be comparing their tonal characteristic and what applications they are most suited for. We will do this by processing drums, a vocal track, and bass.
[wpdatatable id=3]
Optical compression
Both plugins emulate a method of compression that only optical compressors can deliver. While VCA and FET compressors have a really controlled attack and release time, optical compressors tend to have slower release times because of the nature of their built. Basically, the audio signal that goes into the compressor is transformed into light, which triggers a photosensitive cell that controls gain reduction. This photosensitive cell has a soft release curve, and it depends on how loud the signal is received. The more intense the light is, the longer the release time of the cell will be.
First, we will take a look at some of the parameters available on both plugins:
1. ACME Audio Opticom XLA-3
On a first look, we can notice that this plugin lacks a threshold dedicated knob; this is because it has an input gain into a fixed threshold.
To draw more compression, you just have to turn up this knob, the type of setup you could found in a Distressor, for example. You can turn down the input signal by -15db by double-clicking the gain knob.
The same goes for attack and release time: instead of having a dedicated knob, you get this response switch that can be set to Slow, Normal, and Fast. This switch adjusts by default both attack and release times.
From left to right, the first VU meter shows us input and output signal, letting us choose between those two with its dedicated switch. On the right side of the unit, we have the gain reduction indicator. You can notice that below these two are screws that can trim the output signal and also get a dry/wet balance of the signal.
The in-out-amp selector gives flexibility in terms of coloration. We can run the signal into the compressor, take it out of the way or use the amp mode to use the plugin only as an analog distortion stage.
There is another little screw that emulates noise floor for those seeking the device’s real feel.
2. Brainworx bx_opto
Differing from its competitor, bx_opto delivers a BIG peak reduction knob alongside an output knob to use as a make-up gain stage. Pretty standard.
Below that, we encounter the fun part of this compressor which is the speed time, the mix, and the sidechain. Tweaking these three together can result in a vast palette of sounds.
Adjusting the speed at a higher value will result in aggressive compression, squashing the signal without changing its primal tone. On the other hand, by setting its value close to zero, we get the classic, more transparent type of compression that opticals are known for. The use of this knob becomes crucial when it comes to shaping the transients of your signal.
The sidechain offers a sweepable filter from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, an Off-On-Solo switch, and a filter selector. Not only is this a good way to control the dynamics of your sound more accurately, but it also can be used as a dynamic equalizer.
The mix knob allows us to give the final touch to our sound by blending the compressed signal with the dry signal.
- Drums test
First, I tried to achieve a very smooth and transparent compression without coloring the signal. When I dropped both plugins in their respective channels and listened without tweaking any knobs (only matched the output level), I immediately heard the difference. It is clear that they have very distinctive sound qualities.
This is a sample of the drums’ dry signal.
Let’s take a look at the signal processed by ACME’s Opticom:
This is the drums signal processed with the same setup with a variation in the response switch only.
Although this plugin can deliver a lot of sonic options in spite of its limited controls, I wasn’t that keen on its softer side. You can notice that it lacks control if you are going for a neutral-sounding type of compression.
It certainly has a unique tonal characteristic that could work for a lot of applications, but it is up to you to decide if you like this color or not.
I’ve found myself enjoying the crunchy tone that is given when the response switch is set to Fast. Of course, you can make a more subtle coloration by setting it to Normal and crank up the gain knob a bit.
This is the setup I’ve used, only modifying its response control:
In spite of setting a low value of gain input, we still achieved a little bit of that saturation that it seems it’s the main characteristic of this compressor.
Now let’s take a look at how the bx_Opto dealt with this situation:
We can see that its 0% to 50% range is way softer than Opticom’s Slow to Normal. Still, at 100%, the bx_Opto could squash the signal but in a very delicate way. It remained transparent without adding a color of its own.
- This is the setup I’ve used to process the drums:
Notice that the peak reduction is set to 50%.
This plugin has a lot more control than its competitor. I got hooked with it once I’ve turned on the sidechain. Not only was I able to moderate the signal dynamics, but also I could shape its tonal characteristic like a dynamic equalizer. Although this drum track sounds great on its own, thanks to bx_opto, I could get rid of some muddy frequencies in the lower part of its spectrum without losing vital information about it.
The filter type selector allowed me to reinforce and control the sound with a level of specificity that I could not achieve with the Opticom. It kinda overwhelmed me as well, so if you get this, be prepared to get really critical on your listening. Thankfully, the plugin also provides an option where you can solo the band that you are about to process.
Blending a great compressed sound with the dry signal was super satisfying to me.
- Vocal Test
Once I’ve had an idea of how these plugins behave on drums, I’ve wanted to give it a try on vocals.
Maybe because I’m a drummer and I’m not that used to work with vocal tracks, I’ve found it harder to get a clear difference between the dry and wet signal on the bx_opto. Because of that, I’ve tried a couple of presets. When I used the “Lead Vocals Less S,” I confirmed once again the surgical characteristic of this plugin and its transparency.
- This is the setup I’ve used to compress the vocals in bx_opto:
The result was very pleasing to the ears, softly shaping the tonal characteristic of the vocals. It also gave me the opportunity to control certain frequencies that I’ve founded problematic.
On the other hand, I’ve found the Opticom compressor to be really good on vocals. In contrast to the drum processing, I encountered a warmer signal but not distorted. It achieved a full-bodied tone and still got the core characteristics of the dry signal. Still, I felt very limited in terms of options since the signature sound of the Opticom impregnates immediately on the processed signal. Again, this could be good or bad depending on your taste. Personally, I think it has a great tone to it, but don’t expect to have a wide array of options. Aggressive, yet musical.
- This is the setup I’ve used for vocals in Opticom:
Let’s check out the result of both processes:
This is a comparison between the dry vocal signal and the one processed with bx_opto.
This is a comparison between the dry vocal signal and the one processed with Opticom.
- Bass Test
I’ve used a bass take constituted by the amp tone and a DI. This combination gave me plenty of harmonics to work with.
- This is the setup I’ve used to compress the bass in Opticom:
The Opticom responded really well on this bass track, but I couldn’t find a sweet spot between transparency and aggressiveness. Its core tone is even more obvious in this kind of tracks, and by cranking up the input gain knob, you get this crunchy yet boomy feeling to it: both 100 Hz and 1000hz-1300hz areas were heavily boosted with its response set to Normal or Fast. I kinda liked the crunchiness given by the input knob, so I found a nice equilibrium when I turned the response switch to Slow. This gave me the opportunity to set a configuration where compression combined with distortion stood up.
I found this plugin to be a rock-punk-metal-oriented kind for bass since it can become uncontrollable. It could work really well on electronic basses.
Luckily, ACME provides the dry/wet mix control to get back some of the unprocessed feels to the signal.
This is the dry signal of the bass track.
This is the signal processed by Opticom. It can really squash the signal; keep in mind that it will come with heavy distortion and coloration too.
- This is the setup I’ve used to process the signal with bx_opto:
On the other hand, and as we’ve already seen, bx_opto won the battle when it comes to versatility. Although I could not reach a heavily distorted tone with it, I was able to manage the spectral information of the track with more precision. The key to making your bass track sit well in the mix is to set the sweepable filter correctly to boost/control the mid frequencies. Of course, it will depend on your material’s character, but I found it very useful, especially by bringing back some of the dry signal to define the attack.
When it comes to a bass track, I would use this plugin in a variety of genres and situations, especially in non-electronic ones, because of its sharp control. It can make a slap bass cut through the mix as well as get the right tone for the bassist who is used to play with picks.
This is the signal processed by the bx_opto.
Conclusion
Wich one is the best? If you are wondering that, I wouldn’t go for that question. Instead, I would ask myself, what do you need them for.
As I’ve stated before, ACME Audio Opticom is more than just an opto compressor. It delivers its own personal tone to the track you are processing, giving it crunchiness and attitude. What I found interesting about this is that it can respond very differently depending on your sound source. I absolutely loved the distortion added to the drums; it could be a must for a rock setting, for example. Also, I found it to be very effective and simple on the vocals, but I think it is a little bit limited since I couldn’t control the dynamics with the same precision I found in the bx_opto. It could be a great addition to your mix bus if you are looking for that extra analog distortion flavor.
If you are looking for a clean and precise compressor, this one is not for you. It does what it does, and don’t expect it to be a versatile one. However, I think it’s worth checking out since it can make some materials stand out and cut through the mix.
On the other hand, I found Brainworx bx_opto to be crystalline and precise. While with Opticom, you have to guess which frequencies of your sound are going to be processed, bx_opto lets you shape the tone of the output thanks to its dynamic processor. Knowing how to use the sidechain section with its sweepable filter and the mix knob properly can be a very powerful combination in terms of coloration. Also, you can apply very heavy compression to your signal and still manage to keep the main characteristics of your dry signal. This plugin is very flexible, but it can be hard to achieve good results for beginners or people who are not used to this kind of surgical compressor.
To sum up, I personally preferred Opticom’s personal character, but I’m aware that many users could not be so hooked with its tone. If you are looking for instant gratification, go for Opticom. If you want a flexible and transparent device to get the exact amount of compression you need, go for the bx_opto.
Readings that you may like:
Plugin Roundups:
Genre Focused:
Top 10 EDM Plugins (And 10 Best FREE Plugins For EDM)
Top 10 Plugins For TRAP Beats (And 5 Best FREE Trap Plugins)
20 Best Plugins For Rock Musicians (+ 6 FREE Plugins)
Top 14 Trance Plugins (Uplifting, Tech, Progressive, Vocal, Dream, Hard)
Top 10 GOA & PsyTrance Plugins (Best Psychedelic Trance Tools)
Top 7 Plugins For Dubstep (With 10 Best FREE Effects & Synths)
Top 20 Synthwave Plugins (+ 11 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 15 Plugins For Techno, House, Electro, Tech House, UK Garage
Top 6 Plugins For Latin Music (And 4 FREE Tools)
Top 12 Plugins For Hip-Hop (+ Best Kontakt Libraries)
Top 7 Plugins For Game & Film Scoring (+ 6 Best Kontakt Libraries)
Top 10 R&B And Pop Music Plugins & KONTAKT Libraries
30 Best Free Plugins For DnB, EDM, IDM & Experimental Music
EQ Plugins
Top 12 Free EQ Plugins For Precise Mixing & Mastering
Top 9 Mid/Side EQ Plugins For Mixing & Mastering (+ 2 Free Tools)
Top 7 Graphic EQ Plugins (With 3 Best Free EQs)
Top 7 EQ Plugins For Mastering In | And Best FREE Mastering EQs
Top 6 Passive EQ Plugins (Klevgrand, SPL, UAD, Waves, IK Multimedia)
Top 11 Plugins For Making Metal (Best Guitars, Drums & Effects)
Metering:
Top 5 Audio Metering Plugins (LUFS, RMS, LRA, True Peak)
Top 6 Spectrum Analyzer Plugins – Spectral Analysis Tools
Top 6 Oscilloscope Plugins To See The Waveforms
Top 5 Key Detection Plugins & Software (+ Best FREE App)
Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Kontakt Libraries For All Categories (Synths, Drums, Vocals)
Top 7 Drum Libraries For KONTAKT (And 4 Freebies)
Top 7 Trap Music Kontakt Libraries (And Best Lo-Fi Kontakt Library)
Top 7 Metal & Rock Kontakt Libraries (Best Guitars & Drums)
Top 10 Guitar Libraries For Kontakt (Acoustic, Electric, Bass & Freebies)
Top 7 Trailer Scoring Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
20 Best Free KONTAKT Libraries For Various Instruments
Top 9 Piano Kontakt Sample Libraries (And 5 Best Free Pianos)
Top 10 Percussion KONTAKT Libraries (And 3 Freebies)
Top 7 Kontakt Libraries For Horror & Thriller Scoring (No VSTs)
Audio Restoration, Calibration & Utility:
Top 6 Noise Reduction Plugins (And 3 Best Free Tools)
6 Best Audio Restoration Plugins & Software
Top 7 Phase Alignment Plugins To Fix Your Bass & Drums
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Instrument Plugins:
Top 6 Vocoder Plugins (Effects & Synths + FREE Vocoder)
11 Best Rhodes VST Plugins (AND 5 Free Rhodes Plugins)
Top 12 Randomizer Plugins Including FREE Plugins
Top 6 Kick Drum Plugins (Best Kick Designer Tools)
Top 12 Woodwind Plugins (And KONTAKT Libraries)
Top 10 Double Bass Plugins (Best Upright Basses)
Top 5 Strings VST Plugins (AND 4 Best Free Instruments)
Top 6 Sampler Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Classical Guitar Plugins & Kontakt Libraries (And FREE Guitars)
Top 12 Sub Plugins (Best 808 & Bass Tools For Massive Low End)
Top 10 Plugins On PluginBoutique (And 7 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Plugins On Plugin Alliance
Top 7 Acoustic Guitar Plugins (And 4 Best Kontakt Libraries)
9 Best Bass Guitar Plugins (And 2 Best Freebies)
Top 6 Electric Guitar Plugins (Best PAID & FREE Picks)
Top 10 Arpeggiator VST Plugins (Best Synths, MIDI Effects & Tools)
Top 10 Modular Synth Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Choir Plugins & Sample Libraries (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
11 Best Percussion & Drum VST Plugins (And FREE Plugins)
Top 8 Piano Plugins (Best Sounding Pianos & 5 FREE Piano Plugins)
Top 6 Organ Plugins Ever Made (And 3 Best Free Organs)
Top 14 VST Plugins For Beginners (And 9 FREE Plugins)
Top 9 Drum Machine Plugins (And Groovebox Plugins)
4 Best Banjo Plugins (Best Banjo Instruments)
The 5 Best Ukulele Plugins & Kontakt Libraries
Top 13 Synth Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Synths Plugins)
Top 13 Sequencer Plugins (Synth, MIDI & Step Sequencers)
The 10 Best Multi-Effect Plugins (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 12 Plugin Bundles For Musicians (Synths, Mixing & Mastering)
Processing & Sound Design:
8 Best Lo-Fi Plugins (PAID & FREE)
Top 11 Plugins For Mixing Vocals (For Home Studio)
Top 12 Saturation Plugins (Best Mixing & Mastering Tools)
Top 6 Pitch Shifter Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Pitch Shifters)
Top 6 Chorus VST Plugins For Musicians (And 3 FREE Plugins)
Top 6 Limiter Plugins For Precise Mastering & Mixing
The 8 Best Filter Plugins For Precise Cuts & Boosts (+ 5 Free Filters)
6 Best Autotune Plugins To Improve & Enhance Your Vocals
Top 10 Transient Shaper Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 7 Enhancer Plugins (For Bass, Drums, Vocals & Harmonics)
Top 6 Flanger Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Flanger Emulators)
Top 7 Phaser Plugins (And 3 Best FREE Phasers)
Top 10 Plugins For Mixing Drums (And 3 Best Free Plugins)
Top 7 Bitcrusher Plugins (And 4 Best FREE Bitcrushers + 3 Bonuses)
Top 6 Plugins For Voice-Over & Dialogue Cleaning (Post Production)
Top 10 Stereo Imaging Plugins (Best Old & Modern Picks)
Top 5 Multiband Limiter Plugins
Top 7 De-Esser Plugins For Better Vocals (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 7 Clipper Plugins (Best Limiter Alternatives)
Top 6 Chord Generator Plugins That Inspire Melodies (+ FREE Tools)
7 Best Exciter Plugins For Mixing & Mastering
Top 7 Channel Strip Plugins (And 2 Best Free Plugins)
Top 11 Distortion Plugins (And 4 Top Free Plugins)
Top 5 Comb Filter & Resonator Plugins | Melda, Kilohearts, Tritik
The 7 Best Vibrato VST Plugins | Audec, Audiority, Melda
The 7 Best Tremolo Plugins | Eventide, Melda, SoundToys, Kuassa…
The 7 Best Harmonizer Plugins | Eventide, Melda, Aegean Music
7 Best Sidechain Plugins (VST, AU, AAX) | Xfer, Cableguys..
Top 10 Noise Gate Plugins (And 6 FREE Free Gate Tools)
The 6 Best Ring Modulator VST Plugins | KiloHearts, Melda
7 Best Autopan VST Plugins | CableGuys, Melda, Waves, Soundtoys
The 6 Best Frequency Shifter VST Plugins
Top 11 Granulizer Plugins For Future Sound Design
29 Best Sound Design VST Plugins
Compressor Plugins
Top 11 Free Compressor Plugins (VCA, Vari-Mu, FET, Digital)
Top 7 Multiband Compressor Plugins (And 4 FREE Plugins)
Top 5 Diode-Bridge Compressor Plugins
Top 6 Mastering Chain Plugins: Complete VST Solutions
The 7 Best VCA Compressor Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 11 Mastering Compressor Plugins (And 2 FREE Plugins)
Top 10 Opto Compressor Plugins For Transparent Sound
The 7 Best Vari-Mu Compressor Plugins (And 2 Best FREE Tools)
Reverb & Delay Plugins:
Top 12 Reverb Plugins (And 5 FREE Reverb Plugins)
The 6 Best Spring Reverb VST Plugins | AudioThing, GSi, u-he, Eventide
Top 12 Delay Plugins For Music Production In (VST, AU, AAX)
Top 10 FREE Delay Plugins (VST, AU, AAX)
The 10 Best Convolution Reverb Plugins
Amps & Preamps:
Top 10 Guitar Amp Plugins (And 5 Best FREE Simulators)
Top 10 Bass Amp Plugins (And 5 Best Free Simulators)
Top 9 Preamp Plugins (For Vocals, Guitars & More!) + Free Preamps
Other Recommended Gear:
Top 12 NearField Studio Monitors On Any Budget
Top 10 Midfield Studio Monitors For Home Recording
Best Biggest Studio Monitors (FarField Monitors)
Top 10 Guitar Pickups for Low Tunings
Top 10 Analog Compressors For Mixing & Mastering (On Any Budget)
Top 12 USB Audio Interfaces Under 150$, 200$, 300$ 400$ (Any Budget)
Top 12 Hardware Equalizers (Analog EQs For Mixing & Mastering)
Top 6 Analog Hardware Limiters
Top 6 Solid State Bass Amps (On Any Budget)
Top 6 Ribbon Mics On Any Budget (For Vocals, Drums & Guitars)
Top 6 Cheap Dynamic Mics For Vocals Under 50$, 100$, 200$ & 300$
Top 6 Chorus Guitar Pedals (On Any Budget)
6 Best 61-Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
9 Best 49-Key MIDI Keyboards Under 100$ & 200$
Top 5 Best 25 Key MIDI Keyboards (On Any Budget)
Top 12 Acoustic Drums (Best Kits/Sets On Any Budget)
Guitar/Amp Focused:
Can I Put Nylon Strings on a Steel-string Guitar?
Do Electric Guitars Sound Good Unplugged?
Buying Your First Guitar: 2 Things To Know
Are Tube Amps Worth It? (Tube vs Solid-State Amps)
How Often Does A Guitar Need a Setup?
Can I Play Classical Guitar On A Steel-String Guitar?
How often guitar necks need reset?
Can You Play Two Guitars Through One Amp?
Can a 6 String Bass Be Tuned Like A Guitar?
Can I leave My Guitar Tuned Down a Step? Yes, But Is It Safe?
Should I Learn 4, 5 Or 6 String Bass Guitar & Why?
How To Know If your Guitar Amp Is Broken?
How To Fix Distorted Bass Guitar Sound?
Do Fender Guitars Appreciate In Value?
Should You Put Stickers On A Bass Guitar?
How Acoustic And Electric Guitars Are Made?
Is Electric Guitar Too Loud for an Apartment?
Does a Preamp Improve Sound Quality?
If I Learn Acoustic Guitar Can I Play Electric Guitar?
How Many Hours A Day Should You Practice Bass Guitar?
Do I need an AMP/DAC To Run Bookshelf Speakers?
How to Record Electric Guitar Into Logic Pro X?
Do headphones get worse with age?
DAW Related:
Best DAWs For Musicians Available (With FREE DAWs)
What’s The Most CPU Efficient DAW? – 5 DAWs Compared
How To Make Music Without Using A DAW?
Pro Tools Guide: How To Use AutoTune & Pitch Correction?
Ableton Review: Is It Worth The Money? (Cons & Pros)
Logic Pro X Review: Is It Worth It? (Cons & Pros)
How To Use Auto-tune & Pitch Correction In Cubase?
How To Fix Ableton Crackling, Crashing & Freezing? Step By Step
Plugin Related:
What Are Audio Plugins? Different Types of Plugins Explained
What Are The Best Tools To Develop VST Plugins & How Are They Made?
Cost of Developing Audio VST Plugin: Several Factors (With Table)
VST, VST, AU and AAX – What’s The Difference? Plugin Formats Explained
Complete Guide To Noise Gate – What It Is, What It Does & How To Use It?
How To Clip My Drums? Here Is How & Audio Teasers (Before/After)
Complete Guide To Limiter: How To Use It (+ Best Plugins & Analog Limiters)
Mixing With Reverb: How To Add Life To Your Mixes
Linear Phase vs Minimum Phase EQ – Full Guide
Difference Between LUFS, RMS & True Peak Loudness Meters
How And When To Use Algorithmic And Convolution Reverb In Your Mix?
Difference Between Active EQ, Passive EQ and Dynamic EQ
Headphones & Studio Monitors:
Do headphones get worse with age?
Monitors vs Studio Headphones For Mixing & Mastering
Top 10 Room Calibration & Headphones/Speakers Correction Plugins
Are Noise-Canceling Headphones Good For Music Production?
Can Headphones Break in Cold Weather?
Why do headphones & cables get sticky?
Can Wearing Headphones Cause Hair Loss?
How Do I know If My Studio Monitor Is Blown?
Side Effects Of Sleeping With Your Headphones On
Do You Need Music Amplifier For Studio Monitors or Studio Headphones?
Do Headphones or Earphones Damage Your Brain?
Can Headphones or Earphones cause Deafness or Toothache?
FarField, MidField & NearField Monitors – Their Uses, Pros & Cons
MIDI & Synths:
Should I Buy A MIDI Keyboard Or Synth? (Are Synths Worth It Anymore?)
Why Is Audio Gear So Expensive? (Especially Synths)
Top 12 Synth Brands – Analog, Digital & Modular Synth Manufacturers
11 Tips How To Choose MIDI Keyboard
Should I Buy MIDI Controller Or Keyboard? Cons, Pros & Tips
I’m a music producer, composer and drummer. I’m an Ableton Live trainer with expertise in electronic music and sound design. I’ve also studied electroacoustic music at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes.