Burl Audio BC5000 BIGFOOT Optical Compressor with FET Limiting

The Burl Audio BC5000 BIGFOOT is a solid-state optical compressor with a fast FET peak limiter, designed for use on everything from individual tracks to the mix bus and mastering. An optical element handles the musical compression, while a fully balanced, all-discrete class-A signal path with switchable BX1 input and BX5 output transformers keeps the chain low in noise. A side chain low-cut, one-button de-esser, 10 kHz high-frequency boost, soft clipping, and a stereo link add practical control for a range of sources. This standard version uses continuous pots; the BC5000M adds stepped attenuators for mastering.

Key Features

• Solid-state optical compressor with Threshold, Attack, Release, and Ratio controls
• Ultrafast FET peak limiter (10 µs attack, 3 ms release) with a switchable fast FET limit circuit, designed to tame large transients without pumping
• Soft clipping of overdriven signals
• All discrete transistor, class-A, direct-coupled design
• Fully balanced circuit path, end to end, for low noise
• Burl NextGen Analog BOPA14 and BOPA11 op-amps
• Switchable BX1 input transformer and switchable BX5 output transformer
• Input circuit shared with the BAD4M mastering card and output circuit shared with the BDA4M mastering card
• Switchable side chain low-cut, so low-frequency material in a bass, vocal, or full mix does not drive the compressor
• Switchable side chain de-esser for controlling sibilance on vocals
• Switchable 10 kHz high-frequency boost for adding clarity to dull or dark tracks
• Stereo compression link
• Hard bypass
• Continuous pots on all controls

Specifications

• Type: Solid-state optical compressor with FET peak limiter
• Version: Standard (continuous pots)
• Compressor Controls: Threshold, Attack, Release, Ratio
• FET Limiter: 10 µs attack, 3 ms release, switchable
• Circuit Design: All discrete transistor, class-A, direct-coupled, fully balanced end to end
• Op-Amps: Burl NextGen Analog BOPA14 and BOPA11
• Input Transformer: BX1, switchable
• Output Transformer: BX5, switchable
• Input Circuit: Same as BAD4M mastering card
• Output Circuit: Same as BDA4M mastering card
• Side Chain Low-Cut: Switchable
• Side Chain De-Esser: Switchable
• High-Frequency Boost: 10 kHz, switchable
• Soft Clipping: Yes
• Stereo Link: Yes
• Bypass: Hard bypass