Pendulum OCL-2 vs ES-8 vs Manlay Vari-Mu

tobymusic 🎙️ · 10th December 2006

Sorry to bother with one more comparison discussion, but I´m looking for a good compressor for the 2-buss.
I have used the Vari-Mu, but I´ve never come across any Pendulum gear. Actually I heard quite some good comments on the OCL-2 on the 2-buss (which is an opto-comp), rather than the ES-8 which is a vari-mu type just like the Manley.

Does anybody have experiences in using the OCL-2, ES-8 and/or the Manley Vari-Mu?
I´m looking for a smooth sounding buss-compressor for rock- pop- and folk music.

Thanks, Toby

AMIEL · 10th December 2006

I used both few times, both are great I think the manley have a more aggressive haevy sound when the pendulum are a bit smoother and cleaner.
Both are great units!

GYang · 10th December 2006

Tried all, all great.
Also, Gyraf I recently used on bass/drums submix was really excellent.
Still, I would put Phoenix just slightly over all mentioned compressors for the task.

ISedlacek · 10th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by GYang ➡️

Tried all, all great.
Also, Gyraf I recently used on bass/drums submix was really excellent.

Oh, you got Gyraf ? Was it G10 or G3 ?

After getting G10, it is difficult for me to find any use for my OCL-2 ...

tobymusic 🎙️ · 12th December 2006

Thanks for the comments.

I must admit that the Phoenix did not do it for me, I tried one for a couple of weeks actually, but on the 2-buss it simply didn´t do it for me.

Has anybody experiences with both the ES-8 and the OCL-2? I wonder how different they are - one being a vari-mu and the other an opto comp.

Any comments on that would be welcome!
Toby

Thread / Thread Starter	Replies / Views	Last Post
i need a High end compressor for vocals Gabriel Sousa	replies: 81 views: 25274	wildpark 14th September 2010
Mastering Compressor Comparison (Audio Samples) SmoothTone	replies: 607 views: 328347	markusschloesser 14th January 2025
Expert Sleepers ES-40/ESX-8MD CUBASE HELL Deleted 80b9b09	replies: 61 views: 12547	glotus 8th January 2019
Pendulum OCL-2 SStudio	replies: 6 views: 5645	John Moran 20th September 2019

Similar Threads

i need a High end compressor for vocals

Mastering Compressor Comparison (Audio Samples)

Expert Sleepers ES-40/ESX-8MD CUBASE HELL

Pendulum OCL-2

Welcome to the Gearspace Pro Audio Community!

Registration benefits include:

Gear discussed