The Apogee Electronics Opto-3A is a vintage-style FX Rack compressor/limiter plug-in that combines optical compression performance with direct controls and multiple power, routing, and monitoring modes.

It can be powered by your computer's CPU without Apogee hardware or via DSP on the Apogee Element Series or Ensemble Thunderbolt audio interfaces (sold separately), making it ideal for producers, beatmakers, and audio engineers with mobile setups or desktop-based systems. studio.

When used with qualified Apogee hardware, it enables real-time printing through Apogee Control Software or low-latency monitoring when linked to a mirrored instance in your DAW.

With adjustable gain, peak reduction, and high-frequency emphasis, the Opto-3A offers versatility suitable for individual instruments, submixes, and stems. Use the dry/FX control for simple parallel processing and adjust the sidechain high-pass filter to prevent pronounced low frequencies from causing overcompression.

When the Opto-3A is used in Apogee's FX Rack, large I/O meters and dedicated input and output faders let you visualize and manage the gain stage.

Opto-3A Features:

• Optical compressor/limiter with vintage-style tone and controls
• Reproduces the reactive compression characteristics of modeled hardware
• Adjustable high-frequency emphasis via HF Contour control
• Sidechain high pass filter
• Sidechain listening function
• Adjustable gain and peak reduction
• Dry/FX mixing for simple parallel processing
• Runs on native CPU power or via Apogee hardware DSP on Element Series and Ensemble Thunderbolt audio interfaces
• Selectable comp/limit mode
• Assignable VU meter and peak LED can display output or gain reduction

FX Rack Features:

• Native Mode: Use Apogee FX Rack plug-ins like any standard native plug-in in your Mac-based DAW without Apogee hardware connected
• Print Mode: Apply Apogee FX effects directly to the Apogee hardware input - open the FX Rack in Apogee Control, apply the desired processing, then record - the FX processing is printed to the DAW track
• DualPath Monitoring Mode: When you open a native Apogee FX Rack in your DAW (and link it to an Apogee hardware input), a parallel FX Rack is automatically opened in the low-latency monitoring path; changes made to any of the plug-ins are instantly mirrored to maintain a consistent sound
• Large input and output meters
• Dedicated input and output faders

Apogee Electronics Opto-3A Specifications: