Grace Design m102

m102 - High fidelity optical compressor Introducing the m102 and m502 optical compressors. While both share identical audio circuitry, the m102 is built in a half-rack 1U module, and the m502 in a 500 series rack module.

From gentle dynamic smoothing to full tilt squash, these units deliver open, musical dynamic control that is the perfect companion to our high fidelity mic preamplifiers or any recording chain. All your tracks can now have glorious, easy to use compression which regardless of how much you squeeze, will always end up with their sonic essence perfectly intact.
The heart of the compressor circuit is an optical attenuator - the purest, high fidelity gain control mechanism available. With careful attention to control circuit design, we are able to implement a feedback opto compressor that not only provides a wide range of dynamic control, but remains inherently neutral, open and musical.

Both are full featured units, including input and output level, threshold, attack, release and ratio controls. The m102 includes balanced inputs and outputs, both with parallel XLR and 1/4" TRS connectors, along with a 1/4" TRS jack for stereo link or sidechain signal input. The m502 includes connectivity for sidechain input, stereo linking and even the Radial® Workhorse Bussfeed.

While lots of our gear adorns the most expensive recording and audio production facilities in the world, all of it sounds that way, and the m102 & m502 are no exception. We eagerly invite you to hear what truly transparent, musical dynamic control can do for your audio production. The perfect way to zip it all up and send it all downstream: clean, intact and alive.