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IGS Audio PHOTON 500 is an optical compressor, based on technology from the 60’s, first used in the early LA-2A limiters and later in the LA4.
PHOTON 500 uses an opto-coupler, which introduces negative feedback in the audio path, taking care of gain reduction, being the basics of all compression.
It has an electronically balanced input with a 2520 compatible op-amp in the gain stage.
The output is balanced by an IGS Custom made transformer.
Photon 500 features:
GR BAR: Very fast LED indicator showing the compression level in the range from 0 to 20dB.
PEAK: Controls the gain of the side-chain circuit
OUTPUT: 12-pole stepped makeup gain
RATIO: Allows to adjust the compressor ratio. 2:1, 4:1 or 12:1
HPF (Hi-Pass filter): Flat, 60, 120Hz
MODE: Advanced compression curve modeling, like SLAM.
BYPASS: Hard wired bypass
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| Device type | |
| Optical Compressor | Yes |
| Basic features | |
| All stepped manipulators | Yes |
| Sidechain HPF | OFF, 60Hz, 120Hz |
| Input & Output | |
| Input Impedance (balanced) | 10k ohm |
| Output Impedance (balanced) | 600 ohm, Custom transformer |
| Audio transformers | Yes, IGS Custom |
| Levels | |
| Operating Level | +4 dBu |
| Max input level | +20 dBu |
| Max output level | +22 dBu |
| Noise Level | -99 dBA |
| Max. gain | 30 dB |
| Max Gain Reduction | 20 dB |
| Time constants | |
| Ratio | 2:1, 4:1, 12:1 |
| Bandwidth | |
| Frequency response | 8 Hz to 20 kHz, +/- 0.1dB |
| Distortion (@ 20 Hz – 20 kHz) | |
| THD+N | 0.01% |
| Power | |
| Power consumption | 2.5W |
