Custom Opto

Custom Opto is a modern take on the classic Opto compressor, built for Slate Digital’s Virtual Mix Rack. It gives you the smooth, musical response of a vintage optical circuit, but with the controls needed to push it harder. Speed sets how quickly the compressor reacts, while Ratio dials in the amount of gain reduction. Four tone modes—Airy, Smooth, Aggro, and Warm—let you open the top end, tame harsh frequencies, add snap and punch, or bring vintage fatness. This makes Custom Opto incredibly versatile: use it on vocals for smooth control, drums for aggressive punch, instruments for warmth, or the mix bus for glue. It suits hobby producers who want bold, characterful compression without a steep learning curve. Custom Opto pairs naturally with EQs and saturators in VMR, letting you build a mix-ready chain in seconds.