BURL Audio BC5000 BIGFOOT Optical Compressor with Limiter
The BURL Audio BC5000 BIGFOOT is a modern solid-state optical compressor with integrated fast limiter, designed to deliver musical dynamics control, massive tone, and total flexibility for tracking, mixing, and mastering.
Built on BURL Audio’s renowned NextGen analog platform, the BIGFOOT combines classic optical compression behavior with state-of-the-art discrete Class A circuitry. The result is a compressor that sounds natural, powerful, and detailed on virtually any source, including vocals, drums, bass, guitars, mix bus, and mastering chains.
Modern Optical Compression with Legendary BURL Tone
Optical compressors are loved for their smooth and musical response, but most classic designs date back to the 1960s and 1970s. The BC5000 BIGFOOT redefines the category by pairing an optical gain reduction element with a fully balanced, transformer-coupled signal path based on the same circuits used in BURL’s flagship Mothership mastering cards, the BAD4M and BDA4M.
The audio path is fully discrete, direct coupled, and Class A from input to output, delivering exceptional depth, punch, and clarity with an extremely low noise floor.
Switchable BX1 input and BX5 output transformers allow you to move from clean and precise to bold and harmonically rich in seconds.
Compression and Limiting in One Unit
The BIGFOOT includes a dedicated fast FET limiter that can be engaged alongside the optical compressor. This makes it ideal for controlling large transients in a transparent way without pumping or distortion.
Mixing and mastering engineers benefit from the ability to apply smooth compression and peak limiting in a single processor, perfect for buses, stems, and final program material.
Designed for Real-World Mixing and Mastering
To ensure maximum versatility, the BC5000 includes several tone-shaping and control tools:
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Sidechain low-cut filter to preserve powerful low frequencies and prevent bass from triggering excessive compression
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Integrated de-esser for fast and effective vocal sibilance control
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Switchable 10 kHz high-frequency boost to add clarity and presence to dark or dull sources
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Stereo link function for precise stereo bus and mastering operation
Whether you are tracking vocals, tightening drum buses, controlling bass dynamics, or polishing full mixes, the BIGFOOT adapts effortlessly.
One Compressor for Every Task
The development goal behind the BC5000 BIGFOOT was simple: create one compressor that truly works on everything.
It delivers musical body and warmth, precise peak control before ADC conversion, and outstanding tonal consistency across all applications. Its combination of analog character, technical precision, and workflow efficiency makes it an indispensable centerpiece for professional studios.
BURL Audio BC5000 BIGFOOT Features
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Solid-state optical compressor with fast limiter
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BURL Audio NextGen analog design
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Fully discrete transistor, Class A, direct-coupled circuitry
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Fully balanced signal path from input to output
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Switchable BX1 input transformer
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Switchable BX5 output transformer
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Switchable fast FET limiter circuit
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Switchable sidechain low-cut filter
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Switchable de-esser
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Switchable high-frequency boost
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Stereo link capability
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Input circuit based on BAD4M mastering module
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Output circuit based on BDA4M mastering module
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Audiophile stepped attenuators for input and output
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Stepped controls for threshold, attack, release, and ratio
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Hard bypass
