FEA fan club!

[pbass6811]

Well, I'm on the list for a DE-CL! I'm totally ok with waiting, since I already have an MXR M87. I like the MXR, but I can't help feeling that FEALabs stuff is just that much better. All the stuff I've read on TB and all the vids that I've seen on YouTube have convinced me that I gotta give these a go...

I really hope you guys don't come out with a chorus pedal, because I just ordered an MXR M84 BCD!

One question; I also asked about the DB-CL in my original inquiry. Glen responded, but didn't mention the DB-CL. Do I need to put in a separate request for that?

Thanks and I'm looking forward to it!

[buglen]

Originally Posted by pbass6811

Well, I'm on the list for a DE-CL! I'm totally ok with waiting, since I already have an MXR M87. I like the MXR, but I can't help feeling that FEALabs stuff is just that much better. All the stuff I've read on TB and all the vids that I've seen on YouTube have convinced me that I gotta give these a go...

I really hope you guys don't come out with a chorus pedal, because I just ordered an MXR M84 BCD!

One question; I also asked about the DB-CL in my original inquiry. Glen responded, but didn't mention the DB-CL. Do I need to put in a separate request for that?

Thanks and I'm looking forward to it!

Hi Phil,

I didn't notice that in the email because I'm not used to seeing it referred to that way, but I've got you covered now.

[willsellout]

I snatched up a Dual Band Optical compressor/limiter last week. it arrived today and I have to say, I frickin love this thing already! I was a little daunted with all the knobs but I read up on Ovnilab's review and the FAQ and started playing around with it. It's awesome, so far. I can't wait to get it to band practice this week!

[pbass6811]

Originally Posted by buglen

Hi Phil,

I didn't notice that in the email because I'm not used to seeing it referred to that way, but I've got you covered now.

Thanks, Glen! Much appreciated...

[boomertech]

Originally Posted by willsellout

I snatched up a Dual Band Optical compressor/limiter last week. it arrived today and I have to say, I frickin love this thing already! I was a little daunted with all the knobs but I read up on Ovnilab's review and the FAQ and started playing around with it. It's awesome, so far. I can't wait to get it to band practice this week!

Congrats on the score! I know 11 knobs can be a bit mind boggling… but if you set it up as two 5 knob compressors it is much easier. What I do is turn the HF Bypass on with the x-over fully to the right (1KHz) and adjust the low compressor first. I usually adjust the low side so there is a bit more compression than what I am looking for and then back the x-over down so it has a fairly open sound again. Then I turn the HF Bypass off and dial in a light compression for the high side. A lot of times I would run the low compressor with the high side bypassed for a nice dynamic sound. Setting it up with this process only takes a few seconds for me to dial it in now.

The other thing that I do is set the compressor up with my lowest output bass. Then I can just turn the volume down on my higher output basses to have the same threshold response without having to readjust the compressor.

-Frank

[M Sterling]

Just want to say that I've had my Opti-Fet for almost a year now, and it has been to every gig and session in that year. I didn't have to wait for it, because I picked it up used. However, when I consider how much use I get out of it, I could justify a very long wait to get a piece of gear like this.

I usually gig 5 nights a week with various bands, and work as a studio bassist during the days. This comp has NEVER failed to deliver every time, in every genre imaginable. The live and studio engineers I work with love it as much as I do. I truly believe this is a magic little box and it will probably never lose it's spot on my board. That is, until I decide to pull the trigger on the DE-CL, and even then, I'm sure I will break the Opti-Fet out often.

Seriously, I look at all of the pics of the crazy iterations of my pedalboard throughout the last year, and the Opti-Fet is the ONLY 100% constant. Crazy.

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by boomertech

Congrats on the score! I know 11 knobs can be a bit mind boggling… but if you set it up as two 5 knob compressors it is much easier. What I do is turn the HF Bypass on with the x-over fully to the right (1KHz) and adjust the low compressor first. I usually adjust the low side so there is a bit more compression than what I am looking for and then back the x-over down so it has a fairly open sound again. Then I turn the HF Bypass off and dial in a light compression for the high side. A lot of times I would run the low compressor with the high side bypassed for a nice dynamic sound. Setting it up with this process only takes a few seconds for me to dial it in now.

The other thing that I do is set the compressor up with my lowest output bass. Then I can just turn the volume down on my higher output basses to have the same threshold response without having to readjust the compressor.

-Frank

Great suggestions, ones I didn't think of. Once my Ric is set back up I'll set it up with it with your suggestions. I was setting it up using my G&L L1505 which is a super hot bass. I had problems overdriving the Demeter I had with this bass, but there wasn't so much as a hiccup with the DB-CL.

I could really hear the difference in articulation and sustain once I had it set up. It really sounds awesome with quick finger style funk stuff.

[willsellout]

Can I also say that this is just an awesome looking pedal in person. I know I shouldn't care about that, but it looks killer! It's also the most solid feeling pedal I own right now. It seems to be put together with very exacting standards. It's well worth what I paid.

[boomertech]

Originally Posted by M Sterling

Just want to say that I've had my Opti-Fet for almost a year now, and it has been to every gig and session in that year. I didn't have to wait for it, because I picked it up used. However, when I consider how much use I get out of it, I could justify a very long wait to get a piece of gear like this.

I usually gig 5 nights a week with various bands, and work as a studio bassist during the days. This comp has NEVER failed to deliver every time, in every genre imaginable. The live and studio engineers I work with love it as much as I do. I truly believe this is a magic little box and it will probably never lose it's spot on my board. That is, until I decide to pull the trigger on the DE-CL, and even then, I'm sure I will break the Opti-Fet out often.

Seriously, I look at all of the pics of the crazy iterations of my pedalboard throughout the last year, and the Opti-Fet is the ONLY 100% constant. Crazy.

Thanks for that great feedback and sharing those sound engineers opinions!

Originally Posted by willsellout

Can I also say that this is just an awesome looking pedal in person. I know I shouldn't care about that, but it looks killer! It's also the most solid feeling pedal I own right now. It seems to be put together with very exacting standards. It's well worth what I paid.

Thank you!

-Frank

[willsellout]

Got the FEA set up with my Ric and I discovered the versatility of working with the high band compression. You can really do a lot with the high band. This pedals makes my Ric come alive though. Bump the gain up a bit and everything seems to get a bit bigger and tighter.

[Means2nEnd]

Hello FEA fans, I just picked up I guess an older dual band compressor because it has no limiter switch on it. I was told it was most likely a 2011 model. I will contact Frank to see if there are any upgrades available but in the meantime I’m just looking at this thing thinking daaahhh wut?

I’m am somewhat familiar with compressors but I always dump them because they squash my low B so much or it seems to me that’s what happens. I did do a search here on the thread to see if anyone has some suggested setting as well as checking out Bongo’s compressor reviews but part of his suggestions confused me he said the ratio on the low band should be at 7:1 for his liking but it goes from 2:1 to 6:1 so I’m not sure how to get there with that. I play bass I never claimed to be smart. I guess the first thing is I have to admit I don’t really know how to use one properly I’m guessing and what I’m looking for is just subtle compression I don’t want to blow my drivers out when playing really loud and I like how they thicken up the high strings. So I’m looking for some possible suggestions on settings for what I am describing. I want it to be almost like I forget it’s on but it’s doing exactly what I was describing...

Man I have tried so many compressors and well I was told if this pedal doesn’t do it for me I should probably forget using compressor pedals altogether. Any help would be appreciated so I don’t piss off my mates at practice tomorrow like I usually do with a new pedal. When they see this thing with 12 knobs and 2 switches I know I’m going to see some face in palm happening and some really bad comments. If I could get in there with a little bit of a good starting point that would be awesome so I don’t get hit with beer bottles….again…I took on a few contusions with my B7K and the swelling is just starting to go down.

[Stephent28]

Means2nEnd,
What is the actual model number of the FEA that you have?

[Means2nEnd]

Frank replied to my email in just a few hours he rules. He said it's a 2009 model no upgrades available. I don't see a model number just a serial number...Said it was version #1

[mjac28]

They rule no doubt my DE-CL was worth the wait.

[PawleeP]

wondering why people compare the FEA dual Band to the Trace Elliot dual band? was checking one out on a gp12 smx 700 watt version, and it appeared to be a soft knee.. seemed to work ok.. also, wondering if any one knows how the trace version in the gp12 smx dual compressor compares to an empress, FEA or diamond bass compressor on one of these? and how rampant of a problem is the non-availability of the IC chips for the compressor? Paul

[boomertech]

Hi Paul,

Posting the same question in multiple threads will cause multiple answers or none at all in some of the threads.

The FEA SMX is not the same circuit as the TE SMX. The only similarities are the frequency of the x-over point and the attack and release times.

The VCA used in the Trace pedal has been out of production for a long time. The TE engineers that started Ashdown built a comp similar to the original SMX version using available VCA chips. I have never A-B the two to be able to tell you how similar they actually are.

The Diamond and Empress compressors are not Dual-Band.

-Frank

[bongomania]

I tried to set Pawlee straight about all this a few days ago in another of his barrages of identical posts, but apparently he didn't read my response, or didn't care. And he has PM's turned off.

[boomertech]

Hopefully he will find the answers he is looking for.

I was just visiting the Trace Elliot site and see that they have a newer program-dependent compressor design in their heads. I haven’t been to their site in a long time so this may not be so new. But it looks like they have discontinued using the multi-band compression. I thought their multi-band compressor was a fantastic idea. IMO if they incorporated the auto attack and release with the multi-band that would have been a huge winner.

-Frank

[noermaen]

picked up my opt-fet yesterday. i subscribed to the list and after waiting maybe half a year, i got an email (i almost forget about the subscription) and pulled the trigger.

I tested i yesterday and I am really impressed. A friend of mine got an MXR 87 i could test. The mxr works well, but isn't as smooth and musical as the opti-fet. The opti-fet really thinkens the sound but keeps the nature of the specific bass really well. I use it just for little compression (high treshhold, long attack, short release) and it really shines with my basses and a fuzz after it. The flageolets really come out beautiful, played with a pick it retains that attack but just bring it to the front. The MXR especially didn't worked out for me in a loud band setting with heavy guitars, the Opti-FET does. Maybe i'll do some Sound-Samples as in the end, it is hard to describe.

big respect for frank at FEA - a really really good product, and the pedal is made like a tank.

[boomertech]

Thank you for that nice review!

-Frank