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Compressors

#61
I built both of these a while ago but finally got them mounted in their enclosures. IMO, both are great comps for use with a bass:

Opto-Comp:

Optocomp-01.jpg


Toadworks Mr. Squishy:

MrSquishy-01.jpg


I also started a new COMPRESSOR PEDALS PAGE on my website with a short description of each one (obviously the ovnilabs site has ALOT more info on compressors!;)) but i'll also be posting soundclips of each one as time allows.
 
#65
Bit of a random question for you concerning the Demeter clone as you and Mr. Bongo are both on the thread.

Any reason why Demeter might have chosen the mini tip adaptor on the Compulator. Absolutely loved this pedal and how simple it was to dial in the exact sound and compression level I was after. Unfortunately the fact it doesn't like being daisy chained with Digital effects means I can't use it.

Alternatively, I would appreciate any recommendations on the closest similar pedal. In advance, I have read the Ovnilab reviews many times over the years and most recently owned an Aguilar TLC and have a PWNZOR on loan. Both are great but more complicated and not really what I'm looking for.

Sorry for the derail and would appreciate any advice! :)
 
#66
Andy Will said:
Bit of a random question for you concerning the Demeter clone as you and Mr. Bongo are both on the thread.

Any reason why Demeter might have chosen the mini tip adaptor on the Compulator. Absolutely loved this pedal and how simple it was to dial in the exact sound and compression level I was after. Unfortunately the fact it doesn't like being daisy chained with Digital effects means I can't use it.

Alternatively, I would appreciate any recommendations on the closest similar pedal. In advance, I have read the Ovnilab reviews many times over the years and most recently owned an Aguilar TLC and have a PWNZOR on loan. Both are great but more complicated and not really what I'm looking for.

Sorry for the derail and would appreciate any advice! :)
Click to expand...

there's no reason that Demeter had to go with the DC connector that he used. mine's and exact clone and it uses a 2.1mm 9V center negative jack.

my favorite comp that I have so far is the diamond bass comp. it's super punchy and natural sounding and simple to operate. unfortunately it's not simple to build due to it having so many components in it:

DCOMP-02.jpg
 
#67
this one's not a compressor but rather a volume swell pedal like the Boss Slow Gear (SG1), but I find that it works a lot better than the Boss. it sounds really cool with and without and overdrive simulating a sort of 'backwards' type of sound, or can also sound like you're riding the volume knob (or using a volume pedal) on every note.

GATOR-01.jpg
 
#68
johnk_10 said:
there's no reason that Demeter had to go with the DC connector that he used. mine's and exact clone and it uses a 2.1mm 9V center negative jack.
Click to expand...
Hm, maybe, maybe not. Demeter wrote that he needed center-positive for the ground plane scheme of his circuit. If he was just a hobbyist, I would doubt him on that, and say it would be smarter to redesign the ground plane for center-negative wiring. And really you and I both know that's true, even though he's far from a hobbyist. However what this does suggest to me is that the schema you followed was not an exact copy.

TBH I've been thinking this all along as you've posted these various pedals and describing how they sound, like the low-end response and noise levels---there is a distinct likelihood that the components, layout, and maybe other aspects of the originals are not identical to the ones you made. Consider where you got the schemos from. :) So your descriptions are surely true regarding what you made, but it makes me wince when you extend those descriptions to the brand-name originals.

No offense intended at all--just expressing a doubt.
 
#69
I think the polarity of the plug needed is because he used a metal power jack on the enclosure. To use a metal power jack with a center negative power plug, it would have been necessary to isolate it from the enclosure.

I also read where he said that it was impossible to have a threshold LED on this circuit. I have seen several clones where the builder has easily incorporated a threshold LED.

-Frank
 
#70
bongomania said:
Hm, maybe, maybe not. Demeter wrote that he needed center-positive for the ground plane scheme of his circuit. If he was just a hobbyist, I would doubt him on that, and say it would be smarter to redesign the ground plane for center-negative wiring. And really you and I both know that's true, even though he's far from a hobbyist. However what this does suggest to me is that the schema you followed was not an exact copy.

TBH I've been thinking this all along as you've posted these various pedals and describing how they sound, like the low-end response and noise levels---there is a distinct likelihood that the components, layout, and maybe other aspects of the originals are not identical to the ones you made. Consider where you got the schemos from. :) So your descriptions are surely true regarding what you made, but it makes me wince when you extend those descriptions to the brand-name originals.

No offense intended at all--just expressing a doubt.
Click to expand...

all of the pedals that I've made were from either the factory schematics or very thoroughly reverse engineered ones, and I've compared 80-90% of my pedals to the original ones. in all of the cases where I directly A/B'd them, before I modded any of them, they sounded identical to the originals.

as far as the Demeter compulator goes, the schematic I used IS an exact duplicate of the original, however when I built it on vero, the ground plane of course wouldn't be the same as the original PCB and IMO, it would make no difference in the way that the pedal sounds.
 
#71
boomertech said:
I think the polarity of the plug needed is because he used a metal power jack on the enclosure. To use a metal power jack with a center negative power plug, it would have been necessary to isolate it from the enclosure.

I also read where he said that it was impossible to have a threshold LED on this circuit. I have seen several clones where the builder has easily incorporated a threshold LED.

-Frank
Click to expand...

+1 on both counts.
 
#72
Bongo has mutant hearing.;) He can detect distortions and noise that most other people can’t hear. I have had to use a scope to see a problem that he was detecting with his ears. He heard it and I did not, but it was there in the signal on the scope.

-Frank
 
#74
johnk_10 said:
there's no reason that Demeter had to go with the DC connector that he used. mine's and exact clone and it uses a 2.1mm 9V center negative jack.

my favorite comp that I have so far is the diamond bass comp. it's super punchy and natural sounding and simple to operate. unfortunately it's not simple to build due to it having so many components in it:
Click to expand...

Do you have a schematic for the bass version? The guitar version is available on SabroTone and I'm pretty keen to give it a go. Cheers!
 
#77
johnk_10 said:
all you have to do for the bass version is:

1- add a switch and two caps to select between C4 & C5 to the two new ones (both should be 22n). this changes the tone control's tilt frequency
2- add a charge pump so it's always running on 18V off of a 9V power supply.
Click to expand...

They claimed to have also extended the low frequencies that will pass through; is it untrue?
 
#79
johnk_10 said:
all you have to do for the bass version is:

1- add a switch and two caps to select between C4 & C5 to the two new ones (both should be 22n). this changes the tone control's tilt frequency
2- add a charge pump so it's always running on 18V off of a 9V power supply.
Click to expand...

How much of a difference does running at 18v vs. 9v make on the Diamond Bass Comp?
 

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