FEA fan club!

[ryansalmond]

I hope it's not presumptuous of me to chime in as it wasn't me who was asked, but I've found a way to set my DE-CL that I'm happy with consistently, and that's saying something as historically with pedals in general I've tended to be a chronic setting-changer.

What I do is I play an open string as lightly as I think I'm likely to actually play, and set the threshold of the compression circuit so that the indicator light goes off once per note, and not in between notes. I then set the threshold of the limiter circuit so that it goes off only very briefly at the peaks of somewhat harder-plucked notes. I then set the attack time for the limiter circuit all the way to the left so that limiting kicks in more-or-less immediately for this peak. The ratio for the compression circuit and its attack time can both be varied with this method, but I tend to use a low ratio and a somewhat delayed attack, around noon say.

The key to understanding this pedal (to me at least) is that having both a compression circuit and a limiting circuit that are independently side-chained is a very clever way of getting the best of both worlds between the two different ends of the compression spectrum- general smoothing (low threshold, low ratio) and hard limiting (high threshold, high ratio, quick attack), because independently side-chaining them allows them to both act on the same signal without interacting with one another.

 

[rmars]

I for one would love to know what settings you used on your DE-CL. I've had one for a couple of weeks now (and I also use a 16.4.2AI board) and have yet to find a good setting that works well with the board.

Sure; Threshold 11-12:00, Ratio 9:30-10:00, Attack 10-11:00 and I set the gain to be slightly higher than unity, around 9:00. My friends super hot MIM P Bass and 5 string Ritter required much different Threshold setting. I like the light to flicker on peaks and then I turn it down hair or so more. Limiter Threshold 2:00, Attack fully counter clockwise and once again gain slightly above unity.

Disclaimer on my mixer settings; we have some JBL MRX515 mains and the mids and high get really harsh as the volume goes up so I've been running pink noise thru the system (when I won't annoy patrons) and and checking it with Audiotools RTA app on my iPhone. I put a bump around 60-80Hz (I have a Qsc kw181 sub) and slope down towards the high end and pull down weird peaks. It's not a perfect equal loudness contour or anything but it tames the brutal horns with two Adele, Gloria Gainer type vocalist. I do much less tweaking per channel now and the sound is much warmer. I'm sure there's much better ways to do this but its so far the best way I've found and I've learned a lot about my system doing so.

Anyways mixer settings; Set the input so you are getting between +2db to +8db. With this digital mixer if you run the inputs too cold I've found it's almost impossible to get a tight, punchy tone. HPF was set 55-75, I think I was using the compressor at 7:1 with threshold -4 to -8, Response on Auto and Make Up Gain at +2db. Slight cut at 225HZ and 1.2K and boost at 4.2K (was running some flatwounds which I don't always do on my J Bass).

I'm going to experiment with just using the compressor on the mixer as a limiter but was running late setting up for rehearsal last night so I just ran with the previous compressor settings. The Presonus limiter button seems to have little effect on both on bass and for one of my vocalist.

 

[azwhofan]

While were sharing ways to set up your compressor I'll share a bizzaro way I accidentally used fine tuning the threshold and attack . If nothing else it will give you a chuckle and give you a brief glimpse into my crazy.

So last week I running thru some material in our back bedroom and my wife decides to start vacuuming in the living room. For whatever reason I started tweaking my DE-CL with all that white noise going on in the background and as strange as it sounds it seemed to magnify subtle tweaks I was making with the threshold and attack knobs. By the time I was done competing with that confounded noise I'd dialed in the most punchy tone I've ever had! Weird right? I swear I don't do drugs.

And no, I don't plan on setting up my pedals like this regularly or playing with a band of vacuum cleaners, it was just kind of a happy accident.

Back to our regularly scheduled program. Absolutely loving the DE-CL Frank! It does an amazing job of keeping my Aguilar Octamizer and MXR BEF in check and retaining high/low end with my normal tone. Thinking I need to get on the waiting list for an Opti-Fet just cause.

Speaking of gypsy Mutant Vacuum Cleaners ....

 

[karla684]

Hi Frank,

Just wanted to check in and hear if you're done with the current batch of DB-CL or if you are still making them? If you're done, do you know when the next batch is plannned for?

Thanks,
Kalle

 

[boomertech]

Hi Frank,

Just wanted to check in and hear if you're done with the current batch of DB-CL or if you are still making them? If you're done, do you know when the next batch is plannned for?

Thanks,
Kalle

Hi Kalle,

We are nearing the completion of this next batch and they should be starting to ship this week. We still have a few more batches to go to complete this DB-CL build cycle.

-Frank

 

[karla684]

Hi Kalle,

We are nearing the completion of this next batch and they should be starting to ship this week. We still have a few more batches to go to complete this DB-CL build cycle.

-Frank

Ah, guess I used the wrong term. Build cycle was what I was wondering about. So there is still hope (I'm on the waiting list, but entered late, March 2015).
Appreciate the update!
Thanks,
Kalle

 

[rmars]

Last nights pedalboard. FEA DE-CL & Tone Hammer straight to the power section of my Shuttlemax FTW.

 

[eloann]

So I joined a symphonic metal cover band with 2 lady singers recently.
While learning the set I came up with a small bass solo thingy you can hear at 3:10. The DE-CL was so useful for bringing out the tapping (it's on for the whole track)

 

[Jeffrey Wash]

Nice job, eloann!

 

[boomertech]

So I joined a symphonic metal cover band with 2 lady singers recently.
While learning the set I came up with a small bass solo thingy you can hear at 3:10. The DE-CL was so useful for bringing out the tapping (it's on for the whole track)

Very nice! Thank you!

-Frank

 

[bkbass2000]

Hey Frank! Any news on the the next batch of Photon Fuzz pedals?

 

[boomertech]

Hey Frank! Any news on the the next batch of Photon Fuzz pedals?

I hope to have the new Photon fuzz in production by the end of this year. I still have quite a bit of work to complete for the new design.

-Frank

 

[Britsie]

*Updating Christmas wish-list now...*

 

[XLunacy]

Hey, just wanted to stop by and say that I'm very pleased with the DB-CL I received from you guys a few days ago (after about 8 months on the waiting list ). Was going to give those cali76 compact a try, and got your notification right on time
This is my first real compressor (not counting multi effects) so I've been experimenting a lot but I'm starting to find a setting that I like. However, one thing I can't do with it is to catch those transient spikes while slapping, even with extreme settings (I suppose it's the attack, starting at 2ms but still not being fast enough). I'm fine with this, since it's not what I got it for, but just curious if I might be doing something wrong (compressors are hard, and so many knobs on this one!).

 

[boomertech]

Hey, just wanted to stop by and say that I'm very pleased with the DB-CL I received from you guys a few days ago (after about 8 months on the waiting list ). Was going to give those cali76 compact a try, and got your notification right on time
This is my first real compressor (not counting multi effects) so I've been experimenting a lot but I'm starting to find a setting that I like. However, one thing I can't do with it is to catch those transient spikes while slapping, even with extreme settings (I suppose it's the attack, starting at 2ms but still not being fast enough). I'm fine with this, since it's not what I got it for, but just curious if I might be doing something wrong (compressors are hard, and so many knobs on this one!).

Thanks for the feedback!

The limit switch on the DB-CL is only for the the low-band side of the compressor. When you slap, there is a lot of instantaneous energy in the upper spectrum that can only be compressed by a 7:1 maximum ratio on the high-band side. So for aggressive peak limiting with slapping, this multi-band comp may not be the best tool.

The low-band limit switch was added by request from Bongomania (Cyrus) after he evaluated the first version. It works pretty well for most other playing styles though. When using the DB-CL's low-band limit switch, I suggest that the attack and release be set to their fastest settings, with the threshold set to capture just the peaks.

-Frank

 

[XLunacy]

Thanks for the feedback!

The limit switch on the DB-CL is only for the the low-band side of the compressor. When you slap, there is a lot of instantaneous energy in the upper spectrum that can only be compressed by a 7:1 maximum ratio on the high-band side. So for aggressive peak limiting with slapping, this multi-band comp may not be the best tool.

The low-band limit switch was added by request from Bongomania (Cyrus) after he evaluated the first version. It works pretty well for most other playing styles though. When using the DB-CL's low-band limit switch, I suggest that the attack and release be set to their fastest settings, with the threshold set to capture just the peaks.

-Frank

Yup it's perfect for my agressive fingerstyle, can't deny that! It's great the way it is, I was going to put a limiter at the very end of my chain anyways to fill in that role, since I have the DB-CL first ; this might complement it very well. Thanks for your answer

 

[blindrabbit]

The Opti-FET side-chain EQ is useful for tailoring/modifying the threshold setting for different frequency ranges. This can be useful for customizing/balancing the response of the compressor to the instrument. You can also use the EQ to exaggerate or under emphasize compression for the various frequency ranges. I have found that the side-chain EQ has the most affect on lower compression settings and higher threshold settings (lighter compression).

The Opti-FET and DE-CL have different warmth circuits. The DE-CL’s warmth circuit is designed to be constant… meaning that it reacts the same for all signal levels. The Opti-FET’s warmth circuit is designed to add more with larger signals and less to none for lower signals… it works with the signal dynamics. The output of the Opti-FET is a class “A” FET amplifier that adds a bit of its own color to the tone. IMO, the coloration of the tone from the warmth circuit and the FET output driver are very subtle on the Opti-FET.

Depending on the degree of tone fatness you are after, neither of these two comps may get to your desired effect. I’m thinking maybe a very soft OD pedal or a comp that is designed for dirty compression may be what you need.

-Frank

I know this is reaching into the past quite a bit, but I wanted to say a quick thanks for this explanation. I have been looking at the FEA compressors and trying to decide which one to get. I had narrowed it down to the Opti-Fet and the DE-CL, and sure enough this week one of each came available. When I was trying to read everything I could to be able to make the decision, I came across this post. Once I read it, I immediately went and picked up the Opti-Fet, this description sold me on it completely. The idea of having the warmth being responsive to the signal dynamics nailed down the decision.

Now I'm looking forward to having the pedal arrive and working it into my chain...oh, and being a part of this fan/owners club now too.

 

[Teijo K.]

Any info on the DE-CL front? Should I start waiting "money in hand" so to speak, or is it going to take another month or so? I don't want to sound I am complaining, because I am not. I would just appreciate info on the timetable. Just checked from my E-mails, and I got in to the waiting list a little over 8 months ago.

 

[buglen]

Frank wanted me to post in the thread and provide some information as to possible delays in production, and why you might have emailed him recently and not received a response.

A month ago, Frank suffered a massive stroke and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. After the initial critical period in ICU, there were some complications caused by a blood clot in his lungs. Because of the stroke, he lost functionality of the rights side of his body (arm, leg, face, etc.) and is undergoing physical therapy to regain as much mobility as possible. So far, the therapy has been very successful and things are going better than expected, but it's still a long road ahead and it's uncertain just how much of his right limbs will be restored. He is scheduled to be released from the hospital tomorrow (Friday) and he will continue therapy at home.

I haven't posted anything about this on the web site as of yet, but I will try to get a news posting on the front page this weekend. If you've emailed Frank about anything in the past month, and you can't wait a while longer for the answer, please email me at glen(at)fealabs(dot)com.

 

[nshuman]

Frank wanted me to post in the thread and provide some information as to possible delays in production, and why you might have emailed him recently and not received a response.

A month ago, Frank suffered a massive stroke and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. After the initial critical period in ICU, there were some complications caused by a blood clot in his lungs. Because of the stroke, he lost functionality of the rights side of his body (arm, leg, face, etc.) and is undergoing physical therapy to regain as much mobility as possible. So far, the therapy has been very successful and things are going better than expected, but it's still a long road ahead and it's uncertain just how much of his right limbs will be restored. He is scheduled to be released from the hospital tomorrow (Friday) and he will continue therapy at home.

I haven't posted anything about this on the web site as of yet, but I will try to get a news posting on the front page this weekend. If you've emailed Frank about anything in the past month, and you can't wait a while longer for the answer, please email me at glen(at)fealabs(dot)com.

WOW! Thanks for letting us know. Let him know he's in our thoughts!