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FEA fan club!

#1,181
Hey all, officially joined the group yesterday with a purchase of a brand new Opti-FET! I took it for a quick spin, but didn't have a lot of time to spend on it before I had to get the kids to bed (and go to headphones, which just isn't fair to the pedal :p). I'm really looking forward to bringing it out next time I'm on for worship team at church - we have a nice Ampeg setup that dwarfs what I have at home.

Anyway, a few questions for the Opti-FET denizens (and @boomertech, too, if he's around):
  • What are some favorite settings for finger-style on flatwounds?
  • Sidechain question #1: do the EQ knobs affect the signal going to an external pedal? Or does plugging something into the "Send" jack disconnect the EQ path?
  • Sidechain question #2 (sorry, still trying to wrap my head around it): this is distinct from a multiband compressor, right? That is, when I turn up (CW) the Low knob, I'm not telling the pedal to increase compression of just the low notes, but instead that I want the overall compression to be affected more (i.e. the threshold to be crossed sooner) with strong low notes from my bass, right?
  • Sidechain question #3: any sidechain pairings with external pedals that I should try?
Thanks!

EDIT: I only just now got around to reading the FAQ on sidechaining over at ovnilab - that makes a lot more sense. Thanks @bongomania!
 
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#1,182
Bollenator said:
Hey all, officially joined the group yesterday with a purchase of a brand new Opti-FET! I took it for a quick spin, but didn't have a lot of time to spend on it before I had to get the kids to bed (and go to headphones, which just isn't fair to the pedal :p). I'm really looking forward to bringing it out next time I'm on for worship team at church - we have a nice Ampeg setup that dwarfs what I have at home.

Anyway, a few questions for the Opti-FET denizens (and @boomertech, too, if he's around):
  • What are some favorite settings for finger-style on flatwounds?
  • Sidechain question #1: do the EQ knobs affect the signal going to an external pedal? Or does plugging something into the "Send" jack disconnect the EQ path?
  • Sidechain question #2 (sorry, still trying to wrap my head around it): this is distinct from a multiband compressor, right? That is, when I turn up (CW) the Low knob, I'm not telling the pedal to increase compression of just the low notes, but instead that I want the overall compression to be affected more (i.e. the threshold to be crossed sooner) with strong low notes from my bass, right?
  • Sidechain question #3: any sidechain pairings with external pedals that I should try?
Thanks!

EDIT: I only just now got around to reading the FAQ on sidechaining over at ovnilab - that makes a lot more sense. Thanks @bongomania!
Click to expand...

The #1 thing to try with a side chain is an EQ (or something in the EQ family, like high/low pass filter), which you've already got on board. So maybe play with that first.
 
#1,183
Adamixoye said:
The #1 thing to try with a side chain is an EQ (or something in the EQ family, like high/low pass filter), which you've already got on board. So maybe play with that first.
Click to expand...
Wait, so you're saying I should return the 3-band EQ pedal I bought specifically for use in the sidechain? ;)

Yeah, messing with the EQ section is definitely first on my agenda, I just needed to understand a little better what was going on and why. Now the sun outside and imminent long weekend aren't the only things making me want to check out of work early today. :D
 
#1,184
Bollenator said:
Wait, so you're saying I should return the 3-band EQ pedal I bought specifically for use in the sidechain? ;)

Yeah, messing with the EQ section is definitely first on my agenda, I just needed to understand a little better what was going on and why. Now the sun outside and imminent long weekend aren't the only things making me want to check out of work early today. :D
Click to expand...

Ha, yeah, I didn't mean to assume too little about what you understood. Just pointing it out that it already has an "integrated pedal" in the side chain. I assume it's all that most people will need. Other things would be to try a different EQ, a HPF or LPF, linking the kick drum, etc. I don't know if people have tried weirder things like modulation with any success.
 
#1,185
Thanks for the questions. I will answer the functional one for you.

Bollenator said:
Sidechain question #1: do the EQ knobs affect the signal going to an external pedal? Or does plugging something into the "Send" jack disconnect the EQ path?
Click to expand...

OPTI-FET BLOCK DIA.jpg
The on-board side-chain EQ is on the return side of the loop. So it will always be in the loop and can not be disconnected, but with all three bands set to their middle positions the EQ is essentially "off".

-Frank
 
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#1,187
Bollenator said:
Thanks Frank! What happens if I only plug something into the Return jack (e.g. a kick drum signal or other external source)? Does my bass signal get disconnected from the sidechain path?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you only plug something into the return jack the bass signal from the send jack is disconnected.

-Frank
 
#1,188
On the subject of side chains- I'm considering using a volume pedal and/or volume presets to act as sort-of variable threshold on the fly- [for the opti FET]
A) any reason this wouldn't work?
B) It appears that the sidechin would be buffered, right? As in something like 25/50k pot would be workable, or should I go higher (or lower )
 
#1,189
eddododo said:
On the subject of side chains- I'm considering using a volume pedal and/or volume presets to act as sort-of variable threshold on the fly- [for the opti FET]
A) any reason this wouldn't work?
B) It appears that the sidechin would be buffered, right? As in something like 25/50k pot would be workable, or should I go higher (or lower )
Click to expand...

When I designed the loop circuit I was expecting a load on the receive jack of 10K or less. A higher impedance seen at that jack will start to really modify the boost/cut ranges of the EQ controls. So a passive volume pedal of 10K should work fine as a remote threshold control.

-Frank
 
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#1,190
Hi guys!

Need some help here. I have a DE-CL and I think it might be faulty. I've got this unit less than a year and previously when I engage the limitor, both the comp light and the limit light flashes red when the signal is getting compressed. Currently, the comp light does not light up when the limitor is engaged but only lights up when the limitor is disengaged. Is there something wrong with the pedal or is the issue only a cosmetic one? Attached is a pic of the lights I'm talking about

IMG_2747.JPG
 
#1,191
Bassfreakz said:
Hi guys!

Need some help here. I have a DE-CL and I think it might be faulty. I've got this unit less than a year and previously when I engage the limitor, both the comp light and the limit light flashes red when the signal is getting compressed. Currently, the comp light does not light up when the limitor is engaged but only lights up when the limitor is disengaged. Is there something wrong with the pedal or is the issue only a cosmetic one? Attached is a pic of the lights I'm talking about

View attachment 1157823
Click to expand...

With some settings of the comp and limiter, the limiter function will become the dominate function. I adjusted a DE-CL to the same positions for the attacks, limit thresh and comp ratio that you have in your pic and depending on where I set the comp threshold the limit LED is the only one to mostly light. For a test, try turning the ratio down and see if both LED's light for you.

-Frank
 
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#1,193
MohawkCC said:
Just received my DB-CL from FEA:hyper:
And boy was the 1.5 year wait worth it! This comp is really in the league of its own - dead quiet, sounds sooo smooth and transparent. Built like a tank... gonna be my always on box. Thanks Frank, Glen and all the folks involved!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great feedback!:thumbsup:

-Frank
 
#1,195
willsellout said:
This is the first time in a long time where the FEA guys have pedals in stock! I'm waiting for my name to come up for a DE-CL. I sold and thought I wanted an opti-fet only to find the DE-CL is where it's at for me!
Click to expand...

The warmth control what wanna try. But also thought the room control on the nimbus was cool.. Never try either.. Lol optifet and growler are king..
 
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#1,196
Aidenn7 said:
The warmth control what wanna try. But also thought the room control on the nimbus was cool.. Never try either.. Lol optifet and growler are king..
Click to expand...

Honestly the Opti-FET doesn’t really need the warmth control. It’s so lush as it is. And I really really really wish that @boomertech would make another preamp. The Growler is literally perfect. It’s my secret weapon - you can cut through any mix you want without issue.
 
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#1,198
I haven't read any of these threads.

The DECL surpassed any expectations that I had for a pedal compressor and I like it better than many rack units.
I was thinking the Darkglass has some nice features, but honestly, I see no reason to even try one.
The FEA DECL is that good and does everything I want from a compressor.
The limiter as an added device just makes the whole box incredible.
I don't use the warmth control (although thought I would), but can see a lot of guys liking it.

Well done Frank!

The only teenie tiny little thing I don't like?
It's a little hard on batteries (5 rehearsals (about 10 hours) and another 10 hours at home.
OTOH, it's the only high end compressor that even runs off a battery.
If I had to compare it to something less expensive, I would say the the Duncan Studio Bass can get somewhat close to the compressor side of the DECL.
 
#1,199
Mosfed said:
Honestly the Opti-FET doesn’t really need the warmth control. It’s so lush as it is. And I really really really wish that @boomertech would make another preamp. The Growler is literally perfect. It’s my secret weapon - you can cut through any mix you want without issue.
Click to expand...

I still haven't forgotten your suggestions for a preamp.:thumbsup: There is one more compressor design that I need to release before moving on to different types of pedals again.

-Frank
 
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#1,200
Jim C said:
I haven't read any of these threads.

The DECL surpassed any expectations that I had for a pedal compressor and I like it better than many rack units.
I was thinking the Darkglass has some nice features, but honestly, I see no reason to even try one.
The FEA DECL is that good and does everything I want from a compressor.
The limiter as an added device just makes the whole box incredible.
I don't use the warmth control (although thought I would), but can see a lot of guys liking it.

Well done Frank!

The only teenie tiny little thing I don't like?
It's a little hard on batteries (5 rehearsals (about 10 hours) and another 10 hours at home.
OTOH, it's the only high end compressor that even runs off a battery.
If I had to compare it to something less expensive, I would say the the Duncan Studio Bass can get somewhat close to the compressor side of the DECL.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim!!:)

I tried to squeeze out as much battery life as I could. These designs aren't the best for people who always use batteries. I used to keep a battery in my comp, on my pedal board, just in case my band had a gig where there was crappy power. I would just unplug the 9V adapter and run on battery for the show... after the gig I would plug the daisy-chain power plug back into comp to disconnect the battery.

-Frank
 
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