It was my exact thought after realizing the results........
In fact, if i'll sell it, i'll make this point very clear in the ad: that it's fit for electric guitarists (that i am not).
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[I consider it CLOSED] FEA DE-CL problems: insist or resign? .......
- Thread starter mbrancalion
- Start date
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- compressor fea de-cl limiter
It was my exact thought after realizing the results........
In fact, if i'll sell it, i'll make this point very clear in the ad: that it's fit for electric guitarists (that i am not).
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Time to get an LA-2A and be done with it. 
For studio work, get a studio compressor. 
I use the Cali 76-CB for live work and/or have used it in the studio with it's sidechain filter and dry mix.
Compressors are not necessarily devices you can force to do specifics...they're definitely not one size fits all.
For studio work, get a studio compressor. I use the Cali 76-CB for live work and/or have used it in the studio with it's sidechain filter and dry mix.
Compressors are not necessarily devices you can force to do specifics...they're definitely not one size fits all.
Understood that this is a guitar comp in your experience; but most others don't see or hear it this way
We can and do use technology
It's the blanket statement that I disagree with
1,000 people say Brand X gear has been working for them for 40 years
1 person says it does not
The gear still works; just not for that 1 person
Have you owned or used this compressor extensively?
It is very adjustable and perhaps that is the issue
I'm not "the others", i am myself. And in my opinion, facts are these.
Yes, for me it still does not work.
So, what's the point? The point is that i'd never bought it if i knew the way the sensing circuit works, and nobody told me before, no review, etc, and the builder has still not published this sort of specs.
I hope that now he'll do, when i'll write him and link him this thread.
I'm not the dumb type of musician that has no patience to investigate on controls and how a device works.
The entire thread proves it: it was born from the desire to try to solve the problems, not for dissing a device.
A less bit of aggressiveness from your side would be welcome, too.
Thanks, greetings.
(from now on, i won't have the time to reply to non useful replies. Critiques to my views on the device will be pointless.)
I used that pedal before I went to a Helix..it was by far the best compressor I have ever used, Frank is a compression genius, it was always on and as transparent as could be, but these are just my opinions...I have attached a picture below where you may want to try to duplicate the settings I used and see how it suits you, I had the limiter engaged full-time as well as the compressor. I used that pedal set as it is for 5 years and it was perfect for me. Just trying to help...good luck.
Rock on.
Rock on.
I'm not aware of any builder offering these kind of specifications and I was just trying to offer another perspective
Good luck
Right...except obviously a lot of people like the DE-CL for bass and also guitar. It's not designed to leave guitar and high frequencies alone entirely, it just applies a contour to the side chain so lows are compressed a bit more. Whether it's good or bad is entirely subjective...which is why it's a bit of a risk to buy this sort of gear blind without trying it first. Some people like the compression contour and some people don't.
In listening to the review in post #5, I don't think I would use this compressor for my stage rig, especially for the slap. I thought the pick playing was really nice with the compressor engaged and the warmth turned up, but I see this more as a saturation effect almost like a tube amp. I didn't really like the way the compressor worked with the muted thumb sound.
My subjective opinion on these matters might be different in the context of a mix though. When I am performing I want the bass to jump out of the mix so I can hear what I am doing, and when I am listening casually, the bass should lay well in the mix. IMHO, the DE-CL might be a little more useful on a channel strip than in front of an amp for my purposes.
If you think the DE-CL sounds awful, I totally respect your opinion. But recognize that it is a subjective opinion and not a fact.
Here's review with guitar. The playing is pretty lame but the DE-CL sounds fine to me.
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Nor have I . Buying a compressor should be considered just as personal as buying a bass. It can be a challenge to find one that sounds and feels right...and the one you like may not appeal to the next player.
@Wasnex yeah, I was definitely speaking in hyperbole regarding the box's functionality being that the primary concern of my posts in this thread are far more weighted on FEA's "troubleshooting"- which I still find very humorous.
How well this unit works for other bassists is a moot point. Some people make sedans work just fine for family hauling while many more use minivan/SUV/CUV(wagon) type platforms. Front+back EQ as a workaround for a circuit that is intended to do something different from what the op (and many other bassists) wants a comp to do is as silly as rumble seats for people who bought a sedan or coupe but should've just gotten a wagon with a third row.
I don't know, but I assume that FEA probably does a more flat comp? Maybe even one with an HPF built in? It would've been wise for them to have had their first response be "front+back EQ can work in the short-term, but there are other products which would be far more suitable for what you're hoping to do" and if applicable add "we even make one that is pretty great". He/they even could have gone for good CusServ by offering a trade-in discount on that hypothetical more ideal unit for mbrancalion if they do indeed have one in their catalog.
How well this unit works for other bassists is a moot point. Some people make sedans work just fine for family hauling while many more use minivan/SUV/CUV(wagon) type platforms. Front+back EQ as a workaround for a circuit that is intended to do something different from what the op (and many other bassists) wants a comp to do is as silly as rumble seats for people who bought a sedan or coupe but should've just gotten a wagon with a third row.
I don't know, but I assume that FEA probably does a more flat comp? Maybe even one with an HPF built in? It would've been wise for them to have had their first response be "front+back EQ can work in the short-term, but there are other products which would be far more suitable for what you're hoping to do" and if applicable add "we even make one that is pretty great". He/they even could have gone for good CusServ by offering a trade-in discount on that hypothetical more ideal unit for mbrancalion if they do indeed have one in their catalog.
I think we agree with each-other here. It just seemed clear to me that the OP was already fed up with the pedal and would be better suited trying something different. Since there are options around with features that can specifically address the issue he is having with the DE-CL (sidechain EQ or multiband compression), I suggested those as potential options to look into. I haven’t been able to try a DE-CL personally, but given my experience with the Opti-Fet and a bit of experience with the Dual Band I would expect it to excel at what it does!
I think you are right; a decision has been made although as of post 28 the OP said he wanted to pursue making this device work.
Also, there hasn't been any reply regarding a HPF or any other forms of troubleshooting, experimentation, or current settings.
Apparently I'm of no help and causing aggrevation so better to be done with this.
I wonder if Frank is OK; odd that he has not responded...
If he's backordered, he's probably a happy camper just making boxes and shipping them out.
There is really nothing to respond to.
Marco contacted me last week with his issue of when he gets the low freq compression dialed in the highs don’t have enough compression and when he dials in the compression for the higher freqs the lows are overly compressed. He was looking for a solution for his issues and I explained that the threshold circuit in the DE-CL is more sensitive with frequencies below 80Hz and the only way to have a work around with his issue was to pre and post EQ.
He responded that the EQ work around was absurd and he went on about how he was disappointed and that he was going to have to sell it, because sending it back and getting a refund would be too expensive. That’s totally understandable.
It is a policy that I keep customer emails private (unless they give permission) so I won’t post Marco's email, but this is the last email that I had sent to him:
“Marco,
Sorry to hear that the compressor isn't what you wanted. The suggestion of EQ before and EQ after was an attempt to try to help with your issue. This is the first time I have had to make a suggestion such as that, so it may sound absurd to you, but without a sidechain port to modify threshold sensitivities by frequency bands, you will have no other way to adjust for the issue you describe.
The Empress compressor has a sidechain port. They even give capacitor values to use on a 1/4 inch plug for this port, so it can make the threshold detector into a high pass filter that would allow you to do the exact opposite. There are also several compressors that have adjustable HPF in the detector circuits. I hope you find one that makes you happy.
-Frank”
So I really don’t see how to help Marco anymore than what I’ve already done. I really do hope he finds something that works for him.
-Frank
I have a life and a job, and a different time fuse from most of you.
So, why someone are busy with assuming my behaviours or thoughts, now i'm starting doing tests and recordings with the settings that bass40Hz showed me in his pic.
So, why someone are busy with assuming my behaviours or thoughts, now i'm starting doing tests and recordings with the settings that bass40Hz showed me in his pic.
Recording clip using FEA DE-CL on bass (chain: bass->FEA->preamp):
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Recording clip using DBX 160a on bass: (chain: bass->preamp->DBX in the loop):
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Forgive playing errors, it's quite late here.
Greetings.
Before posting the original post, i tried literally EVERYTHING. Also using very small turns, in every knob, one at a time.
Trust me, i know what compressor are, and i know how to search and tweak sounds.
In my opinion, this was the final test. If anyone, builder included, is able to point me to other observation or tests, i'll be ready to listen. Otherwise i'm really done (like someone was insinuating).
I beg the builder to INCLUDE in his website the specs he sent me by email (he reported my emails, so i'll do the same):
"The DE-CL uses full-wave peak detection in it's threshold circuits. The threshold detector circuits are designed to be flat-full-band for frequencies above 80Hz and to be approximately +3dBu more sensitive at 40Hz and +6dBu more sensitive at 30Hz. You could use an EQ at the input of the DE-CL with a gentle roll-off on the frequencies below 80Hz and another EQ after the DE-CL to bring those frequencies back up to normal. This may help with issues that you are having.
Another thing to note is that the COMP and LIMIT LED's are only indicators for threshold + attack. There is a brief period of release cycle compression after the LED's just extinguish. This thresh+attack indicator made it easier for me to find my settings when playing live."
If i had read online something similar before, i'd never payed $$ to a builder/seller, that now seems happy whatever my position is.
Once again: i'm disappointed. In all these years i always saw a more serious behaviour in standing behind their products, by US sellers.
So, i hope this thread and eventually the specs reported clearly in the FEA's website will be useful to someone else in the future. It's a shame to see so many selling ads of the DE-CL ......
Greetings.
And forgive my english, it's not my language. I speak italian.
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Because the FEA imparted a sort of meater sound, but i chose to leave everything (bass, preamp) the same way in the dbx track, as the other track.
I would never leave the dbx track as it is, because it's a bit sterile, in this form.
It was just a stripped comparison 1:1.
I hope i was clear.
My recommendation is "resign." I think the FEA sounds great in the clip you provided but you don't like it...Aside from modding the pedal there is nothing you can do aside from the remedy FEA suggested which is use pre/post EQ. I agree this is sort of a band aid, so better to sell the pedal and buy one more to your liking. Sorry I could not be more helpful.
