New Diamond Comp from Aion FX (DIY)

[davio]

Quartz Optical Compressor / Diamond Compressor

I'm very excited about this one as Kevin put it on his list 2 years ago after I brought it up. If you aren't familiar with Aion, this guy makes some of the cleanest, most accessible DIY build kits and documentation I've ever seen. Perfect for someone who knows how to solder and not much more (like some of us ). I have zero affiliation with him/the company, but I've built several pedals from his complete kits as well as his PCBs (sourcing my own components).

The next hurdle is hoping other people are interested enough and click that "Request" button for the complete kit as that's the informal survey he uses to gauge whether it's worth it to source and stock the parts.

But even if not, this looks to be a fun build for a DIY version of an amazing compressor. At the very least, Aion's transparency and historical research for his write-ups on each pedal are a good read.

Hope y'all find this as exciting as I do!

 

[Tassieviking]

Just what I need, another pedal I might not have a real use for but that I will end up building anyway, life sure can be hard sometimes.

 

[davio]

But it's such a good pedal. I'm confident you'll find a use. If you build it, opportunities to use it will come.

 

[johnk_10]

i built a vero version years ago and it works perfectly. i just finished Aion's (bass) version yesterday, and while it works okay, it has a little bit of distortion on the top end, while my vero version doesn't at all.
i used the recommended OP275 chip and an original VTL5C3 in both of them. just wondering where the distortion is coming from. i'm going to continue to try and solve it since i do like it's smaller size.
vero version:

AION version:

 

[davio]

That enclosure looks amazing! Nice job!

You can always try emailing Kevin. There's no official tech support or anything, as these are DIY designs, but he was able to help point me in the right direction once before when I was having an issue with a build. It's worth a shot.

 

[johnk_10]

That enclosure looks amazing! Nice job!

You can always try emailing Kevin. There's no official tech support or anything, as these are DIY designs, but he was able to help point me in the right direction once before when I was having an issue with a build. It's worth a shot.

thanks, i'll try and contact him.

 

[100WChris]

Hi,
I also want to build a Dimaond-Compressor, and Im thinking about the Quartz.
did you solved the distortion-problem with the Aion comp?
May I ask what layout you've used to build the Vero version?
Thanks and kind regards
Chris

 

[johnk_10]

Hi,
I also want to build a Dimaond-Compressor, and Im thinking about the Quartz.
did you solved the distortion-problem with the Aion comp?
May I ask what layout you've used to build the Vero version?
Thanks and kind regards
Chris

nope, and i tried a lot of ways to solve it so i gave up.
i used Harold Sabro's layout on veroboard, used a VTL5C3 for the opto coupler, added a charge pump so it runs on 18V for m a 9V supply and modified the tilt from the guitar version to the bass version. i built it a long time ago and would've used top jacks if i built it today.

 

[100WChris]

ok, I guess ill try the vero
Thanks!
Chris