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OVNIFX Smoothie Compressor
- Thread starter boomertech
- Start date
I received Smoothie 4 days ago. I didn't want to write before I was able to fully get into it.
Maybe I would not call it best compressor I've tried, mostly because I'm pretty much used to have full control over all parameters, so there is some limitation in this type of design. BUT, as having full tweak-ability is good for studio purpose, in the other hand it mostly gets in your way in live situations.
Cyrus has made a FANTASTIC eq/dynamic Swiss knife for bass player. It does the job perfectly without being overkill with any feature that is not useful to us, bass players. So, forementioned limitations disappear when you add very musical and useful tilt eq on TONE knob in conjunction with DIRECT signal. It gives you totally new dimension in getting desired sound, known only to mixing engineers who know how much the parallel compression is crucial in mixing process. Feel free to experiment with heavy compressed signal and tone knob dialed fully clockwise or counterclockwise, and gradually add that signal (comp vol) to unity level set on direct knob. Listen how the sound gets changed. Then dial the tone and sust knob to make anything in between. That is impossible on any standard standalone compressor or eq. It's literary harmonic saturation, compression and eq in one device.
Yes there are other pedals that share same idea or part of it, but Cyrus managed to combine them in something which does not get in your way, and it's under reasonable price. It enhances and helps your creativity exponentially beyond limitations of having only comp or eq in signal chain.
Cyrus, perfect job man. Thank you.
Maybe I would not call it best compressor I've tried, mostly because I'm pretty much used to have full control over all parameters, so there is some limitation in this type of design. BUT, as having full tweak-ability is good for studio purpose, in the other hand it mostly gets in your way in live situations.
Cyrus has made a FANTASTIC eq/dynamic Swiss knife for bass player. It does the job perfectly without being overkill with any feature that is not useful to us, bass players. So, forementioned limitations disappear when you add very musical and useful tilt eq on TONE knob in conjunction with DIRECT signal. It gives you totally new dimension in getting desired sound, known only to mixing engineers who know how much the parallel compression is crucial in mixing process. Feel free to experiment with heavy compressed signal and tone knob dialed fully clockwise or counterclockwise, and gradually add that signal (comp vol) to unity level set on direct knob. Listen how the sound gets changed. Then dial the tone and sust knob to make anything in between. That is impossible on any standard standalone compressor or eq. It's literary harmonic saturation, compression and eq in one device.
Yes there are other pedals that share same idea or part of it, but Cyrus managed to combine them in something which does not get in your way, and it's under reasonable price. It enhances and helps your creativity exponentially beyond limitations of having only comp or eq in signal chain.
Cyrus, perfect job man. Thank you.
Last edited:
Sub'd for updates on a future production run.
Alternatively, if someone has a unit in decent shape for sale, PM me!
Alternatively, if someone has a unit in decent shape for sale, PM me!
- Apr 20, 2009
- 2,618
- 4,664
- Disclosures
- Endorsements: your name could be here, Mr. Sadowsky!
Could someone post a link to the manual, if it's online? I bought my Smoothie here on TB classifieds, I didn't get a manual and I can't seem to find it on ovnilab.com or ovnifx.com.
bongomania
Commercial User
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I sold my Smoothie, and now I wish I hadn’t. I bought a Cali76-CB, and really like it, but I still miss the Smoothie. I’ve learned my lesson about selling a piece of gear that’s nearly impossible to acquire in the first place, because now it’s going to be very difficult to find another one. I’m crossing my fingers for another batch of them to go into production soon.
To follow up on my last post, I actually got another Smoothie from the classifieds here. I’ve been doing a little A/B comparing between the Smoothie and my Cali76-CB. It’s really hard to choose which one I want to keep on my board, because they’re both so good. I like the Cali76’s clarity and harmonic content, and I like the Smoothie’s thick tone and ease-of-use.
I may just swap back and forth for a while, and see which one speaks to me more in live band settings. As of right now, I can’t really see myself selling either one of them. I sort of have the thought that the Cali76 may shine better in the studio, and the Smoothie may shine better in a live setting, but that’s splitting hairs.
I may just swap back and forth for a while, and see which one speaks to me more in live band settings. As of right now, I can’t really see myself selling either one of them. I sort of have the thought that the Cali76 may shine better in the studio, and the Smoothie may shine better in a live setting, but that’s splitting hairs.
Yeah, swap 'em out. Keep 'em both and use whichever is most appropriate for the gig at hand.
It's good to change things up once in a while, just to avoid the blahs and assorted other tempting GASeous blobules out there.
After eating nothing but rice for months, it's great to switch to beans, then when you're tired of beans, switch back to rice — a recommended diet that will fortify your pedal acquisition. Just don't go crazy and have rice & beans together, 'cause then you'll have no other flavour to switch to when you get tired of R&B.
Just picked up a second hand Smoothie. This is the first compressor I've ever tried, so we'll see if I can/can't make it fit. I was looking for something that was going to add a little warmth and tame some of the sharper peaks in my Jazz bass without having to roll off any tone or bass. I was also hoping to combine a warmer compression with my Dirt Transmitter that may help it achieve some of the ballz that I've been able to get with that pedal on recorded material, using various compressor plugins. It seemed like the Smoothie was a good candidate.
Messing around with it for the first time tonight, I feel like I might not fully understand it, but I know I mostly do, so I'll be curious to see how it plays in a live setting. Maybe I'll get a better grip of what the comp can do and find where it suits my style.
Off hand, I seem to like what the Smoothie adds, but I think I'm having a hard time letting go of the idea that when I engage a pedal, something monstrous should be happening instead of subtle or smoother.
If anyone else has any more settings to share, please do. Mention your setup and tonal goals. Thanks, fellas. Thanks, @bongomania.
Messing around with it for the first time tonight, I feel like I might not fully understand it, but I know I mostly do, so I'll be curious to see how it plays in a live setting. Maybe I'll get a better grip of what the comp can do and find where it suits my style.
Off hand, I seem to like what the Smoothie adds, but I think I'm having a hard time letting go of the idea that when I engage a pedal, something monstrous should be happening instead of subtle or smoother.
If anyone else has any more settings to share, please do. Mention your setup and tonal goals. Thanks, fellas. Thanks, @bongomania.
I sold my Cali76-CB, and have only been using my Smoothie for compression. This is my second time owning a Smoothie, and I’m not letting it go this time.
- Apr 20, 2009
- 2,618
- 4,664
- Disclosures
- Endorsements: your name could be here, Mr. Sadowsky!
This is how I have mine set except I now have the tone knob at about 12 o'clock. It's incredible, I need to get a backup if it ever dies and I hope it never does!
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Yes, I am still using it!
It's at the practice space so I might be slightly guessing exact settings, but I'm (mostly) sure I've settled with Attack at about 10 o'clock, Sustain about 11, Tone at noon, Comp Vol at about 9 and Direct at about noon. It's slight compression, so I'm not drastically changing tones, but enough to help fill in some sonic space in band context.
I like the smoothness and body it adds when I play cleaner tones, and it definitely helps fill out some of my gain stages, but I do have one or two pedals that I just prefer with the Smoothie out of the picture. It ended up (surprisingly) in the middle of my chain. After experimenting with position a bunch, I found that I like some drives going into it and some drives after to stack on.
I've also resurrected my Octamizer and have found a great new synthy tone with a Dirt Transmitter/Smoothie/Octamizer combo.
I have the Tough version which can be a bit more grabby than my other comps even with slowest attack, but I knew that going in and I'm thrilled with it. For me, transparency is a breeze: just mix in dry signal. That said, I generally don't go for max transparency, I prefer a vintage-leaning vibe which includes setting Tone around 11 o'clock for more phatness. The Smoothie doesn't have to sound old school; that's just how I prefer to use it.
Just wanted to let anyone interested in wanting a brand new Smoothie pedal know that they are super affordable on Reverb currently until the 30th.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with OVNIFX and have never owned a Smoothie though I hope to in 2019
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with OVNIFX and have never owned a Smoothie though I hope to in 2019
I saw that too! Suuuper tempting even though I have semi-convinced myself to save up for a Darkglass HL.... decisions decisions! Anyone try both?
Just got my used OTA Smoothie. Oh my! Thanks Bongo for putting all your research into designing this beauty! Credit to the great James Eller of The The for the Instagram recommendation that got my attention. I had already used OVNI Labs to find my TLC (loved it so much...but it failed on a gig and I couldn’t trust it again), Compressore (sold it...miss it) and Pigtronix (just wasn’t the right one for me). This Smoothie is my favorite and probably last compressor.
Bottom line: it is as quiet as everyone says. The delicious tilt EQ and transparent direct signal mix are what set it apart. The two main compression knobs are super responsive and easy to dial in. Brilliant piece of gear! I’m sure the new Opto is killer but this OTA one is just fine. Time to go play...
Bottom line: it is as quiet as everyone says. The delicious tilt EQ and transparent direct signal mix are what set it apart. The two main compression knobs are super responsive and easy to dial in. Brilliant piece of gear! I’m sure the new Opto is killer but this OTA one is just fine. Time to go play...
