OVNIFX Smoothie Compressor

[dharmashawn]

Ordered!! Bongo develops a compressor? Purchase without even thinking about it.

As did I!!!

 

[bongomania]

You guys are great, thank you.

My review is now posted! http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/smoothie.shtml

 

[DirtyDuke]

I ordered without blinking, lol. On its way to me in Canada, should be here this week

 

[ryansalmond]

Yes.

The EQ is post blend, it affects the clean signal too.

I'm curious Bongo, why did you choose this?

 

[bongomania]

Er... Um... That particular detail slipped my notice when I was testing the prototype. I think it sounds very good the way it is, but I would not have chosen that if I was paying closer attention.

 

[ryansalmond]

Well once again, honesty off the charts! Wow.

I wouldn't have chosen that either, but I imagine there are just as many buyers who would have.

 

[bongomania]

The nice thing about this is I am making a list of things to do even better on the second run, assuming and hoping that is in the cards.

 

[bassmeknik]

sub'd

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Just got home and only had a few minutes to mess around with the pedal, but it's really nice. There isn't a bad sound in the pedal. Very nicely done!

 

[bassbrad]

The nice thing about this is I am making a list of things to do even better on the second run, assuming and hoping that is in the cards.

Yes please! I can't do it this time but a Smoothie might just be the ticket.

 

[yaksonator]

Yes I will definitely be interested in the next run as well... I'd do it now but I can't due to funds.

 

[DirtyDuke]

Mine has cleared customs as of march 7 hopefully here tomorrow

 

[DirtyDuke]

The nice thing about this is I am making a list of things to do even better on the second run, assuming and hoping that is in the cards.

Great, i'll end up buying that one too, lol

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The Smoothie passed the P-bass test with flying colors. I used Bongo's Super Fat setting mentioned earlier in the thread. Really nice, no drop in booty, no noise. Sweet!

 

[MD1981]

Hi Bongo!

First I want to thank you for all your great reviews! Your website is awesome and your helping a LOT of bass players out there!

I was thinking of replacing my MXR M87 by the Smoothie (same size!) mainly because I get a lot of noise from the MXR. I play mostly with in-ear monitors and I have a high output bass. No matter the settings, it seems like I get a lot of ''hiss'' from this pedal! I've noticed also a tiny bit of boost in the highs freq. In comparison, I have the Markbass compressore on another board and it's almost dead quiet. So how do you compare those 2 pedals with the Smoothie in term of noise?

Also, I'm using comp mainly as peak limiting, or ligh/medium compression to remove peaks in the signal. So my other question tends towards the blend knob... It's a cool feature to bring back the clarity in the bass sound, but by adding the original signal I assume you're also bringing back the peaks, so you still send them to the front board? What's the best settings for peak limiting on the smoothie?

Thanks again for all the work you've done for us. I've been reading your reviews since a long time ago and I've learned a lot from you!
I'm really glad you finally have a product for sale now, so we can give you back a bit

MD

 

[bongomania]

I was thinking of replacing my MXR M87 by the Smoothie (same size!) mainly because I get a lot of noise from the MXR. I play mostly with in-ear monitors and I have a high output bass. No matter the settings, it seems like I get a lot of ''hiss'' from this pedal!

The question or problem of hiss from the M87 is troubling, and hard to answer. A lot of people have reported hiss from the M87. My M87 doesn't hiss though. Mine does the usual compressor thing of amplifying noise that already exists in the signal, picked up by the bass and the cable; but it doesn't add any noise. Yet I cannot ignore the fact that so many people have reported their M87 is hissy. I really don't know how to address it.

Actually, crap--I just realized I'm late for something, I have to cut off this post! But I will be back later and continue answering.

 

[MD1981]

I've read a lot also about the noise in the MXR, and I still don't understand very well... I understand the noise floor is raised, but with other compressors (like Markbass which is really good) I don't get this much noise. Maybe a bad M87? I guess I'll have to try other units... It's sad cuz the meter features is really cool.
Plus on mine the Ratio knob is inverted... 4=Strong comp, 20=Light comp... Weird!!!

 

[BioDriver]

Money, why aren't you here when I need you?

 

[alec]

I've read a lot also about the noise in the MXR, and I still don't understand very well... I understand the noise floor is raised, but with other compressors (like Markbass which is really good) I don't get this much noise. Maybe a bad M87? I guess I'll have to try other units... It's sad cuz the meter features is really cool.
Plus on mine the Ratio knob is inverted... 4=Strong comp, 20=Light comp... Weird!!!

Could be a bad MXR. Lots of duds got through but their customer support is excellent.
Regarding the ratio, I think increasing it causes the input gain to drop a bit, so you need to give it a bit of a bump at the same time.

 

[bongomania]

I have the Markbass compressore on another board and it's almost dead quiet. So how do you compare those 2 pedals with the Smoothie in term of noise?

Unfortunately I no longer have a Markbass on hand for direct comparison. In my review I noted that it sounded dark in the highs, and what this probably means is it rolls off most of the highs above 10 KHz, which also rolls off most noise. That's probably part of why it is so quiet.

The M87 and the Smoothie don't roll off the high end much (the Smoothie is 2dB down at 10 KHz). I find they are pretty much equal in how they amplify noise--again, using an M87 that is working correctly, not a dud.

my other question tends towards the blend knob... It's a cool feature to bring back the clarity in the bass sound, but by adding the original signal I assume you're also bringing back the peaks, so you still send them to the front board? What's the best settings for peak limiting on the smoothie?

Yes, using the blend does mean allowing some peaks through. All compression is compromise, and the blend feature is one more tool but also one more compromise--a balancing act.

To use the Smoothie as a limiter, I'd turn the Blend to minimum, Attack between minimum and noon, switch the Thresh to -20 dB, and then tweak the Sust until I found a usable compromise point where it is stopping peaks sufficiently.