If I've understood you correctly, that sounds Darkglass-style, which I prefer. Have I understood you correctly?
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OVNIFX Smoothie Compressor
- Thread starter boomertech
- Start date
If I've understood you correctly, that sounds Darkglass-style, which I prefer. Have I understood you correctly?
Wow. A Post EQ would have been a nogo for me. But if it is parellel I will rethink my descision to get an Empress next month.
bongomania
Commercial User
Hey the Empress is fantastic, I love it and would not knock it; choosing between them is just a matter of subjective preferences.
Pretty dang great IMO, at least on my BassVI. The tilting EQ really helps find the right brighter or warmer voicing you want from your guitar's pickups.
bongomania
Commercial User
OK, sorry for the confusion, but English is not my guy's first language and we sometimes have a day or so between emails to each other, so it has been interesting nailing down these details.
Finally, I understand him. The actual deal is the knob labeled "Level" is the volume for the compressed signal, and the knob labeled "Blend" is the volume for the dry/direct signal. Two volume knobs for the mix.
Adding to my confusion, the compressor path has a huge amount of gain on tap, while the dry path doesn't go much higher than unity gain. So for example I was able to find what sounded to me like a "true" 50/50 mix with the Level at 10:00 and the Blend at 2:00 (and Sust at 12:00, with Tone tilted strongly high or low to better hear the difference).
For the second run we will bring the available gain for both paths to more similar amounts and we will label the knobs in a way that makes more sense for their actual purpose. This way for example you could turn "Comp Vol" to 11:00 and "Dry Vol" to 11:00, and expect they should be about equally mixed.
Hope this helps! I know it's a huge relief to me to finally get this clear.
Adamixoye
A PT Pro is cool for worship, right?
- Apr 9, 2012
- 18,158
- 69,338
- Disclosures
- Occasional Beta Tester for Confusion Studios, Singular Sound, and Source Audio
Thanks for the reassurance on the Empress...I really do like it. And I don't mind surgical at all, but sometimes I would like "tone fattening." Plus you can't go wrong with that metering.
Interesting, re: the Smoothie on guitar...
Man I gotta get me one of these puppies. Added to GAS list. When will the second run be available approximately? I would think about getting one now but I need to actually be responsible for a change and fix my car and stuff. Im over starting it with a jumper box 
OK, sorry for the confusion, but English is not my guy's first language and we sometimes have a day or so between emails to each other, so it has been interesting nailing down these details.
You will need to type slower, extra spaces between the words and with the caps lock on!
IMO, it sounds like your builder has the gain for the dry and comp level controls in their right ranges now. Wont that 50/50 mix target be a moving target with different amounts of applied compression and threshold levels?
-Frank
Just got the Smoothie in the mail! Fast shipping and I'll echo someone else in saying, it was the best packed pedal I've received to date, I think! I won't get a chance to play with it til tomorrow...
bongomania
Commercial User
Yes, it will certainly be a moving target, but at least for this moment I disagree about the current ranges being correct. I really feel the most user-intuitive results will need a bit more gain on the dry, and less gain on the wet.
But to be [del]frank[/del] honest
, this whole deal is moving so fast that my mind may change tomorrow. Maybe it's perfect the way it is and I just needed to wrap my head around the design. Gotta sleep on it, and use the pedal some more.
Yes, it will certainly be a moving target, but at least for this moment I disagree about the current ranges being correct. I really feel the most user-intuitive results will need a bit more gain on the dry, and less gain on the wet.
But to be [del]frank[/del] honest
These little details are maddening. After several nights of when you find yourself pacing the kitchen floor at 3AM wearing your Sponge Bob Sq-Pants PJ bottoms and your 1980s Van Halen T-shirt, drinking your girlfriends OJ from the carton while scratching your head you will eventually say AH HA, thats it!!!.
How much make-up gain did you have your builder put on the comp signal?
-Frank
@Bongo,
since your designer/builder is located in Europe, is there any chance to get the pedal directly from him? Having it shipped from the US would make it quite expensive.
Also, where does your pedal stand compared to the Diamond and the Empress?
I use the EBS as an always on. It's a decent pedal I think, not very flexible though.
I'd like a few more options and have been looking for a comp less "slow and polite" (if that makes any sense), the Diamond and the Empress are on top of my list.
Transparent is great, but I really like some "bite."
Cheers.
since your designer/builder is located in Europe, is there any chance to get the pedal directly from him? Having it shipped from the US would make it quite expensive.
Also, where does your pedal stand compared to the Diamond and the Empress?
I use the EBS as an always on. It's a decent pedal I think, not very flexible though.
I'd like a few more options and have been looking for a comp less "slow and polite" (if that makes any sense), the Diamond and the Empress are on top of my list.
Transparent is great, but I really like some "bite."
Cheers.
Oh man this thing is great. And REALLY quiet with my setup.. probably the best compressor I've played with to date.. I've owned a few with little excitement but this guy is a keeper! I like it the way it is, any improvements that are made will only make a great pedal greater. I'm very happy!
I have never owned a compressor, but feel it's about time to get one. I've read Bongo's site numerous times, and would certainly want to support him.
However, I feel like I need a very accurate touch on the threshold control. I play with real light technique, and am worried that if the threshold is set too high, I'll be increasing all of the string noises, which I don't want, and if it's too low it'll act more as a peak limiter.
From the several of you who have received these already. How do you feel about the threshold switch positions?
However, I feel like I need a very accurate touch on the threshold control. I play with real light technique, and am worried that if the threshold is set too high, I'll be increasing all of the string noises, which I don't want, and if it's too low it'll act more as a peak limiter.
From the several of you who have received these already. How do you feel about the threshold switch positions?
bongomania
Commercial User
That makes sense except from a paperwork and taxation standpoint on our end; neither he nor I are set up to handle that complexity. My retail business is tied to my personal taxes.
The Diamond and the Empress are both very polite. But you can get bite from the Empress by choosing a high ratio and a slow attack. For other sorts of "bite", check out the pedals in my "dirty comps" list. The Smoothie might do what you want, but it might not quite, so I would not push you to it.
Ba55Man1ac
Gold Supporting Member
Hey Bongo #6 arrived safely Down Under & i've gotta say dude... kudos on a quality unit! Very impressed with the noise level. The controls are usable throughout their entire range & i've yet to find a 'bad' setting. This puppy is a keeper!
