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Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, Lusithand & more
- Thread starter scubaduba
- Start date
Becos Stella CompIQ incoming. Can’t wait to try it out.
I hadn't tried/heard of this until a month or two ago, but another TBer traded me one. It's weird in a good way for a comp.
I don’t use the Ovnie as an effect and I felt the same way but reading up on it I finally cracked the code. Here it is.
Tone: Compressed signal only:
Comp volume: Compressed signal out.
Direct: Dry signal out.
Sustain: Threshold and Ratio, a tilt control.
Attack: Attack and Release: A tilt function that sweeps from “smooth” (ccw) to “percussive” (cw)
My Smoothie Opto is the "Tough" version which I acquired before the updated version that has both Tough and Suave modes. Even with that mild limitation it's in my top 5.
Is there such thing as a compressor that can take a Line Level XLR Feed, perform subtle compression, and send the slightly compressed result via Line Level XLR?
Probably not, but thought I would ask.
Probably not, but thought I would ask.
Yes. Studio compressors do that very thing. Distressor, LA-2A, 1176, Avalon, et al.
Doc Lloyd DLA-2A also does this. The enclosure has TRS inputs, but comes with XLR adaptors for your use case.
Now that you mention it the Effectrode LA-1A could also do that with adaptors. It has a line out at least.
Edit: On second thought the LA-1A only has a line out. The input is instrument-level.
Thanks for the comment. But, to be clear, I would need either balanced TRS or XLR input and an XLR output.
So far, I’ve found a TC-Helicon Voicetone T1, which MIGHT work, and the Caveman Audio BC-1, which has a huge footprint. The others you listed are fitted with unbalanced 1/4” I/O, and would not take the output from the SLO preamp.
Adapters could be ok; but, the 1.5A power requirement is steep for a pedal board.
But, thanks for the suggestion.
I have the BC-1 on my pedal board. I’m not sure my ears can hear what it does (apart from the “boost” switch).
Just saw this thread, and I dont always use a compressor, but when I do its a 1176.
If you mean the Shift-line SLO, why not use the onboard effects loop? It's post gain and eq. If not, a bit more about your use case might be helpful cuz I can't imagine why line-level xlr interconnections on a pedalboard would be necessary.
Ah, that’s the sticking point for me. Using the Effects Loop would also insert the compressor into the Stage Mix Out; which I do NOT want.
