Diamond Compressor pedal for synths?

GeorgeHayduke · 9th February 2012

Does/did anyone use the Diamond Compressor pedal with synths?

Did you try it with bass synth too? Does it preserve the bass?

How did you like it in general?

Alternatively, have anyone tried the Homebrew C.S.R. or Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor? Do they have enough headroom?

Thanks in advance, Hayduke

recnsci · 9th February 2012

You should check this. BTW, guy is bass player, so he does care quite a bit 'bout low end and headroom when he reviews stuff.

GeorgeHayduke · 9th February 2012

Thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten about that website. Exactly what I needed!

It turns out I need the bass version, I think, the BCP-1, I didn't even know it existed.

It sounds like it could possibly be a sweet pedal for synths.

Dang, the regular one is in the yellow pages, money, money, money..

darkhorse · 9th February 2012

I am not a keyboard player but my 2 cents on a compressor pedal that delivers the goods is the Wampler Ego Compressor.

The transparent quality and versatility of this "mere" pedal makes it a musically useful tool no matter the scheme. I dropped the use of a compressor pedal years ago not happy with the overall effect, feeling the missing need for one in my current rig and having used Wampler I gave it a shot and man it became my "if I could only have one pedal".

It has a very smooth sustain.compression control that never squeezes the tone but lets it breath and merely does do what a compresor does best, limit overt peaks and bring up or sustain lower. The addition of the blend control gives one an option few pedals can offer. At noon, a 50/50 mix of uncompressed tone to compressor circuit. It has a range of compression to slight enhancement to make any use possible. The blend just puts it over the top. Tone control down is like no tone control turning up merely enhances a sparkle and presence to the tone.

Wampler has become my preferred line these days because they provide a "transparent enhancement" of your tone without taking it over or coloring it. Seems idea for a keyboard app as to keep your synth and piano sounding like the keyboards envelope and feel.

A quality pedal well beyond the notions of a mere "pedal".

GeorgeHayduke · 10th February 2012

Thanks for the reply.

I heard good things about the Wampler, but the problem with synths is always headroom, unless you use a pad. The Diamond runs at up to 24 volts and is made with excessive headroom for guitar/bass use, so that's why I've got my eyes on that one, so far.

audslu · 10th February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by recnsci

You should check this. BTW, guy is bass player, so he does care quite a bit 'bout low end and headroom when he reviews stuff.

Thanks for the link!

It says good things about the empress comp. I 'll keep in mind.

darkhorse · 8th March 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeHayduke

Thanks for the reply.

I heard good things about the Wampler, but the problem with synths is always headroom, unless you use a pad. The Diamond runs at up to 24 volts and is made with excessive headroom for guitar/bass use, so that's why I've got my eyes on that one, so far.

I had not considered the voltage thing, Brian says the pedal can run higher but recommends he designed it for 9v. I find most of his pedals to have incredible range and preamping level ability. Not knowing beans about synths I can only relate to the axe level. I love it because of the control ability and its transparency. After losing compressors for many years it actually became one of fav pedals. Being able to speed the attack up and blend the straight signal is quite nice. Hope the Diamond works out.

clusterchord · 8th March 2012

dont understand why does it have to be a pedal for the synth... if youre looking for a compressor that:

works with line and synth levels from the get go
is flexible - attack, release etc
transparent
stereo linked or mono
and a huge bang for the buck

get FMR Audio Really Nice Compressor.

a used one is cheap and ugly, but as such even cheaper than some of these boutique powder coated pedals... and FMR is a studio device, not a stomp box. new is less than 200, used 125 - 150. ok it does not have blend control.

that being said, im not immune to these beautiful hand crafted pedals myself.. always toying with the idea.. gassing about different ones. then i remember the headroom issue and all GAS passes me by.

GeorgeHayduke · 8th March 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkhorse

..Hope the Diamond works out.

Thanks for the feedback though I didn't make my mind up yet!

Quote:

Originally Posted by clusterchord

dont understand why does it have to be a pedal for the synth... if youre looking for a compressor ..

get FMR Audio Really Nice Compressor....

Yea, I'm kinda reaching the same conclusion because the Diamond bass compressor is so expensive anyway. I might as well get a proper line level comp.

I used to have a FMR and it was fine, it did the job, but I never came to love it, and sold it.

The thing is, I love to have pedals sitting right next to/on top of my synths so I can tweak while playing, and try a variety of chains on the fly.

But I think I'm leaving the pedal idea again, for one thing because it's quite nice to have proper controls for attack and decay and not having to worry about headroom..

clusterchord · 8th March 2012

yeah, i know FMR ain't exciting bcs its very transparent, if you don't go over 6dB of gain reduction. it doesn't make things larger-than-life that is for sure.

another option, but is their new mono compressor PBC-6A, its much more versatile in colour character dept, and higher quality.. but so is the price. but its balanced and has loads of headroom. a "grown up" version of RNC.

you could also check the old APhex units the 651 and 661 they really work great.. 651 is transparent but livelier than FMR, and can stand greater GR. 661 has tubessence. they can be had for 2 - 3 hundred. best buy.

and recently GAP 54 is getting rave reviews, its a cheap copy of Neve2254. haven't tried it but i am intrigued..

darkhorse · 11th March 2012

Check out that review of the Empress Compressor wow, what a unit. I would not venture to say my Wampler is "better" than that one but I do know it out does the Keeley with more features and transparency. I used to hate those "classic-vintage" guitar pedal compressors, the clamping and squeeze of the tone like a bad noise gate. I never heard what a good compressor really does or the meaning of why the Wampler has a "sustain" control and not a "compression" labeled control. You could actually hear the thickening and quality of the sound and how the chords were "sustaining" longer and cleaner, being able to mix that with the straight tone was outstanding. If money was not an option, I would just order them one by one and rig them to the gear and send back the one which does not do the deal. The advantage of on-line buying, just remember to repackage the pedal as it came for return. For guitar I dig the Wampler, an outstanding $200 pedal less than the Keeley model which gets good reviews. the Empress, Diamond and perhaps the Joe Meek cost a lot more but should be for that matter "better" perhaps for a studio or synth use anyway.

GeorgeHayduke · 19th March 2012

On a whim, I picked up an old stereo tube compressor for my synths, SVC-1. It's very utilitarian, and the stereo thing is nice since I do like to record a clean and an efx track. Another reason why I gave up on the pedal thing.

The comp seems to work nicely, it's not at all clean like the RNC, especially with the tube gain at max, but it sounds pretty good. And the build quality is quite nice, and no smd parts at all, so it should be easy to service. Now I just need to find some nice tubes, and maybe drop in some Burr-Browns instead of the TI opamps.

Thanks for the suggestions though!!

9th February 2012	#1
GeorgeHayduke Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 3,430 Thread Starter	Diamond Compressor pedal for synths? Does/did anyone use the Diamond Compressor pedal with synths? Did you try it with bass synth too? Does it preserve the bass? How did you like it in general? Alternatively, have anyone tried the Homebrew C.S.R. or Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor? Do they have enough headroom? Thanks in advance, Hayduke __________________ “This is the most beautyful place on Earth. There are many such places.” Edward Abbey Desert Solitaire

8th March 2012	#8
clusterchord Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,529	dont understand why does it have to be a pedal for the synth... if youre looking for a compressor that: works with line and synth levels from the get go is flexible - attack, release etc transparent stereo linked or mono and a huge bang for the buck get FMR Audio Really Nice Compressor. a used one is cheap and ugly, but as such even cheaper than some of these boutique powder coated pedals... and FMR is a studio device, not a stomp box. new is less than 200, used 125 - 150. ok it does not have blend control. that being said, im not immune to these beautiful hand crafted pedals myself.. always toying with the idea.. gassing about different ones. then i remember the headroom issue and all GAS passes me by. __________________ music for film/tvseries/theatre live psyhedelic ambient

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9th February 2012	#2
recnsci Gear interested Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 27	You should check this. BTW, guy is bass player, so he does care quite a bit 'bout low end and headroom when he reviews stuff.

9th February 2012	#4
darkhorse Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 907 14 Reviews written	I am not a keyboard player but my 2 cents on a compressor pedal that delivers the goods is the Wampler Ego Compressor. The transparent quality and versatility of this "mere" pedal makes it a musically useful tool no matter the scheme. I dropped the use of a compressor pedal years ago not happy with the overall effect, feeling the missing need for one in my current rig and having used Wampler I gave it a shot and man it became my "if I could only have one pedal". It has a very smooth sustain.compression control that never squeezes the tone but lets it breath and merely does do what a compresor does best, limit overt peaks and bring up or sustain lower. The addition of the blend control gives one an option few pedals can offer. At noon, a 50/50 mix of uncompressed tone to compressor circuit. It has a range of compression to slight enhancement to make any use possible. The blend just puts it over the top. Tone control down is like no tone control turning up merely enhances a sparkle and presence to the tone. Wampler has become my preferred line these days because they provide a "transparent enhancement" of your tone without taking it over or coloring it. Seems idea for a keyboard app as to keep your synth and piano sounding like the keyboards envelope and feel. A quality pedal well beyond the notions of a mere "pedal".

10th February 2012	#5
GeorgeHayduke Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 3,430 Thread Starter	Thanks for the reply. I heard good things about the Wampler, but the problem with synths is always headroom, unless you use a pad. The Diamond runs at up to 24 volts and is made with excessive headroom for guitar/bass use, so that's why I've got my eyes on that one, so far.

11th March 2012	#11
darkhorse Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 907 14 Reviews written	Check out that review of the Empress Compressor wow, what a unit. I would not venture to say my Wampler is "better" than that one but I do know it out does the Keeley with more features and transparency. I used to hate those "classic-vintage" guitar pedal compressors, the clamping and squeeze of the tone like a bad noise gate. I never heard what a good compressor really does or the meaning of why the Wampler has a "sustain" control and not a "compression" labeled control. You could actually hear the thickening and quality of the sound and how the chords were "sustaining" longer and cleaner, being able to mix that with the straight tone was outstanding. If money was not an option, I would just order them one by one and rig them to the gear and send back the one which does not do the deal. The advantage of on-line buying, just remember to repackage the pedal as it came for return. For guitar I dig the Wampler, an outstanding $200 pedal less than the Keeley model which gets good reviews. the Empress, Diamond and perhaps the Joe Meek cost a lot more but should be for that matter "better" perhaps for a studio or synth use anyway.

19th March 2012	#12
GeorgeHayduke Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 3,430 Thread Starter	On a whim, I picked up an old stereo tube compressor for my synths, SVC-1. It's very utilitarian, and the stereo thing is nice since I do like to record a clean and an efx track. Another reason why I gave up on the pedal thing. The comp seems to work nicely, it's not at all clean like the RNC, especially with the tube gain at max, but it sounds pretty good. And the build quality is quite nice, and no smd parts at all, so it should be easy to service. Now I just need to find some nice tubes, and maybe drop in some Burr-Browns instead of the TI opamps. Thanks for the suggestions though!!