gear giveaway

Optical Compressor

Coppersound Iris Optical Compressor

Guitarists with a busy pedalboard interested in the uber-smooth compression produced by an optical circuit should take a deep look at the Coppersound Iris, a pedal that delivers that kind of circuit in a stylish-looking mini case. Built around "a uniquely biased audiophile-grade op-amp and optical network," this is a…Click on the title for more

Coppersound Iris Optical Compressor

Pigtronix Gloamer Volume Swell + Compressor

The world is full of pedals that affect the amplitude (i.e. the volume) of the signal they are fed: compressors and tremolos do that. But nothing delivers the sonic goods offered by the Pigtronix Gloamer, a circuit that combines a volume swell with a compressor. Volume swells are normally performed…Click on the title for more

Pigtronix Gloamer Volume Swell + Compressor

New Pedal: Spaceman Ixion Optical Compressor

The Spaceman Ixion is a stompbox take on the optical compressor circuit made famous in the studios all over the world by the legendary Teletronix LA2A rack unit. That device, with its two knobs for Gain and Peak Reduction (plus a switch to deliver compression or limiting), belonged squarely to…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Spaceman Ixion Optical Compressor

PRS Guitars Mary Cries Optical Compressor

Just like some immortal studio rack units (read, LA-2A, the source of inspiration) the PRS Guitars Mary Cries Optical Compressor only has two knobs: Output Gain and Compression. It was unveiled together with two other pedals in a release that represented the guitar builder's entry into the pedal market. The…Click on the title for more

PRS Guitars Mary Cries Optical Compressor

Walrus Audio Mira Optical Compressor

The Walrus Audio Mira is the latest pedal by what is undeniable the most prolific - and diversified in its releases - pedal company of the '20s. It's a studio-grade optical compressor with all the controls found in classic analog studio units - such as the revered Urei 1176 -…Click on the title for more

Walrus Audio Mira Optical Compressor

Crazy Tube Circuit Golden Ratio Phi V2 Multi-Mode Compressor

Crazy Tube Circuit's Golden Ration Phi V2 updates the Greek company's flagship compressor by shrinking it into a compact case and adding an extra compression mode, for a total of three: FET, Opto and OTA. Here's what each mode does to your signal: FET uses a FET transistor for gain…Click on the title for more

Crazy Tube Circuit Golden Ratio Phi V2 Multi-Mode Compressor

New Pedal: Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo

Those of you who enjoy the trembling nature of tremolo and revel in experimenting with LFO shapes should take a look at the new Dophix Galileo. A full analog device, this Italian optical tremolo features a host of versatile features that allow the creative player to fine-tune the effect's behavior…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo

Jackson Audio Bloom V2 Compressor/EQ

In the last couple of years, innovation in the pedal realm has been mostly about fitting in a compact enclosure what in previous years would fit in larger cases. However, a handful of companies went beyond that goal, and Houston's Jackson Audio belongs to that shortlist. Their Bloom v2 can…Click on the title for more

Jackson Audio Bloom V2 Compressor/EQ

New Pedals: One Control Pale Blue Compressor + EQ

Just like some legendary studio units (think LA2A), the One Control Pale Blue Compressor is an optical unit featuring an intelligent attack/decay circuit that will adapt its reaction times live, according to the player's dynamics. A three-band EQ allows for extra tone sculpting, while the very quiet amplifier circuit will…Click on the title for more

New Pedals: One Control Pale Blue Compressor + EQ

Thorpy FX – The Fat General Parallel Compressor V2

UK's Thorpy FX is one of the few pedal builders able to instill new life into your "standard" effects, through rigorous circuit design, quality components and hand built assembly, but lately also through shrewd collaborations with legendary designers. Based on the classic OTC-201 optical design, The Fat General Parallel Compressor…Click on the title for more

Thorpy FX – The Fat General Parallel Compressor V2

OVNIFX Smoothie Opto Compressor

Portland is a hotbed of pedal manufacturers and OVNIFX is certainly not the most well known in the list. Notwithstanding, the company's only creation, called Smoothie Opto Compressor, has built a very good reputation for itself. This is a transparent, "in-depth" kind of optical reverb with a couple of interesting twists.…Click on the title for more

OVNIFX Smoothie Opto Compressor

Ohmless Pedals Yara2 Optical Compressor

German stompbox maker Ohmless Pedals recently unveiled the Yara2, the second version of their low noise optical compressor. The new iteration adds Release and Blend controls, switches to top mounted jacks (including power) and uses a Soft Switch for the footswitch. Here's the video by the Pedal Zone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wPwQEI9lto Check…Click on the title for more

Ohmless Pedals Yara2 Optical Compressor