September 2019

Table of Comparison The comparison table is best viewed on large screens, in landscape mode, preferably on desktop. Scroll below to read more about CompIQ compressors. Circuit DesignDynamic ProcessingAnalog EnginesVariation ElementSide-Chain DetectionSide-Chain FilterSide-Chain Frequency CompensationAdjustable Input LevelInput Clipping LEDCrossoverRatioThresholdDynamic Auto TimingAttackReleaseMake-up GainCompression KneeEQEQ BypassDry/Wet MixSaturationSaturation EQCompression Display9V Battery OperationExternal DC PowerDC Power Plug BarrelCurrent ConsumptionAdd to Cart TWAINCompressor / LimiterDual Band / Stacking2Blackmer® VCATrue RMS-Level SensorNormal / Low / Deeplows onlyYES-9dB to +6dB> +6dBu signal levelsLinkwitz–Riley70Hz to 1KHz1:1 to inf:1both bands-40dBu to +10dBuboth bandsAuto Fast / Slowerboth bandsF / S: 5‐7ms / 10-15msF / S: 70ms / 100‐220ms-6dB to +20dBboth bandsHard / Softboth bandsThrough Make-up Gains on Wet line (boost/cut)-YESOn Dry LineadjustableLo / Hi Cut filters and Level controls6-LEDboth bands-9-18VDC center negativeØ 5.1/2.1mm, 12mm long< 69mAAdd to Cart STELLACompressor / LimiterSingle Channel1Blackmer® VCATrue RMS-Level SensorNormal / Low / DeepYES---1:1 to inf:1-40dBu to +10dBuAuto Fast / SlowerF / S: 5‐7ms / 10-15msManual: 0.12 ms/dB to 12 ms/dBF / S: 70ms / 100‐220msManual: 1.2 ms/dB to 120 ms/dB-6dB to +20dBHard / SoftX-EQ +/-6dB with Low / Deep frequency pivotsYESYESOn Dry LineadjustableLo / Hi cut filters(inside jumpers)6-LEDYES9-12VDC center negativeØ 5.1/2.1mm, 12mm long< 29mABUY NOW MINICompressor / LimiterSingle Channel1Blackmer® VCATrue RMS-Level SensorNormal / DeepYES---1:1 to inf:1-40dbu to +10dBuAuto Fast / SlowerF / S: 5‐7ms / 10-15msF / S: 70ms / 100‐220ms-6dB to +20dBHard / Soft--YES--5-LED-9-12VDC center negativeØ 5.1/2.1mm, 12mm long< 25mABUY NOW ONECompressorSingle Channel1Blackmer® VCATrue RMS-Level SensorNormalYES---1:1 to inf:1Lo: -40dBu fixed; Hi: -40dBu to +10dBu inside trimmerAuto Slow10-15ms100‐220ms-6dB to +20dBHard--YES--5-LED-9-12VDC center negativeØ 5.1/2.1mm, 12mm long< 25mABUY NOW MINI Pro vs. Other Minions Wanna know more about mini compressor pedals? We compiled a Technical Shootout for most performance and popular mini compressor pedals available. Click here to find out how CompIQ MINI Pro stands out. The Blackmer® VCA First developed by David Blackmer of dbx Inc., the original dbx 202 “Black Can” VCAs, can still be found in operating consoles today. These first VCAs suitable for pro audio equipment were built with a gain cell of eight discrete transistors. Later development of these IC’s surpassed all inconveniences of earlier designs, now rendering superior performances. CompIQ series of compressors use THAT Corporation Blackmer® VCAs which are characterized by an exponential control characteristic (gain varies directly in decibels), extremely wide dynamic range, and low signal distortion. They are particularly neutral in sound, adding little or no coloration to audio signals. The RMS-Level Sensor Invented by David Blackmer of dbx Inc., the RMS-level detector computes Root Mean Square level of input signals in a logarithmic form, similar to how the human ear perceives sound. The sound envelope decoded by this accurate detector is used to apply dynamic processing of the sound – the variation of signal level precisely controlled by the VCA according to parameters set by the user (Ratio, Threshold, Attack, Release, and Gain). The Threshold Range The threshold’s 50dB-of-range is designed to accommodate very weak signals up to pro audio level signals. The +4dB pro signal line level is at the top of this range, and consequently at the far clockwise end of the threshold knob. This gives a huge amount of headroom for the instrument’s generated signals, which ensure the compressor is not distorting with high-level spikes. We didn’t want that, by design. Some other compressors distort a lot, for various reasons, and headroom (or lack of it) is one of them. The CompIQ line of compressors is made to accommodate either lower OR hotter signals, and that is the reason why it can also be used with synths or other line-level devices. We wanted that so that we cover a broad spectrum of usage. As opposed to this kind of design are the compressors which have a very low threshold set hard within the circuit, and they would be controlled through “compression variation” only. This is equivalent to setting our compressors with the lowest threshold, and then vary compression amount with the Ratio control. Actually, we did that with the CompIQ MINI ONE Compressor – which is more suitable for simple operation. One other fact to point out is the range of a pickup signal, which is in the lower 25% of the pro signal level. This falls as well within the first quarter of the Threshold knob’s rotation range. The compression, or limiting, should only occur on peaks and for that matter, the optimum threshold point for a pickup is also in the lower setting on the Threshold knob, maybe between -30 to -20dBu (by design, this is also the reference level of the internal circuit). Around 8 or 9 o’clock, you are more than halfway within a pickup signal range. If you are to compress just peaks, you would set the threshold knob at about 9 o’clock or slightly above. At this level, a higher compression ratio makes no sense, unless is limiting you’re after. If you want to have a more audible feel of the compression, you would set the threshold knob bellow 9 o’clock, and the lower you go counterclockwise the smaller compression ratios you should use so that the pickup signal is not squashed too hard. Unless you want to use the squash as an effect! And here comes the “New York compression style” which means compress with a high ratio and low threshold, and mix the compressed wet signal with the dry signal. Worth mentioning is that all CompIQ circuits have a hard-set signal level protection; which is around 1.2Vp-p or just around... pro signal level. For higher input levels than that, the circuit gets into distortion, which is generated by the protection section of the circuit and not within the active electronics, like buffers and VCA. Such protection is needed to avoid damages within the electronics due to input spikes or accidental DC leakage. Anyway, guitars and basses will not get to that top-level easily, unless they are put after a device that would be cranked up. The Side Chain Filter Side Chain Filter is a feature which allows a change in the side chain compression triggering frequency filter. The purpose is to delay the start of the compressor by the low frequency with high amplitude, which otherwise would clamp the higher frequencies too early. This results in a breathable type of compression, which has a particular sound characteristic, making it feel more natural to the ear. At the same time, the sound at the output may come out” fatter” or “punchier”. In CompIQ PRO Stella, the SCF is switchable for a pre-set amount of low-cut of the triggering frequencies. The Normal option provides a general purpose type of compression response, while Low and Deep options add a cut of -12dB@90Hz and -12dB@200Hz on top of the Normal side chain curve, making it suitable for bass instruments. Tape Saturation Lo & Hi-Cut filters The Tape Saturation analog circuit acts only on the Dry signal. This optionally-saturated signal can then be mixed with the wet, compressed signal, to infuse harmonic distortions and warm-up the audio, without affecting the dynamics of the compressed signal. The headroom of the saturation circuit is pretty high, so you need to dial in some saturation before the effect is audible. The Low & High cut filters should be used only when Tape Saturation is used, otherwise, they will affect the clean dry line, although, that might also be a desirable way of using the Dry/Wet Mix control. The filters were necessary so that they would accommodate different types of audio sources, and respond musically without introducing unwanted fuzziness on the low end (especially for bass), or make it sound brittle (especially on bright guitar pickups). Below you can see how the filters affect the frequencies of the Dry line. Dry Line No FiltersDry Line Lo FilterDry Line Lo & Hi FiltersDry Line Hi Filter X-EQ The X-EQ section of the circuit is placed after the compressor, just before the Mix control, which means it acts on the wet signal only. When mixing the dry unprocessed signal, with the wet, compressed and processed signal, the effect of the X-EQ is washed out little by little, as you introduce more dry signal. The X-EQ on Stella has two frequency pivot points so that it will accommodate either bass (pivot at 330Hz, which corresponds to the higher note on the highest note of a 4 or 5 strings bass), or guitar (pivot at 1KHz, which corresponds to the highest note on a 20-fret guitar). At extreme setting (CC or CCW), there is a total difference of 12dB in between lows and highs. In the middle position of the X-EQ knob, the frequencies are not affected. The X-EQ section can be bypassed altogether by changing the position of a jumper inside the pedal. Line-level Signals CompIQ series of compressors (both Stella and MINI) share the same core technology – sound wise they sound exactly the same. They have 50dB threshold range, from -40dB up to +10dB which is from average magnetic pickup level up to above line level. They both may be used on line-level FX Loops or hi-Z input on recording interfaces. Having an RMS-level detector, the compression is very accurate and the LED indication is very precise in that regard, as long as the input signal is at/around calibrated reference level. With line-level signals, which is way up, the LED’s will flash red more often, but there is nothing wrong with that. We did not provide means for re-calibrating the compression display at various signal levels because they were designed to be used mainly with instrument-level

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The 101 of the CompIQ Line of Compressors