View other reviews for this product:
LeBoun2 « Very interesting ... »
Published on 04/29/13 at 02:55Compressor for guitar, analog technology.
6.35mm connectors for audio, standard boss for 9V (center negative).
The presentation is super compact, a good place to "aerate" the pedalboard. The case weighs its weight, it looks strong. I think the aesthetics of the whole quite successful with its transparent potentiometers.
The set comes with non-slip pads that can be removed easily and replaced with Velcro for integration pedalboard.
The originality of the product compared to the competition: presenting a compressor in a super-compact size by adding a blend control, ie the ability to leave a portion of the dry signal. This is a fairly new concept in dynamic processing, but that makes its way in recent years, especially in the digital treatment as a plug-in for many publishers (Waves, Massey, RSS, to name a a few ...). The advantage is to keep the settings with high rate of compression in many situations where it is difficult or impossible with a "classic" compressor.
UTILIZATION
Purchased abroad, so doc in English. I find moderately clear and moderately accurate.
In fact, there are two levels of use:
1/The basic settings available on the top and then it is super simple: Volume, Blend (mix signal between treated and untreated) and then a Hi-Lo-Mid switch that plays on the ratio.
2 / Advanced accessible via a DIP switch to 4 sliders settings. Here it gets complicated:
One can indeed play on the attack time and release (Release) or activate a filter "cut up" or low-pass if you prefer. By default the active config this filter is good for single coils, perhaps to double, it would cut ...
It can also trigger an attenuator (pad), especially for active users or humbeckers powerful microphones. The doc told us that it can also be used as low-cut filter. Fortunately, there are some example config type for single and dual microphone.
To change the 9V battery (included) and access the advanced settings it is mandatory to remove the 4 screws, so not practical. For now the config factory will, and I think the manufacturer is betting that users will not need to continually change these settings, and the pedal will be mains powered. But, I personally would have preferred a way trapdoor Maxon Ibanez, TC ...
U.S. manufacturers often overlook this point. Obviously it is more robust and easy to manufacture, but the user is not always best!
In summary, the basic usage is simple, if you want to go into detail and optimize based on its config. it's tedious. We must get out the screwdriver. Disassemble, test, and reassemble. But after all, compressors MXR (Dyna Super) offer Trim inside the pedal no more practices ...
SOUND QUALITY
Regarding the sound, I currently own an MXR Super Comp. Comparing the two, I agree that this little SP Compressor is devilishly clever. Why?
Because thanks to its three basic settings (volume, blend, and Hi-Lo-Mid ratio), we quickly find a suitable position, and once the pedal pressed, they tend to leave ON for chording like solos.
For now, I have used with a U.S. Strat and my Fender Deluxe Reverb amp and Blues Junior.
The compressor is probably the most complex to understand and use effect because we can do many things with the following settings: squash effect, increased sustain, dynamic filtering, booster ...
So what about the substance?
With tube amps that I use, I feel I need to add a compressor for the famous guitarist of SQUASH country effect. The natural compression obtained by the lamps of these amps is enough. So I use the XP Compressor for:
1 - Get more sustain its clear
With modulated delays or chorus + type OD tube screamer, it's perfect for atmospheres U2/Police
2 - To sculpt the sound conjunction with other pedals, solo
With single OD (OCD) or stack (Tube Screamer + Fulltone OCD) it works pretty well for solos. Gilmourien sound is perfectly conceivable.
Anyway, for now, it is rather positive on these two points.
In summary, the effect is very versatile, he plays like a "Enhancer" in the sense that it adds body to the sound. It often gets more lower midrange, but at the same time, the sound is never plugged into acute (thank you the Blend setting) or aggressive. The report is generally natural, and when you remove the effect, we tend to prefer the sound "with", which is a good sign. I agree with what is said on the YouTube demos about it (cf. the long demo and comparison of Michael Thompson). on the other hand, a regret as soon as you attack the compression ratio high (Hi-Mid) or as soon as it greatly increases the initial level, the breath is increased significantly, especially with single coils of my strato . This is often the case with compressors, this pedal is not a miracle in this regard. So pay attention: micro connectors via cable, everything will be good ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for a week. I tried the MXR Super Comp. I know if some studio compressor rack or plug-in.
Goodies:
- The compactness
The versatile hand-made probably by the Blend setting (one could also say wet / dry) which suddenly greatly expands the scope of use. Xotic talent is to have been able to adapt this idea to the guitar in an easy to use and compact pedal.
- The price is reasonable compared to boutique pedals
Cons:
- The absence of a hatch to access the battery and additional settings.
- The level of breath quickly invading. Maintaining relatively low gain (without increasing too much the level of the signal without effect), it is doing pretty well anyway.
Final AU, a product not perfect, but very attractive, with a real personality compared to what is already done and is affordable. Unique to my knowledge today.
6.35mm connectors for audio, standard boss for 9V (center negative).
The presentation is super compact, a good place to "aerate" the pedalboard. The case weighs its weight, it looks strong. I think the aesthetics of the whole quite successful with its transparent potentiometers.
The set comes with non-slip pads that can be removed easily and replaced with Velcro for integration pedalboard.
The originality of the product compared to the competition: presenting a compressor in a super-compact size by adding a blend control, ie the ability to leave a portion of the dry signal. This is a fairly new concept in dynamic processing, but that makes its way in recent years, especially in the digital treatment as a plug-in for many publishers (Waves, Massey, RSS, to name a a few ...). The advantage is to keep the settings with high rate of compression in many situations where it is difficult or impossible with a "classic" compressor.
UTILIZATION
Purchased abroad, so doc in English. I find moderately clear and moderately accurate.
In fact, there are two levels of use:
1/The basic settings available on the top and then it is super simple: Volume, Blend (mix signal between treated and untreated) and then a Hi-Lo-Mid switch that plays on the ratio.
2 / Advanced accessible via a DIP switch to 4 sliders settings. Here it gets complicated:
One can indeed play on the attack time and release (Release) or activate a filter "cut up" or low-pass if you prefer. By default the active config this filter is good for single coils, perhaps to double, it would cut ...
It can also trigger an attenuator (pad), especially for active users or humbeckers powerful microphones. The doc told us that it can also be used as low-cut filter. Fortunately, there are some example config type for single and dual microphone.
To change the 9V battery (included) and access the advanced settings it is mandatory to remove the 4 screws, so not practical. For now the config factory will, and I think the manufacturer is betting that users will not need to continually change these settings, and the pedal will be mains powered. But, I personally would have preferred a way trapdoor Maxon Ibanez, TC ...
U.S. manufacturers often overlook this point. Obviously it is more robust and easy to manufacture, but the user is not always best!
In summary, the basic usage is simple, if you want to go into detail and optimize based on its config. it's tedious. We must get out the screwdriver. Disassemble, test, and reassemble. But after all, compressors MXR (Dyna Super) offer Trim inside the pedal no more practices ...
SOUND QUALITY
Regarding the sound, I currently own an MXR Super Comp. Comparing the two, I agree that this little SP Compressor is devilishly clever. Why?
Because thanks to its three basic settings (volume, blend, and Hi-Lo-Mid ratio), we quickly find a suitable position, and once the pedal pressed, they tend to leave ON for chording like solos.
For now, I have used with a U.S. Strat and my Fender Deluxe Reverb amp and Blues Junior.
The compressor is probably the most complex to understand and use effect because we can do many things with the following settings: squash effect, increased sustain, dynamic filtering, booster ...
So what about the substance?
With tube amps that I use, I feel I need to add a compressor for the famous guitarist of SQUASH country effect. The natural compression obtained by the lamps of these amps is enough. So I use the XP Compressor for:
1 - Get more sustain its clear
With modulated delays or chorus + type OD tube screamer, it's perfect for atmospheres U2/Police
2 - To sculpt the sound conjunction with other pedals, solo
With single OD (OCD) or stack (Tube Screamer + Fulltone OCD) it works pretty well for solos. Gilmourien sound is perfectly conceivable.
Anyway, for now, it is rather positive on these two points.
In summary, the effect is very versatile, he plays like a "Enhancer" in the sense that it adds body to the sound. It often gets more lower midrange, but at the same time, the sound is never plugged into acute (thank you the Blend setting) or aggressive. The report is generally natural, and when you remove the effect, we tend to prefer the sound "with", which is a good sign. I agree with what is said on the YouTube demos about it (cf. the long demo and comparison of Michael Thompson). on the other hand, a regret as soon as you attack the compression ratio high (Hi-Mid) or as soon as it greatly increases the initial level, the breath is increased significantly, especially with single coils of my strato . This is often the case with compressors, this pedal is not a miracle in this regard. So pay attention: micro connectors via cable, everything will be good ...
OVERALL OPINION
I use it for a week. I tried the MXR Super Comp. I know if some studio compressor rack or plug-in.
Goodies:
- The compactness
The versatile hand-made probably by the Blend setting (one could also say wet / dry) which suddenly greatly expands the scope of use. Xotic talent is to have been able to adapt this idea to the guitar in an easy to use and compact pedal.
- The price is reasonable compared to boutique pedals
Cons:
- The absence of a hatch to access the battery and additional settings.
- The level of breath quickly invading. Maintaining relatively low gain (without increasing too much the level of the signal without effect), it is doing pretty well anyway.
Final AU, a product not perfect, but very attractive, with a real personality compared to what is already done and is affordable. Unique to my knowledge today.