I love the look of the pedal but was also interested in the noise-floor. Warm has quite a few pedals, but I can't say any has been highly discussed or received glowing reviews. Interesting...
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Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more
- Thread starter scubaduba
- Start date
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
- May 13, 2003
- 3,342
- 3,396
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: DR Strings, SMS
I tried it out. At the end of it I ended up returning it, favoring my Cali76CB (and now the new Cali76). Granted, there was a problem with my unit, but I was told that resolving that issue would not affect the overall 'sound' of the pedal. My pros and cons:Has anyone tried this? Nice feature set
Pocket Studio Comp
THIS WEEK ONLY the PSC is on sale for $250CAD from the normal price of $329 COMPRESSOR After 3 years of research and development, it is finally ready! Inspir...templodevices.com
Pros
~XLR output + 1/4" out (for sending a dry+comp signal to a desk before the rest of your signal chain) -- this was huge for me
~Full-featured. Lots of controls and shares a lot of the same functionalities of the Cali76 that I was already used to. It also offers independing control of attack and release, which the Cali76 Bass versions don't offer
~Looks really dang cool, and I typically orient my comp in this horizontal manner so it was ideal for my board
Cons
~Seemed to sound a bit dull to my ears, and I didn't feel like the bright switch brought it back. However, it could very well be that I've gotten used to the sound of my Cali76, which I know is not considered a transparent comp.
~The HPF on the sidechain is pretty much just set where it is, which differs a bit from the Cali having it on a knob.
~The button that changes ratio on the display is so cool, but I found the pedal ratio is always reset when I shut my board on and off. Could be a minor con for some, but I like to have my comp always set where I want it and I found I had to adjust it each time I turned my board back on (I was preferring 4 and 8)
I didn't want to list these as cons because they are slightly unrelated to the pedal itself, but I feel are worth noting as they influenced my final decision:
1) The issue I had with my specific unit. I found that with bass (or a guitar) into comp and nothing else, in certain settings it would start to distort heavily and sounded almost like a fuzz. They confirmed this was not intended and offered to repair it, but told me that it wouldn't affect the tonality of the pedal post-repair.
2) I found that communication from the company was notably slow when it came to support. When I reached out to them about the problem above, I had to follow up more than once to get a response, and it took quite a while to get to a resolution for my issue. I do want to give them credit in that they did offer to pay return shipping and do a repair/exchange for free or do a full refund, but it took a long time to get there. I had also noticed on this thread before buying it that @scubaduba reached out about trying the compressor and never heard back, so it may be common for this seller.
It is worth noting that this company does seem to be a small operation and when you're producing multiple products for multiple markets and shipping worldwide, that can be very hard to manage on the backend if you don't have dedicated support -- so I don't want to put too much shade on them for that. However, for what I had paid for the compressor I just felt safer keeping my Cali76 even though I wanted so much to love the Templo
In going back to look at this, though, I see they've got them listed for $190 now (about $50 off). Makes me consider trying it again
I was asking since someone local is selling theirs for $175 and I bet I can talk them downI tried it out. At the end of it I ended up returning it, favoring my Cali76CB (and now the new Cali76). Granted, there was a problem with my unit, but I was told that resolving that issue would not affect the overall 'sound' of the pedal. My pros and cons:
Pros
~XLR output + 1/4" out (for sending a dry+comp signal to a desk before the rest of your signal chain) -- this was huge for me
~Full-featured. Lots of controls and shares a lot of the same functionalities of the Cali76 that I was already used to. It also offers independing control of attack and release, which the Cali76 Bass versions don't offer
~Looks really dang cool, and I typically orient my comp in this horizontal manner so it was ideal for my board
Cons
~Seemed to sound a bit dull to my ears, and I didn't feel like the bright switch brought it back. However, it could very well be that I've gotten used to the sound of my Cali76, which I know is not considered a transparent comp.
~The HPF on the sidechain is pretty much just set where it is, which differs a bit from the Cali having it on a knob.
~The button that changes ratio on the display is so cool, but I found the pedal ratio is always reset when I shut my board on and off. Could be a minor con for some, but I like to have my comp always set where I want it and I found I had to adjust it each time I turned my board back on (I was preferring 4 and 8)
I didn't want to list these as cons because they are slightly unrelated to the pedal itself, but I feel are worth noting as they influenced my final decision:
1) The issue I had with my specific unit. I found that with bass (or a guitar) into comp and nothing else, in certain settings it would start to distort heavily and sounded almost like a fuzz. They confirmed this was not intended and offered to repair it, but told me that it wouldn't affect the tonality of the pedal post-repair.
2) I found that communication from the company was notably slow when it came to support. When I reached out to them about the problem above, I had to follow up more than once to get a response, and it took quite a while to get to a resolution for my issue. I do want to give them credit in that they did offer to pay return shipping and do a repair/exchange for free or do a full refund, but it took a long time to get there. I had also noticed on this thread before buying it that @scubaduba reached out about trying the compressor and never heard back, so it may be common for this seller.
It is worth noting that this company does seem to be a small operation and when you're producing multiple products for multiple markets and shipping worldwide, that can be very hard to manage on the backend if you don't have dedicated support -- so I don't want to put too much shade on them for that. However, for what I had paid for the compressor I just felt safer keeping my Cali76 even though I wanted so much to love the Templo
In going back to look at this, though, I see they've got them listed for $190 now (about $50 off). Makes me consider trying it again
I definitely think it's worth a shot depending on what you're looking for! I had the Cali76CB for 3 years and tried the Empress MkII and didn't swap, then got the new updated version and am really liking it, but that's about the scope of my experience with comps in general. I would say the Templo was definitely a solid comp in my eyes -- it just didn't make me as happy as I was hoping so I moved on.
Am I remembering correctly that you also have (or have had) the API-CMP? I knw you haven’t had this for long, but do you have any sense of how they compare tonally? The bass videos I’ve seen are difficult to interpret at that level. Perhaps there’s a little more colour (along with a little more noise) from the 76 than the API, but they seem to share something.
I was all set to pick up a Drybell Module 4 when this popped up just to confuse things. I think the Drybell may still have more for me than this one, but it would be helpful to read your thoughts. @scubaduba is probably among the very few who know all three pedals, so perhaps he could offer some of his insights. I’d be grateful!
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
- May 13, 2003
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I do have the API. I think that compressor is a bit more colored than the Pedall76. I've found it also reduces the very low end when set to fully compressed sound more than the Pedall76. I think the latter is going to be more versatile for me.
The noise isn't really a problem in my experience. I took mine to a rehearsal Monday night and it sounded great (through IEMs, so any obtrusive noise would have been obvious). In that context, I also found that it didn't pop when switching it in and out.
Thanks, I appreciate your thoughts. I only play 4s and use HPFs fairly aggressively, so I haven’t experienced the low end loss with the API. The controls on the Pedall76 (I just noticed the second L in the picture, which you seem to be the first to haxe reproduced correctly in any copy I’ve read
) are more comprehensive, but I think I might miss the blend.The colour thing is interesting. I think I want the next compressor to be a bit more coloured than the API, but maybe it would be too much of a good thing. Still leaning Drybell, but you’re not making it easier
. Really keen for any input @scubaduba might have on the comparison.
Apparently the comp in the new Tech21 XB Driver is the same as the one in the dUg - no surprise since they share similar features. The XB will set you back $500, which is a lot for a pedal, but the XB is essentially "dUg Plus", so if you like the dUg (as I do) you will probably also like the XB. I will probably buy the XB as an X-mas present to myself (pun intended).
Judging by it's VU meter, noise floor looks rather high.
I'm being silly. I know the VU meter measures gain reduction.
I know you already discuss other compressors.. I just want to share that I couldn`t resist and the Alma is on its way to me..
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
- May 13, 2003
- 3,342
- 3,396
- 5,253
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: DR Strings, SMS
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! Or those of others....
Me too, although I’ve folded and ordered a Drybell Module 4.
Meanwhile, before the Alma arrives.. Are there other benefits of the voltage doubler except that the with higher voltages there should be no clipping from input overload? I mean are there tonal differences or does the compressor circuit itself act somehow differently? Attack/release behaviour for example.. I have a CIOKS supply with adjustable outputs, so I can go from 9V with the doubler switched off (which I probably wouldn`t) up to 36V with 18V output and doubler switched on.