Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Bondi Effects' Squish As VCA Compressor moves on massively from the former well-loved 2026 model with totally different controls, a smart VU meter and automatically adjusted Attack and Release
Key Points
Squish As VCA Compressor retooled by Jon and Anna Ashely — always-on, transparent, with a -96dBu noise floor, up to 20dB makeup gain and a tilt-style Tone control.
Controls: Output (Makeup -20dB to +20dB), Ratio 1:1 to ∞, Sensitivity -6.3dBu to -46.3dBu, Blend (Dry>Wet) and a Gain Reduction VU Meter (2dB to 28dB+). No attack/release knobs — algorithm auto-adjusts. Attack examples: 3dB ≈ 42ms, 6dB ≈ 20ms, 10dB ≈ 15ms, 20dB ≈ 5ms.
Release fixed at 125dB/s (8ms/dB): 3dB ≈ 24ms, 6dB ≈ 48ms, 10dB ≈ 80ms, 20dB ≈ 160ms.
Tech specs: In 500kΩ, Out 560Ω, rail-to-rail ≈ +12dBu, Noise -96dBu A-weighted, THD <0.02%, SNR <82dB, 20Hz–20kHz, 126.5×66×55mm, 9V centre negative. Available from Bondi Effects WebStore for $269, with a stealthy all-black limited edition.
Jon and Anna Ashely have done a wonderful job of entirely retooling their VCA style Compressor - now honed to perfection as the ideal always on compressor. Where its impact is wholly organically natural and non-colouring / extremely transparent in nature.
Its -96dBu noise floor is low enough that the Squish As can be used pretty much anywhere in the chain. And up to 20dB of makeup gain on the Output control and a tilt-style Tone control will ensure that nothing is lost along the way.
It moreover contains a super-handy Gain Reduction VU meter which shows you incredibly visually exactly what is happening with the pedal’s throughput!
Controls - Output (Makeup Gain of -20dB to +20dB, Ratio : 1:1 to ∞, Sensitivity : -6.3dBu to -46.3dBu, Tone (Tilt EQ), Blend : Dry > Wet for Parallel Compression, Gain Reduction VU Meter - from 2dB to 28dB+.
You will note that there are no controls for Attack and Release - those values are magically and automatically generated via a complex algorithm - where basically - the harder you play, the faster the attack.
Here are some circa typical values for Attack :
- 3dB gain reduction will take approx. 42ms
- 6dB gain reduction will take approx. 20ms
- 10dB gain reduction will take approx. 15ms
- 20dB gain reduction will take approx. 5ms
The Release will always be slow relative to the Attack, at a fixed rate of 125dB/s or 8ms/dB. Some useful rules of thumb for Release are:
- 3dB recovery will take approx. 24ms
- 6dB recovery will take approx. 48ms
- 10dB recovery will take approx. 80ms
- 20dB recovery will take approx. 160ms
Tech Specs
- Input Impedance: 500kΩ @ 1kHz
- Output Impedance: 560Ω @ 1kHz
- Input Level: Rail to rail, approx. +12dBu
- Output Level: Rail to rail, approx. +12dBu
- Noise: -96dBu, A-weighted 20Hz to 20000Hz
- THD: Typically less than 0.02%, any compression amount up to 40dB @ 1kHz
- SNR: Typically less than 82dB without any gain reduction
- Frequency Response (-3dB): 20Hz to 20000Hz –suitable for Guitar and Bass
- Attack Time: Program dependent;-3dB ≈ 42ms, -6dB ≈ 20ms, -10dB ≈ 15ms
- Release Time: 125dB/s or 8ms/dB
- Dimensions: 126.5mm * 66mm * 55mm
- Power requirements: 9V centre negative, < 70mA
- MAP / RRP : $269
The Bondi Effects VCA Compressor has always been a popular choice for pro players - and the 2026 was legendary for a long while - this new Squish As seems incredibly significantly better than that! Of course available right now from the Bondi Effects WebStore - for $269 - where it also comes in a stealthy all-black limited edition.
Demos
