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2024-GPX-Wampler-EGO76-Compressor-700.jpg

I’m not sure it was Brian’s intention to become a Compressor specialist - but he now has 3 full size offerings covering all the different basis.

 

This time around it’s his UREI 1176 FET Studio Compressor - and for me comes with the perfect complement of controls. Those are pretty much exactly the control parameters that I would specify for a compressor :

 

Controls - Tone, Attack, Release, Level, Blend, Compress.

 

On the stock EGO variety (supposedly based on Ross Compressor), he has ...

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Horizon Devices releases its own special take on ultra transparent compression - The Clarity Compressor

Best of BrandsBoostBoost and OverdriveCompressorDelayDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionEchoverbHorizon DevicesMetal DistortionOverdrivePreAmpReverbUtility+-
2024-GPX-Horizon-Devices-Quartet-700.jpg

Misha Mannsoor’s Horizon Devices has quietly made its way to 4 superior modern tone enhancers. It kind of set the mould with its specialist Metal tone enhancing Precision Drive, then came its Apex High Gain Preamp, then the Flux Echo/Reverb - and here we have a very unique take on a Compressor.

 

Horizon Devices’ slogan is "Sound great, and be easy to use" and that theme is very clearly carried through all 4 pedals which are about as straightforward a pedals as you might expect to encounter -...

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Vox releases second quartet of NuTube-powered Valvenergy Pedals - an EQ, Compressor, Treble Booster, and Tube Overdrive

BoostBoost and OverdriveCompressorEQTube OverdriveUtilityVox Amplifcation+-
2024-GPX-New-Vox-Quartet-700.jpg

So a couple of years after the Valvenergy Series launch - Vox has 4 more NuTube candidates for your consideration, where the template has supposedly been somewhat refined and simplified. I believe the first 4 were originally priced at around £169 (c. $215), where currently they go for £119 / $129.

 

The original quartet consisted of VE-CD Copperhead Drive Distortion (Plexi), VE-CE Cutting Edge Distortion (Tight Metal), VE-ME Mystic Edge (AC30), and VE-SD Silk Drive (Fender Black Face). Of ...

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Boss's brand new VE-22 Vocal Performer Effects Processor massively improves on 2009's VE-20

Ambient EffectsBitcrushing and Lo-FiBossChorus and VibratoCompressorDelayDistortionEQFlangerHarmonizerModulationMulti-FXNoise GatePhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbRing ModulationSlicer and Stutter+-
2023-GPX-Boss-VE-22-Vocal-Performer-700.jpg

We’re steadily seeing the Boss 20-Series pedals being replaced now, and the VE-20 is the latest to get a very significant upgrade. The new VE-22 moves things on pretty massively and completely revamps and enhances the form factor, switches, knobs and overall control interface - with 3 core switches now in place of the former 2 - and really smart dedicated controls for each of the core functions - all served by a highly visibly and usable LED screen.

 

If you’re a singer or vocal performer of ...

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2024-GPX-Drunk-Beaver-Rivne-Compressor-700.jpg

Rivne Compressor (fun naming - as the Rivne city name could be translated as ’Flat’). It’s Vitalii’s take on classic Dyna Comp / Ross Compressor circuits with some necessary mods : clean signal blend, better high impedance input buffer, must-have attack switch (classic / shorter / longer), and a tone control to get back the highs usually lost due to compression itself.

 

A few interesting design choices here. After much research Vitalii found that Japanese versions of that classic circuit (...

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End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2023

ALABS AudioAmbient EffectsAnasoundsBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBitcrushing and Lo-FiBixonicBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCoppersoundDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveEchoverbElectric LoveEmpress EffectsEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFjord FuzzFlangerFortin AmpsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGlitchGuitar Synth and SequencerHello Sailor EffectsHologram ElectronicsIntensive Care AudioJackson AudioJAM PedalsKernomKeyztoneKlone and Transparent OverdriveLo-Fi DelayLooperMaestro Style FuzzMarshall Style DistortionMessiah GuitarsMetal DistortionModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOctaverOddball DelayOddball FuzzOddball ModulationOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePalmer Custom FXPastFXPedal ChainPedalPalFXPickup ModellerPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPoly EffectsPreAmpRack Style ReverbRainger FXReverb WorkstationReverse DelayReverse ReverbRing ModulationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonSuper-Fuzz StyleSwellTape DelayTark AudioTC ElectronicThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTubesteaderTweed Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style Distortion+-
2023-GPX-Pedal-Chain-Update-Class-of-2023-700.jpg

The final arrangement for the year - all the pedals that impressed the most!

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2023 Best of New Modutility Pedals of the Year

ALABS AudioAlexander PedalsAll-PedalAmbient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBeetronics FXBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBondi EffectsBossChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCrazy Tube CircuitsDeath By AudioDr ScientistDrunk BeaverFjord FuzzFlangerFormula BGuitar Synth and SequencerHarmonizerHologram ElectronicsJackson AudioJAM PedalsKeyztoneLooperModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-FXOctaverPastFXPeterson TunersPhaserPickup ModellerPitchPitch-ShiftingRainger FXRed Witch EffectsRing ModulationRotary SpeakerSubdecay EffectsSwellThorpyFXTremoloTru-Fi Guitar EffectsTunersUni-Vibe and VibeUtility+-
2023-GPX-Best-of-Modutility-Pedals-700-.jpg

The Modutility roundup combines Modulation, Utility and Pitch type pedals - it also includes Multi-FX and Multi-Modulation pedals of course. Some years this selection is relatively sparse - while this year it’s totally chock-a-block! In fact it was a struggle to whittle the Longlist down - and inevitably some pedals I wanted to feature did not make the cut - including the Endorphin.es Ghost Pedal Multi-FX and Subdecay Prometheus 3 Dual Super Filter.

 

I still feel that this selection of 26 is...

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2023-GPX-GFI-Enieqma-EQ-Expander-700.jpg

Readers will know I’m a huge fan of GFI System - particularly for their Specular Tempus and Synesthesia pedals - where I’ve been waiting a long time for updates to those. The Synesthesia to finally get TRS Stereo In, and the Specular Tempus to gte a format update to the same enclosure type as used for the Syneshesia and this ENIEQMA.

 

It kind of reminds me of a Boss EQ-200 on steroids - and with more visual flair (bigger and better screen), it is also like a super-charged version of Source ...

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Chase Bliss collaborates with Goodhertz to deliver a Pedal version of their well loved 'Lossy' Data Compression Signal Degradation Plugin

Bitcrushing and Lo-FiChase Bliss AudioCompressorDigital ReverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahModulationNoise GateReverbSampler+-
2023-GPX-Chase-Bliss-Goodhertz-Lossy-V2-700.jpg

Joel obviously dropped a number of clues as to what Chase Bliss’s new pedal would be - and most guessed it was some kind of Lo-Fi / Fidelity Reducing - Filter / Compressor / Bitcrusher type of thing. While typically ’Bitcrushing’ is associated with the extreme 8bit style of effect which typically creates harder, harsher and more brittle artefacts - while the Lossy is a much more expansive, refined and nuanced affair.

 

Goodhertz describe their own source Lossy Plugin as the "infinitely ...

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2023-GPX-Bondi-Squish-As-Compressor-700.jpg

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...

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