FEA Labs tell us that the first production run of the Opti-FET Compressor has completed and units are ready to ship. Inspired by high-end professional rack mount studio compression solutions, they say that this compressor offers side-chain EQ with an external loop for greater control of the compression response. Here's all the details directly from FEA Labs...
The FEA OPTI-FET Compressor is designed with both audiophile and studio quality features that many musicians enjoy.
The audio path for the signal is a 100% "class A" discrete design containing no op-amps and features a passive gain reduction element. The FET (Field Effect Transistor) amplifier is popular in the audiophile community for having some of the classic sonic qualities of a tube amplifier. There are many concepts of signal amplification design that audiophiles desire and debate over. One of the more popular audiophile designs (using solid state circuitry) is for a minimum or zero feedback discrete "class A" FET amplifier circuit. The FEA OPTI-FET Compressor utilizes this circuit design in the final output amplifier stage. The input amplifier stage is a high impedance "class A" FET buffer amplifier design. The buffer amplifier has been designed to have minimal signal distortion and maximum headroom for all input signal levels.
Another feature in the FEA OPTI-FET Compressor is the extensive side-chain control which is not commonly found in most pedal type compressors today. Like many quality studio rack compressors, the OPTI-FET compressor has all of the common controls available to the user to accurately shape his or her tone. Along with the full feature set of side-chain controls a three band equalizer is available. This EQ only affects the amplitude of frequencies of the signal in the compressor control circuits. This allows the user to adjust the frequencies they want to apply more or less compression upon. The OPTI-FET compressor also has a side-chain loop feature, similar to many rack compressors. This allows the user to be more creative with the use of other outboard pedals. Multi-band EQ, or buffered volume pedals are a few that can make this pedal even more versatile when used in the side-chain loop.
FEATURES:

• Small footprint - 4 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches
• THRESHOLD, RATIO, ATTACK, RELEASE and GAIN controls. The control ranges for the ATTACK and RELEASE have been optimized for use on both bass and guitar.
• The compressor exhibits soft-knee compression at lower RATIO settings and hard-knee at maximum RATIO settings. The COMP LED indicates when the THRESHOLD has been reached. This LED does not indicate the RELEASE response.
• The compressor side-chain utilizes precision full-wave rectification of the audio signals in the THRESHOLD circuit to improve tracking. This also reduces the possibility of "pumping" with very low frequencies.
• ACTIVATE foot switch places the compressor unit in the signal chain or in Direct Bypass mode. In Direct Bypass mode the signal at the input is directly connected to the output and does not pass through any electronics. * EQUALIZER foot switch enables the three band equalizer for the side-chain control circuit. The three band EQ only affects the amplitude of frequencies of the signal in the side-chain control circuit.
• LOOP SEND/RETURN jacks are for placing external processors or EQ's in the compressor side-chain control circuit. These jacks are only active when the EQUALIZER foot switch is enabled.
• The compressor has minimal components in the signal path to maintain the utmost signal quality. The signal compression is accomplished with only a resistive component (Light Dependent Resistor or Photocell). All resistors in the circuit are low noise 1% metal film type. The signal coupling capacitors are tight tolerance, quiet, multi-layer and metallized polyester film type. The transistors utilized in the signal path are popular low noise audiophile grade devices.
• The power supplies onboard voltage charge pump allows the circuitry to operate at 18volts (+9 and –9 volt rails) from a single 9-volt battery or AC power adapter of 9 volts or greater. This allows the signal plenty of headroom from active electronic guitars and aggressive playing techniques (i.e. pop and slap).
• The onboard power supply can accommodate power adapter voltages up to 25 volts DC with protection from reversed polarity. The "switch on" power supply current is less than 1µA (micro amp) on the signal ground at the INPUT jack. This is approximately 45,000 times (-93dB) less than the commonly used method of connecting the battery's negative terminal to ground via the sleeve of the plug inserted into the INPUT jack. The "switch on" sensing method used in the FEA OPTI-FET Compressor keeps nearly all of the circuit's generated white noise and transient currents out of the INPUT stage signal ground. Extreme measures have been taken to keep the power and signal paths as clean as possible.
• The power and grounds for the signal path circuitry are separated from the side-chain power and grounds to protect the audio signal from spurious noise. The power for the signal amplifiers is exceptionally clean, filtered twice for each rail and all filter stages are oversized.

Pricing and Availability:
$245.00 USD More information:

• fealabs.com

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