lordgalvar wrote:Maybe? I think the sweetening is more a result of the preamp/overall pedal circuit than the actual photo cell itself.
The photo cell has a longer decay time than a (typical) VCA and envelope follower so you get a bit of slew over the changes. The decay or slew varies widely between different photo cells (some are even made to have longer decay times). If the compression is subtle enough but the photocell is still doing something, yea, it probably could add a slight smoothing type effect but it could make things a bit more sluggish. I see the photo cell as more of a way to smooth changes with a non-linear response more than a direct change in tone (and useful to take clicks out of sharp voltage changes...I have a switch that uses them to take out the 'pop' when switching). Some are pretty fast though and less full of character.
The smoothness is probably more a result of the preamp and slight kinda 'life' some modulation can have on a less dynamic signal.
Overall, I'd say it is tough to really say all optical compressors can add some special because of the wide variances in components (and light sources). The non-linear response of the photocell does have a kind of natural character in the way it changes values and some compressors probably do take advantage of that special feature.
The photocells in the univibe is supposedly where the magic is in that effect due to their slow nature.
Thanks! To be honest, I don't understand a lot of the stuff there in the middle, but get that just because they both use photocells and are 'optical' versions of themselves, doesn't mean that the overall effect on the tone will be the same. I remember the old EA style trem I had being very nice about this as well ( a Bluebird, I think?), so it makes sense that it's probably just something about trems that I think sound nice. Makes me wonder why there aren't folks making 'boost' pedals designed around trem circuits in the same way that they do with the Echoplex style pedals...
I do like the idea that an optical circuit may have some inherent character based on the design, so maybe I still will start my compressor search with one.
Iommic Pope wrote:I dont know shit about compressors but opticsl univibes slay, so using that logic I have a hard on for alll thibgs photocell.
T, you and I are on the same gear page lately.
That's always a good thing, my friend. What's your board looking like these days? And interestingly enough, I've been eyeing vibe pedals as well
And I was looking at the MXR D+ thread too - like you I had a QM for a little bit, but something about it just didn't mesh with me...so I'm in your camp, probably gonna pick up a D+ or 250 at some point just to see what the fuss is all about.