Diamond Guitar Pedals

Recording studios often use rackmount 'vocal channels'
- a mic preamp, compressor, and EQ all in one unit as a front end for vocal recording.
The Diamond Compressor is our take on a 'guitar channel'
- a dynamics and tone shaping tool for live and studio use - with low-noise, ultra-linear
signal buffering, smooth opto-based compression, and a versatile 'tilt' EQ that musically
shifts overall frequency balance.
All in a user-friendly 3-control package - just Comp, EQ and Volume.

Click here for a sample MP3 clip of the Diamond Compressor with EQ on. The guitar used is a Fender American Standard Strat (2nd Pos), into the compressor, and out to a Fender Vibro-King. The sample starts with no effect and then switches to an effect.

Click here for a sample MP3 clip of the Diamond Compressor with EQ on. The guitar used is a Rickenbacker 330 (bridge), into the compressor, and out to a Vox AC30 Reissue. The sample starts with no effect and then switches to an effect.

See construction details of Diamond Pedals here.
Features:
- Vactrol opto-isolator variable resistance path as used in
high-end studio compressors for smooth attack and decay
characteristics while preserving initial signal transients.
- Premium audio components, including 2% polypropylene
capacitors,1% metal film resistors and a pro audio grade
opamp (our signal path opamp alone costs 8 to 10 times
what the industry norm uses).
- Post-compressor 'tilt' EQ provides a very musical
tailoring of frequency response - seamlessly transition
from a darker jazz voicing to a brighter jangle,
with flat frequency response at the center detent position.
 - Double filtering stage in side chain to eliminate
low frequency modulation while preserving fast
compression response.
- Dual AC capacitive coupling paths for improved
transient response.
- Bi-color LED provides visual indication of depth
of compression.
- True bypass signal path.
- Battery or standard negative tip 9V DC
adapter operation, can be powered from
9 to 24 V negative tip.

Compressor Tech Notes:

Download a PDF of the Diamond Compressor user manual here.



Inside the Diamond Compressor...





Click the image below to view a QuickTime movie of the
Diamond Compressor 2-color LED


Diamond Compressor Frequency Response
Below is a graph of the frequency response of the Diamond Compressor with various settings of the 'tilt' EQ.
The graph shows the relative change in frequency response, normalized to 1 kHz. The blue line
shows the response of the compressor with the tilt EQ set to the center detent position - basically
the compressor is flat within a 2 dB range from 90 Hz all the way to 20 kHz! With the tilt EQ set farthest
counterclockwise, the red line shows the response tilted towards the low frequency end, and set farthest
clockwise, the green line shows the response titled towards the high frequency end. In either direction,
there is basically a 6 dB range relative to 1 kHz that the high or low frequencies can be tilted. This allows
for very subtle changes in the frequency spectrum throughout the range of the EQ control.



Below is a frequency response graph showing the effect of putting the hi-cut filter jumper in. Normally,
the Diamond Compressor ships with the jumper set for filter out, giving the wide 90 Hz to 20 kHz flat response
(and still only down 3 dB at the 60 Hz point) seen in the graph below as the blue line. With the hi-cut filter in,
the frequency response is now flat (within a 2 dB range) from 90 Hz to about 4 kHz, shown with the red line below.




Diamond Compressor MSRP: $199 US
Locate a Diamond Guitar Pedals dealer here.