CHANDLER LIMITED Little Devil Compressor

Product overview

The CHANDLER LIMITED Little Devil Compressor is a 500-series FET compressor with two very different compression curves, Germ and Zener, a wet / dry mix for parallel compression, a three-position ratio and release, a sidechain filter and hardwire bypass.

The Little Devil Compressor uses concepts from CHANDLER LIMITED's Germanium Compressor and other CHANDLER designs, with all discrete circuits, transformer balanced I/O and American handmade quality: discrete amplifiers, inductors and transformers, with no surface-mount parts or ribbon cables. All controls are marked ±1 to 6 in the playful Devil spirit of the concept. The Devil is very much two compressors in one.

Key features

• FET compressor with discrete silicon transistor circuits
• Curve: Germ (punchy, harmonically rich) or Zener (extremely gentle knee)
• Mix wet / dry control for parallel compression inside the module
• Ratio low, medium, high; Release fast, medium, slow
• Attack with a wide range; Input and Output controls
• Sidechain filter: Out, 30, 60, 90, 150, 300 Hz
• Hardwire bypass
• 500-series format, ±16 V

Two compressors in one

The Curve, or knee, dictates a large part of the sound. Zener is an extremely gentle knee, so large amounts of compression sound much less compressed; its time constants are slower than Germ, THD is lower, and the ratio also changes the time constants: the higher the ratio, the slower the timing, up to a slow, vintage-style sound. Germ resembles the Germ settings of the Germanium Compressor but compresses a bit more aggressively: a smooth knee with just the right amount of grab, faster than Zener and harmonically and tonally very rich.

Mix for parallel compression

Mix blends the raw unprocessed signal with the compressed signal, simulating parallel compression or sub-mixing in the unit. Fully left is all compressed, fully right is unprocessed, 12 o'clock is 50 % of each. Leave the attack and punch of your drums while adding as much of the tight compressed sound as you need.

Input, output, attack, release and sidechain

Input is an attenuator at the very front of the circuit, best set at maximum or at least at higher positions. Output controls the gain of the line amplifier for make-up gain; at its lowest it is below unity gain, to fine-tune recording levels like a fader. Attack has a purposely wide range; release has three selections set by ear. The sidechain adjusts the low frequency entering the compressor: useful on kick drum, bass guitar, mixes and subgroups.

In the rack

The module is tested to start up without power errors in common 500-series racks; CHANDLER LIMITED recommends a rack with an external power supply for any 500 module, and a wire from earth to power supply common where the rack allows.

In the box

• Little Devil Compressor module

CHANDLER LIMITED Little Devil Compressor: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Germ and Zener?

Zener is an extremely gentle knee with slower time constants and lower THD; Germ is faster, grabs more and is harmonically richer.

Can it do parallel compression?

Yes. The Mix control blends compressed and unprocessed signal inside the module.

What power does it draw?

500-series ±16 V DC: +16 V @ +100 mA and -16 V @ -70 mA.

Where should Input be set?

At maximum or at least at higher positions; Input works as an attenuator at the front of the circuit.

Where can I buy the CHANDLER LIMITED Little Devil Compressor in India?

The CHANDLER LIMITED Little Devil Compressor is available from Shivansh Electronics, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with delivery across India.

Workflow 1: Parallel drum compression

Mixing drums.

Connections

Setup

1. Keep Input full.
2. Compress heavily and raise Output.
3. Dial in dry signal with Mix.
4. Listen to the track come back alive.

Tip: An EQ before the compressor can add to the pumping.

Workflow 2: Transparent levelling

Vocals and acoustic sources.

Connections

Setup

1. Select the Zener curve.
2. Start with attack at 2.
3. Try other ratios for speed.
4. Adjust Mix.

Tip: Zener sounds much less compressed than it is.

Workflow 3: Punchy colour

Guitars, bass and drums.

Connections

Setup

1. Select Germ.
2. Set ratio.
3. Work the Mix and Attack.
4. Look for a good combo of THD and compression.

Tip: Germ is harmonically and tonally very rich.

Workflow 4: Kick and bass control

Low-end heavy sources.

Connections

Setup

1. Switch in the sidechain filter.
2. Choose 60-150 Hz.
3. Set the compression.
4. Compare with bypass.

Tip: Sidechain is also useful on mixes and subgroups.

Workflow 5: Slow vintage-style compression

Mix buses and ambience.

Connections

Setup

1. Select Zener.
2. Choose the highest ratio.
3. Slow release.
4. Blend with Mix.

Tip: On Zener a higher ratio means slower timing.

Workflow 6: Fine-tuning recording level

Tracking.

Connections

Setup

1. Set Input high.
2. Compress lightly.
3. Use Output like a fader.
4. Record.

Tip: At its lowest Output is below unity gain.