Anasounds Lazy Comp Analog Compressor

Well, the effects marvels at Anasounds have done it again. Today’s featured pedal is a wooden-topped beauty coming to us all the way from France, and features just one lone control knob. While the word “compressor” can have negative connotations to some guitar players, those of us who love it LOVE it, and it’s always fun to try out different options and sonic scenarios. The Lazy Comp is an optical compressor that’s just about as simple as it gets, but don’t let that lone knob fool you…

Aiming to cram all that you love about threshold, ratio, attack and release into an easy to figure out setup was the goal for the Anasounds crew with the Lazy Comp, and we think they absolutely nailed it. The single knob is just a wet/dry mix control for your instrument’s signal and the compression effect, allowing for basic set and forget settings once you dial in the sound you’re after. Like all Anasounds pedals, though, there are some hidden gems lurking beneath the surface of this panda-inspired, relaxing and curious effect.

Bust open the pedal to reveal more than one internal trimpot, for even more tone-setting bedazzling. In here, you can adjust the overall compression level to your liking, as well as the overall volume, to fit your pedalboard and amplifier setup perfectly. Beware, though: at max levels, you’ll start to experience some breakup due to the amount of compression, but maybe that’s a good thing! You can also set the output Volume level as well, and, of course, you can set how dim or bright the bypass light is, because why not?

Using 2 internal signal paths (Clean and Comp) to achieve optical compression, while also utilizing an analog preamp for warm, clean tone, the Lazy Comp will give you a gorgeous blend of dynamics and compression. With a few internal tweaks and getting the blend just right, you’ll quickly realize how valuable a compressor can be in your mix, and wonder why you ever went so long without one. Thanks to Alexandre and the Anasounds folks for another wonderful effect – for more inspired pieces of gear, be sure to head over to their website after you watch our demo below!