Ah, Strymon. Musical effects pioneers and makers of some of the most well-known and used pedals around the world. Today, we’re going to take a look at their latest creation, the Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor & Boost. A wonderful dual pedal that will fit perfectly at the front of your signal chain, you’ve got access to 2 excellent tone-shaping effects in one beautiful box. Used independently or together, the two sides of the Compadre seem like they were made for each other.
First, let’s check out the Boost side. The main Boost control gives you about +14dB of boost power to add into your signal. In addition, the Boost EQ gives you 3 tone-shaping modes that interact with the Boost control. Flat provides full range frequency response; Mid fattens the tone by pushing midrange frequencies; Treble tightens the bottom end by boosting mid to high frequencies. You can also select the type of boost you want, either Clean or Dirty, via a small switch near the Ins & Outs up top.
Now, the Compressor side features simple controls, 2 main modes and a wide range of sounds. The Compression knob, not surprisingly, controls the amount of compression present. Choose from two modes here: Studio gives you a smooth compression, like that found in vintage rack compressors, while Squeeze is more of a hard compression, typical of classic guitar pedals. The Dry knob is an excellent feature, allowing you to add in as much or as little of your dry signal as you need, keeping you tone rich and full no matter how much compression you’re using with Compadre. Level adjusts the output level by -6dB to +6dB, with unity being at noon.
You can connect an Expression pedal via TRS to the Volume jack for full-time volume pedal functionality, and the Fav/MIDI jack allows for remote selection of your Favorite functionalities or to connect Compadre to your MIDI rig. The Class A JFET Input circuit and VCA-based compression are 100% analog, with your signal never being converted to or from digital. You do still, however, get the digital functionality and programmability you’ve come to know and love with all your Strymon gear. Not a lot to not love about the Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor & Boost, we gotta tell ya – this thing is a real one-stop shop for all your front-of-board (and more) needs, and with the quality build you always get from their pedals, you know it’s gonna be a keeper. Thanks to Strymon as always – be sure to check out their website for more info on this and their entire effects pedal lineup. Watch and see Compadre in action (along with its sibling, Iridium) in our demo below, and don’t forget to subscribe. Cheers!
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