Sustain –
Sustain controls how hard the Ego Compressor works to
maintain the signal within its compression threshold. Higher sustain
settings will let your notes go on for a very long time, but be careful,
because higher sustain settings also raise the noise floor. If you are
running your compressor after overdrive or distortion, you will want to
pay close attention to the Sustain knob and maybe back off of it quite a
bit so as not to raise the amount of noise to unbearable levels. The Ego
Compressor is quiet, by compressor standards, but when the whole point
of a pedal is to take a signal, even it out, and make the quiet parts louder
and the loud parts quieter, you can expect added noise as part of the
process.
Attack –
Attack controls how quickly the compression action starts to take
effect. At slower attack settings, it will more gradually begin to compress
the signal, which can leave your early note less affected. With quicker
attack settings, it gets a noticeable pop-in, because it clamps down on the
high signal level of the initial note and then quickly raises the output level
after that to begin its compression action. This is integral to the classic
country chickin' pickin' sound. Dialing this control in is all about feel, and
where your ideal setting ends up will be entirely based on what you need
the compressor to do for your sound.
Tone –
Not content to merely have a great sounding compressor, Brian
has created what we feel is a virtually ideal Tone knob for use with
compressors. At fully counter-clockwise, it doesn't have any impact on the
signal at all. As you raise it clockwise, it adds extra sparkle and presence to
the sound, and with the right gear it can be very "jangly," a characteristic
that a lot of players in Nashville especially look for. If you're wanting a little
more presence in your signal, the Tone knob will let you dial it in quite
precisely!
Blend –
Having established that the Ego Compressor has everything you
need to dial in a fantastic sounding compressed signal, now it's time to
learn about the Blend functionality. At about noon on the Blend knob, the
compressed signal and the (enhanced, boosted, and slightly warmed)
clean signal are even in level. Because the signals are in parallel inside the
pedal before mixing down to mono at the output, the Blend control acts
as a mixer knob. At 50/50, your clean signal's natural note attack is almost
100% unaffected by the Ego Compressor, but once the clean signal
naturally fades, the Ego Compressor's compressed signal seamlessly fills in
the gaps. This is a process no ear will hear because it's perfectly even and
smooth, and the end result is all the benefits of a great compressor but a
real, authentic transient. Counterclockwise, you get less and less Ego
Compressor and more and more clean signal. Clockwise, more and more
Ego Compressor and less and less clean signal. It's not too hard to grasp,
but it is the sort of thing that rewards careful experimentation to see what
all it can do before you settle in on what it is
specifically that you want to
do.
Power Requirements
The pedal can be powered by a 9V battery. The battery terminal is located inside the pedal. If
using a power supply, power needed for the pedal is 9V DC, regulated, center pin negative, as
supplied by most standard Boss™/Ibanez™/Etc. supplies. The pedal can be safely powered with a
multi-supply, like the Visual Sound 1SPOT™. The pedal was designed explicitly around the usage
of a 9V DC power source, and is intended to sound its best at 9V. To avoid damage to the pedal,
do not exceed 18V DC, do not use center pin positive adapters, and do not use AC power. Using
an incorrect power adapter can lead to damage and will void the warranty on the pedal. This
pedal draws
33mA
.
Please note
: If you are using a battery, it will drain when the input cord is plugged in.
Return and Warranty Policy
For direct sales, there is a 7-day “no questions asked” period where you may return the pedal for any reason, provided that it is in its original condition. Please retain
all packaging within this period in case you decide to return it! We only require that you pay shipping back. The 7 days start when you receive the pedal. This does
not apply to dealer or retailer sales – see their individual return policies for specific information.
All Wampler Pedals, Inc. pedals carry a 5-year, fully transferable warranty that covers defects due to parts and labor. The warranty begins at the point of purchase.
Please remember to register your pedal as soon as possible after purchase at the following web page to ensure quicker service if you should ever need to make a
warranty claim:
www.wamplerpedals.com/warranty_registration
For warranty repairs or questions, please feel free to contact us at
www.wamplerpedals.com/contact_us.html
Blend fully clockwise, Sustain at 1-2 o'clock, Attack at 2 o'clock,
Tone to taste
Chickin' Pickin'
Blend at noon, Sustain at 10 o'clock, Attack fully clockwise,
Tone at 9 o'clock
Gentle Tone Sweetener
Blend at 11 o'clock, Sustain at 2 o'clock, Attack fully
clockwise, Tone to taste
Squashed, But Perfect Transients
Just A Hint Of The Clean
Blend at 2 o'clock, Sustain at 1 o'clock, Attack at 1 o'clock,
Tone to taste
Suggest
ed S
ettings (v
olume t
o suit)
Any trademarks attributed that are not owned by Wampler Pedals, Inc. are for
demonstrative purposes only, and are property of their respective owners