Announcing the all new
COMPTROLLER
Stereo Dynamics Processor
Available fall 2025
Hand built to order in the USA
More information coming soon.
Please contact me to be added to the waitlist.
Follow me on Instagram to get updates.
This is a completely original circuit. It's a stereo VCA compressor and ultra fast JFET peak limiter in one RU.
The Shaping control is what makes this unit truly unique. It handles transient changes in a way that's totally unlike
any other compressor. It adds a delay to the control path that lets the initial transient information through, then overreacts, creating
an immediate dip in volume before returning to a normal compressed level. Below you can see the response to a simple tone burst. The top
waveform is the input, middle is standard compression, and bottom is with Shaping engaged.
This curve emphasizes the punchiness of drums and other percussive elements in a really magical way.
The timing ranges from fast and snappy to slow pumping and the overall depth ranges
from gentle enhancement to a severe gated response. 20dB of input gain allows you to really smash the signal.
And unlike a traditional compressor, the shaping allows you to crush drums and still retain the impact of transients.
The compression detector sums the left and right inputs and applies the same control voltage to both channels. In Mono mode only the left channel is driving compression, but the right channel is still being affected. This allows for some very creative ducking effects. The external sidechain loop lets you apply EQ or other processing to the detector signal. With two units you can also tie the sidechain send of one to the return of the other and apply ducking to a stereo signal. The 500Hz low pass filters out ambient high frequency information, further enhancing the impact of low frequency transients.
The separate peak limiter reacts instantly with zero recovery time, and both channels have their own individual limiting circuits. In Soft mode it applies a gentle saturation, Medium mode adds some feedback, and in Hard mode it acts as a brickwall.
Input Gain, Attack, Release and Shaping are all on 6 position rotary switches. Threshold, Compression and Output are continuous potentiometers. Instead of a traditional meter, single LEDs indicate when compression and peak limiting are active. This is based on the simple premise that if you can't hear what it's doing, then you're not using it right.
Every part of the build uses the highest quality components available. I have made every effort to make this unit as robust and problem free as possible. All components are through hole and hand soldered. Circuit boards are manufactured in the bay area, the enclosures come from New Jersey, and the panels are engraved by Front Panel Express in Kent, WA.
The compression detector sums the left and right inputs and applies the same control voltage to both channels. In Mono mode only the left channel is driving compression, but the right channel is still being affected. This allows for some very creative ducking effects. The external sidechain loop lets you apply EQ or other processing to the detector signal. With two units you can also tie the sidechain send of one to the return of the other and apply ducking to a stereo signal. The 500Hz low pass filters out ambient high frequency information, further enhancing the impact of low frequency transients.
The separate peak limiter reacts instantly with zero recovery time, and both channels have their own individual limiting circuits. In Soft mode it applies a gentle saturation, Medium mode adds some feedback, and in Hard mode it acts as a brickwall.
Input Gain, Attack, Release and Shaping are all on 6 position rotary switches. Threshold, Compression and Output are continuous potentiometers. Instead of a traditional meter, single LEDs indicate when compression and peak limiting are active. This is based on the simple premise that if you can't hear what it's doing, then you're not using it right.
Every part of the build uses the highest quality components available. I have made every effort to make this unit as robust and problem free as possible. All components are through hole and hand soldered. Circuit boards are manufactured in the bay area, the enclosures come from New Jersey, and the panels are engraved by Front Panel Express in Kent, WA.
I have spent many years designing and building high quality custom mastering gear. I also have extensive experience repairing and modifying all manner
of studio equipment. This is my first retail product and it is the result of many hours of R&D combined with my experience and knowledge.
Below are some examples of past custom projects.
