The Warden®
Optical compressor
Hey boss, thanks for taking the manager's visit! The Warden is an optical compressor with a feature set typically reserved for studio-quality units. Built with high quality components and powered internally by 18V, The Warden has plenty of gain and sustain on tap. With complete control over attack, release, sustain and ratio, The Warden will enable everything from heavy squash with rapid attack and release to subtle "barely there" compression. Optical compression has a reputation for having more character than VCA or FET based compression and The Warden is no exception.
1. Tone: This pedal was designed to lightly color your tone, and the coloring can be adjusted to your liking. Counterclockwise the treble is cut, clockwise the treble is boosted. The tone is almost flat around 11 o'clock.
2. Attack: Controls the speed at which the compressor responds and begins to level the signal. All the way counterclockwise is a quick, almost immediate reaction. Turning the attack clockwise slows down the reaction time.
3. Release: Controls the time it takes for the signal to rise to the level determined by the Sustain and Ratio controls. All the way counterclockwise is a quick release and the release time slows down as you turn it clockwise.
4. Level: Controls the overall output and is affected by the Sustain and Ratio parameters. There is no specific unit setting; adjust to taste when you find your perfect compression setting.
5. Ratio: Determines how much gain reduction affects the signal. At the very top, the compression is full, and the compression is reduced as you turn counterclockwise, allowing more of the amplified, less compressed signal to pass through. There are no defined ratios here.
6. Sustain: This is the heart of The Warden. It controls the heat of the signal, which changes the dynamics of the compression. The Warden is a feedback type compressor; the warmer the signal, the more active the compression is. Very little Sustain = very little compression, less active attack and release, and a colder signal. Max Sustain = heavy compression, longer sustain, warmer signal and livelier attack and release.