DESCRIPTION

Compressors pretty much fall into two camps: Those compressors which give you every single control, very similar to what you'll find in the studio, that let you perfectly dial in the exact type and amount of compression that you want. There are also compressors that have very limited options but get the job done.

The Trickfish VCA compressor sits in a very comfortable middle ground, because it gives you plenty of control over your compression without making it overly complicated. Trickfish's goal was to provide a pedal board friendly take on the transparent and accurate studio compression they love. They settled on a VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) design with a smart and simple set of controls over the crucial compression parameters.

The four-knob layout gives you everything you need: Threshold sets the level at which the compressor engages, Ratio adjusts how aggressively the gain is reduced, Level adjusts the overall output, and Blend sweeps between wet and dry signals for parallel compression. This blend control is particularly valuable for bass, allowing you to maintain your natural attack while still getting the benefits of compression. This helps control dynamics without losing punch.

The LED gain reduction meter provides visual feedback on how much compression is happening, which is incredibly helpful when dialing in your sound. This is particularly useful in loud stage environments where it can be difficult to hear subtle differences in compression settings.

The VCA topology is known for its transparency and fast response, making it ideal for bass applications where you want to control dynamics without coloring your tone. The Trickfish VCA delivers this classic compression character while keeping the controls simple and intuitive.

Built in a steel chassis measuring 5.08" x 2.72" x 2.29", the pedal weighs just under a pound and features removable adhesive-backed rubber feet. It runs on standard 9V DC center-negative power, drawing only 35.8mA, and top mounted jacks that make it pedalboard-friendly. The true bypass footswitch ensures your signal remains pristine when the compressor is disengaged.

Whether you're looking for subtle dynamic control or more aggressive compression for a punchy sound, the Trickfish VCA Compressor delivers it all in an easy-to-use package.

From Trickfish

The VCA Compressor pedal was born out of Trickfish's desire to offer a compressor pedal that threads the needle between the transparent and accurate studio compression they love, and the tonal enhancement (aka magic sauce) that we all love in certain vintage compressors or beloved compressor pedals on the market.

Trickfish's goal was to create a highly flexible, super accurate, and, most importantly, fantastic-sounding compressor pedal. They settled on a VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) design with a smart and simple set of controls over the crucial compression parameters.