Transformerless Vari Mu Compressor build thread

GroupDIY Audio Forum

Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Also, would it be possible to build a non-mastering stepped version that otherwise works like the pot version in terms of levels and GR selection?
Like Heikki said, the stepped rotary sidechain boards were intended basically to be used as an alternative to the pots for more accuracy/repeatability. Same as when the coarser stepped input controls were added to use in place of pots there.

The highpass and the extended threshold mod is useful regardless even though they were added in/for the mastering version ..imo.
 
@scott2000 did I spy purple meter LEDs on your build? Are there any restrictions/parameters for LED colors in the GR meter section? I seem to recall a post saying not to use any high efficiency LEDs, but I can't find it again on a quick scan of the thread and I'm wondering if maybe I am confusing it with a different project.
 
Last edited:
News on my build.

I added a vumeter driver circuit + vumeters scavenged from an old sansui receiver. For now the meters are only I/O meters, but I'm planning a mod on the driver meter to add gain reduction metering on the needles.

The panel is made by a guy in my city that does plaques/stamps. He has a CNC mill and a UV printer. I brought him my DXF and the panel from the TME rack chassis.

IMG_20220409_230216.jpg

IMG-20220423-WA0009.jpeg
 
Anybody have some sound examples of this project? I'm curious about it.
1st post should have something..
Maybe depends on what kind of effect one may be wanting to hear though? For another example, just playing around with that BX Townhouse compressor at more extreme settings, it was easy enough to get things reacting/sounding similar imo but with the differences that the 2 have for whatever reasons. :D noise not being one...
 
Last edited:
C2 (2.2u) in the sidechain looks like a timing capacitor. Would it be advantageous to use a tantalum cap here? I often like what tantalums do in timing circuits.
I don't know how significantly tantalum caps differ from a perfect capacitor so I can't say if it adds anything audible when using them as timing caps. Maybe tantalum caps will give that sweet sound of conflict minerals.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top