DryBell Module 4 compressor pedal profiled by Delicious Audio

January 11, 2024 · 2 sources

The DryBell Module 4 is a two-mode compressor pedal from the Croatian company DryBell, and its source of inspiration is Dan Armstrong's Orange Squeezer, Delicious Audio reported on January 11, 2024¹. DryBell describes the development as "a challenging but fun almost two year journey for us and now it's up to you to try the Module 4 for yourself"¹.

The pedal has six knobs: Tone, Preamp, Attack, Release, Blend and Output¹. The Blend control sets the mix of dry and compressed signals for parallel compression, and the Preamp attenuation/gain control sits after the front-end circuit to suit single coils or humbuckers¹. DryBell says the Output control is a high headroom clean boost¹. A small black push button switches between the two voices: ORANGE mode, which DryBell calls warm and vintage sounding, and Full Frequency range mode, which it describes as more modern, brighter and clearer¹. The pedal also has a low-end cut option, an expander that attenuates background noise when strings are muted, and a 3-color compression level meter¹. Bypass can be set to true or buffered with a push of a switch, and the pedal ships in buffered bypass by default¹.

DryBell says the noise floor is more than 10dB lower than the original, even without the expander enabled, and that the Module 4 uses the company's custom-made aluminum enclosure and its own silent switching system¹. The maker states that all of the circuitry is completely original and unique in its design¹. DryBell also says the pedal is not designed for guitar only and will sound great on bass, keyboards and vocals, and that to experience the Orange mode's interaction with pickups it should be used first in the chain with no buffers in front of it¹.

The Module 4 is listed at USD 315.00 and in stock on DryBell's site². DryBell lists it as a "Dual-voice Compressor: Orange Squeezer & Modern FET style"².

DryBell's press page, published December 5, 2024, collects reviews of the Module 4, including a "Vintage Guitar Approved Gear" badge from Vintage Guitar Magazine and recognition from American Songwriter Magazine as one of the best compressors².