Source Audio launches Atlas Compressor pedal at $229

May 6, 2022 · 3 sources

Source Audio released the Atlas Compressor on May 6, 2022, adding a digital compressor pedal to its lineup at a US list price of $229¹²³.

The pedal holds six compression types, selected with a three-way switch and stored in two banks of presets²³. MusicRadar lists voicings after the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer and Diamond Compressor, rack units such as the LA2A optical and 1176 FET compressors, plus Peak, RMS, VCA and a dual band compression¹. Guitar World and gearnews name the Diamond Compressor and the LA2A and 1176 emulations among the six²³. The dual band mode applies one compressor above 333Hz and another below, which MusicRadar says creates a blooming effect on open chords and sustained leads¹. A bass mode, activated by holding down the Alt switch, adapts the presets for bass guitar¹²³.

Four knobs control Threshold, Ratio (Tone), Blend (Attack) and Output (Release), with the bracketed functions reached through the Alt button¹²³. Guitar World gives Threshold's alternate function as Makeup Gain, and gearnews says the pedal adjusts Makeup Gain automatically with the amount of compression²³. The pedal runs in series or parallel with a crossfader¹. It has dual inputs and outputs and a USB port for the Neuro Editor, MIDI and DAW connection, with up to 128 presets available over MIDI¹²³. Guitar World reports buffered or true bypass and an included 9V DC power supply²³. Guitar World says the Neuro app, free on mobile and desktop, adds further compression types, including a "look ahead" compressor and one modeled after the Orange Squeezer, plus 3-band parametric and 8-band graphic EQs².

Source Audio president Roger Smith described the pedal as a "landmark technical achievement" that took over a decade of research and development¹.