The Broughton Audio Omnicomp is an analog optical compressor pedal built around a vactrol, an optical compression element. Broughton Audio describes it as "a fully featured optical compressor" that "combines the precision and clarity of the Apex with the presence and tone of the Monocomp," placing it alongside the company's other compressors, the Broughton Apex Compressor and the Broughton Audio Monocomp. It is designed for use on a pedalboard for live use or in a studio for precision compression. The list price is US$249.00 as of 26 October 20261.
The vactrol circuit
The compression element is a vactrol, which Broughton Audio describes as "an optical element that provides musical compression that is easy dial in." Optical compressors use a light-dependent element to control gain, an approach associated with smooth, musical compression, and the vactrol is the heart of how the Omnicomp responds to your playing. The audio path is driven by a Burr Brown op amp, which the maker says delivers "superior audio performance and extremely low noise"1.
The pedal is built with an internal 30 volt regulated supply so it can "cleanly and clearly handle signals all the way up to line" level, according to Broughton Audio. For a player, that headroom matters if you run hot instruments, active basses or line-level sources into the pedal1.
The controls
The Omnicomp covers the main compressor controls a player needs to shape both the compression and the tone:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold | The amount of signal sent to the side chain to trigger the compression1 |
| Ratio | Determines how much signal is shunted. Ranges from 1:1 to full limiting1 |
| Release | The amount of time it takes for compression to release1 |
| Blend | A blend between your clean signal and compressed signal1 |
| Gain | Up to 20dB of clean gain on the output to make up any volume lost due to compression1 |
The Blend control is the parallel-compression style feature: keeping some clean signal mixed in preserves attack and low end while the compressed portion evens things out. The Gain control then restores or adds up to 20dB of level after compression1.
Broughton Audio gives a suggested starting point: Blend fully clockwise, other knobs at noon. From there, lowering the Threshold brings the compression in earlier, and raising the Ratio moves the pedal from gentle leveling toward full limiting1.
Power and bypass
The pedal accepts 9 to 18 volts DC through a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity. Current draw is approximately 150mA, which is well above what a battery or a low-current daisy-chain output typically supplies, so a dedicated supply output is the practical choice1.
The Omnicomp draws approximately 150mA at 9 to 18 volts DC, center negative. Check that your power supply can supply that current on the output you use1.
Bypass is true bypass, achieved with a soft touch stomp switch that actuates a relay. That gives you silent, relay-based switching without the mechanical click of a traditional footswitch1.
Warranty
Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner. For warranty repairs, the company asks owners to email sales@broughtonaudio.com1.
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Questions
Is the Broughton Audio Omnicomp true bypass?
Yes. The Omnicomp uses a soft touch stomp switch to actuate a relay, which provides true bypass operation according to Broughton Audio. A relay-based soft touch switch also means the pedal has no clicking footswitch, which some players prefer on a pedalboard.
What are good starting settings for the Omnicomp?
Broughton Audio suggests a starting point of Blend fully clockwise with the other knobs at noon. From there, the Blend control lets you mix clean signal back in with the compressed signal, and the Threshold and Ratio controls set how hard the compression engages.
How much current does the Omnicomp draw?
Broughton Audio states the current draw is approximately 150mA. That is more than many compact pedals draw, so it is worth checking the current rating of your power supply before adding the Omnicomp to a daisy chain.
Is the Omnicomp analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog, and Broughton Audio describes an audio path driven by a Burr Brown op amp with an optical vactrol compression element.
What does the Ratio knob do on the Omnicomp?
According to Broughton Audio, the Ratio control determines how much signal is shunted, and it ranges from 1:1, meaning no compression, up to full limiting. Higher settings compress the signal more aggressively.
What is the warranty on the Broughton Audio Omnicomp?
Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner. For warranty repairs, the company asks owners to email sales@broughtonaudio.com.
Sources (2)
- Omnicomp, Broughton Audio
- Omnicomp by Broughton Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
