The Electro-Harmonix Pico Platform is a compact compressor and limiter pedal that brings studio-style compression and limiting into Electro-Harmonix's smallest enclosure format. Released in 2023, it condenses the compressor section of the full-sized Stereo Platform into a pico-sized box measuring 3.65 x 2.0 x 2.0 inches, aimed at players who want smooth studio compression on any pedalboard1.
It is a digital design, which Guitar World describes as "a digital compressor/limiter that seeks to imitate classic studio designs"2. Electro-Harmonix says the pedal is "extremely transparent with no tonal coloring, making it extremely versatile and easy to work into" a rig1. It was available now at launch, on August 9, 2023, at a list price of $11921.
A compact compressor and limiter
The Pico Platform is part of EHX's Pico series, which Guitar World's reviewer Stuart described as seeing "its Platform Compressor presented in a space-saving enclosure"3. It is a downsized version of the Electro-Harmonix Platform, the stereo compressor/limiter EHX launched in 2017, and according to Guitar World's news coverage "the core circuitry remains intact" in the smaller format24.
Where the original Platform is a stereo unit with additional sections, the Pico Platform focuses on the compressor itself. Electro-Harmonix says it "condenses the comp section of the full-sized Stereo Platform"1. The pedal offers two modes, Compressor and Limiter, plus selectable Hard Knee and Soft Knee compression curves, covering a wide range of compression styles1.
Guitar World's reviewer came away positive, concluding:
"The Platform does this brilliantly, and takes up very little space doing so."
Guitar World reviewer Stuart, on the Pico Platform3
Controls and modes
The pedal keeps the control set simple: four knobs, one Type button, and a footswitch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOL | Controls the output volume1 |
| ATTACK | Sets how fast the compressor or limiter activates once the input reaches the threshold; clockwise goes from fast to slow1 |
| SUSTAIN | In Compressor Mode, clockwise increases the compression ratio; in Limiter Mode, clockwise lowers the threshold so the limiter acts sooner1 |
| BLEND | Adjusts the output wet/dry mix1 |
| TYPE button | Switches between Compressor and Limiter modes; green LED indicates Compressor, orange indicates Limiter1 |
| Footswitch | Engages or bypasses the effect; the LED is off in bypass1 |
The two modes work differently, and the Sustain knob changes function between them. In Compressor Mode it adjusts the compression ratio, while in Limiter Mode it adjusts the threshold level5. Holding the Type button down also offers a choice of Soft and Hard compression knees2.
For players new to compression, the practical differences are straightforward:
- Compressor Mode squeezes the signal by a set ratio, evening out volume differences between loud and quiet notes. The Attack knob controls when the compressor engages, and therefore how much pick attack comes through2.
- Limiter Mode acts as a ceiling, clamping down on signals that exceed the threshold. Turning Sustain clockwise lowers that threshold, forcing the limiter to act sooner1.
- Blend lets you mix your dry signal back in with the compressed signal, a parallel-compression approach that preserves pick dynamics while still tightening the overall level2.
- Soft or Hard knee selects how the compression eases in: a soft knee engages gradually as the signal approaches the threshold, a hard knee engages the full amount at once1.
Power and connections
The Pico Platform runs on the included 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter1. Its current draw is 100mA at 9.0VDC at the power jack1, a figure Guitar World flagged at launch, advising players to "ensure you can supply 100mA at 9V to this puppy"2. That is modest by digital-pedal standards but higher than many analog compacts, so it is worth accounting for on a crowded power supply.
Connections are minimal: an INPUT jack, an OUTPUT jack, and the power input13. There is no battery option.
The Pico Platform uses buffered bypass, not true bypass, so your signal passes through a buffer even when the effect is off12. On a pedalboard with long cable runs that can be a benefit; players who prefer a fully untouched bypass signal should factor it in.
Where it came from
The Pico Platform traces back to the Platform Stereo Compressor/Limiter, which EHX describes as a versatile and powerful studio-quality compressor2. The full-size Platform is also made by Electro-Harmonix5.
In 2023 EHX downsized the design into the Pico format, keeping the compressor and limiter core while dropping the stereo format and the overdrive and swell sections of the original. The Pico Platform launched on August 9, 2023, available now at $11921, and Guitar World's review lists the same $119 price3.
Within EHX's own compressor lineup, the Pico Platform sits alongside compact analog options like the Tone Corset, released in 2017 as an OTA analog compressor, and the optical White Finger, which EHX discontinued in 2023. The Pico Platform differs from those in being digital and in offering the Limiter mode and knee selection.
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Questions
Is the Pico Platform analog or digital?
It is digital. Electro-Harmonix describes it as a digital compressor/limiter that seeks to imitate classic studio designs, condensing the compressor section of the full-sized Stereo Platform into a pico enclosure. Guitar World's news coverage also identifies it as a digital design.
Does the Pico Platform come with a power supply?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix includes a 9.6VDC-200mA power adapter with the pedal, and Guitar World's review lists a 9V PSU as included. There is no battery option, so it runs from the supplied adapter or a compatible pedalboard power supply.
Is the Pico Platform true bypass?
No. It uses buffered bypass, so your signal passes through a buffer when the effect is switched off. Electro-Harmonix lists Buffered Bypass on the product page, and Guitar World notes the signal is buffered when bypassed.
How much current does the Pico Platform draw?
The current draw is 100mA at 9.0VDC at the power jack, per Electro-Harmonix. Guitar World advises making sure your power supply can deliver 100mA at 9V, which is worth noting if you run it from a shared or daisy-chain supply.
What is the difference between Compressor and Limiter modes?
The Type button switches between the two, with a green LED for Compressor and orange for Limiter. In Compressor Mode the Sustain knob sets the compression ratio; in Limiter Mode it sets the threshold level, and turning it clockwise lowers the threshold so the limiter acts sooner.
What do the Soft and Hard knee options do?
They select the compression curve. Holding the Type button down toggles between Soft and Hard knee. A soft knee eases compression in gradually as the signal approaches the threshold, while a hard knee engages the full amount of compression abruptly once the threshold is crossed.
Sources (5)
- Pico Platform, Electro-Harmonix
- Electro-Harmonix just launched a serious competitor in the mini compressor pedal stakes, Guitar World, 2023-08-09
- Electro-Harmonix Pico Platform Compressor/Limiter review, Guitar World, 2023-12-06
- Electro-Harmonix Platform Stereo Compressor/Limiter, Delicious Audio, 2017-06-27
- Platform, Electro-Harmonix (www.ehx.com)
