The Electro-Harmonix Platform Stereo Compressor is a compressor pedal with limiting and drive circuits built in, announced in June 2017 as the company's second compressor release in as many weeks. gearnews reported that it "could be useful for both live and studio environments", and it arrived in shops in the second week of July that year.1
What it does and how it is controlled
The Platform puts a full set of compression controls on its top panel, plus a separate drive section. gearnews described the knob layout as "Volume, Attack, Release, Sustain, Drive and Swell", with the Drive section switchable in and out via its own dedicated footswitch and carrying "the usual Volume, Tone and Drive controls".1
| Control | What it is |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level for the compression section1 |
| Attack | Attack control1 |
| Release | Release control1 |
| Sustain | Sustain control1 |
| Drive | Drive control in the compression section1 |
| Swell | Knob alongside the compression controls1 |
| Limiter button | Push button to engage the limiter1 |
| Hard/Soft Knee buttons | Push buttons to choose the knee type1 |
| Drive footswitch | Switches the Drive section in via its own dedicated footswitch1 |
The limiter and knee buttons give the pedal studio-style compressor behavior: limiting as a separate mode, and a choice between Hard or Soft Knee compression.1
Stereo operation
The Platform is built to sit in mono or stereo rigs. As gearnews put it: "You can run the Platform in mono in/out mode, or mono in/stereo out and finally in stereo in/stereo out." That makes it usable with a single instrument, with a stereo output rig, or as a full stereo in/stereo out processor.1
Bypass and power
The pedal is buffered bypass rather than true bypass. gearnews noted it is "well-suited to long cable runs", which matters on large pedalboards or long runs to a backline amp.1
The Platform "does need its own dedicated EHX9.6-200mA power supply", which is included in the price of the unit. It is not a pedal to run from a shared daisy-chain output without checking your power setup first.1
The smaller version: Pico Platform
Electro-Harmonix also brought the Platform concept to its Pico mini pedal series as the Pico Platform Compressor/Limiter.2 The company lists the Pico Platform on its own product page.3 You can read more on the Pico Platform Compressor/Limiter page, and compare it with other designs on the Compressor Pedals type page, including the Soul Preacher and the Tone Corset.
Videos
EHX
Michael Manning
The Vex Project
Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Platform a true bypass pedal?
No. The Platform is buffered bypass, which gearnews noted is well-suited to long cable runs. A buffered bypass keeps the signal strength up over long pedalboard-to-amp distances, which is why some players prefer it on larger rigs, though players who want a completely untouched signal when the pedal is off may look at other options.
Can the Platform Stereo Compressor run in stereo?
Yes. The Platform can run in mono in/out mode, mono in/stereo out, or full stereo in/stereo out, so it works with a single guitar or bass as well as with stereo rigs and stereo effects setups.
What power supply does the EHX Platform use?
The Platform requires its own dedicated EHX9.6-200mA power supply, and that supply is included in the price of the unit. Because it needs a dedicated supply rather than sharing power, plan your pedalboard power accordingly.
Does the Platform compressor have a limiter?
Yes. The Platform is a compressor/limiter, and limiting is engaged with a dedicated push button. It also has push buttons for Hard or Soft Knee compression, giving it studio-style compressor options in a pedal format.
What does the Swell knob do on the Platform?
Swell is one of the Platform's knobs, listed by gearnews alongside Volume, Attack, Release, Sustain and Drive. It sits within the pedal's compression-section controls, which also include the Limiter and Hard/Soft Knee push buttons.
Is there a smaller version of the EHX Platform?
Yes. In 2023 Electro-Harmonix released the Pico Platform Compressor/Limiter, a downsized digital compressor/limiter based on the full-sized Stereo Platform, available for $119 as a second pedal in the Pico mini range.
Sources (3)
- EH intros second compressor pedal in 2 weeks: Platform Stereo Compressor, gearnews.com, 2017-06-28
- Electro-Harmonix just launched a serious competitor in the mini compressor pedal stakes, Guitar World, 2023-08-09
- Pico Platform, Electro-Harmonix
