The FEA Labs DE-CL Dual Engine Compressor Limiter is a compressor and limiter in one mid-sized stompbox, built by FEA Labs for guitar and bass. As the name suggests, it carries two dynamics engines: a Compressor side with a Ratio setting and a Warmth control, and a Limiter side that runs alongside it. Pedal of the Day, which featured the pedal in November 2018, called it "perfect for guitar, bass an[d]" other instruments, with "a lot of control knobs and tones abound"1.
The two engines and their controls
Both sides of the DE-CL feature Threshold, Attack and Gain controls. The Compression side adds a Ratio setting and a Warmth control on top of those1.
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | Compressor and Limiter | Sets the level above which gain reduction engages1 |
| Attack | Compressor and Limiter | Sets how quickly the engine responds1 |
| Gain | Compressor and Limiter | Output level; the Limiter's Gain takes over when the Limiter is active1 |
| Ratio | Compressor | Lower settings give soft-knee compression, higher settings hard-knee1 |
| Warmth | Compressor | Shifts the output amplifier from a clean, linear mode to a warm, harmonically enriched one1 |
The Limiter side runs parallel to the Compressor side, and when the Limiter is activated its Gain control takes the place of the Compressor's Gain control. The Limiter employs hard-knee limiting at all times, which Pedal of the Day noted makes it useful both as a high performance limiter and as a high ratio compressor1.
How it is built
Under the hood, the DE-CL uses Silonex AOI (analog optical isolators) with a combination formula photocell, designed to overcome the reaction and recovery time limitations of traditional optical components. The pedal also uses advanced, adaptive release circuitry and two sidechain control engines, running on clean, boosted power1. For the audio path, FEA Labs specifies audiophile grade Burr-Brown SoundPlus operational amplifiers1.
The Warmth knob is the color control in that path: by modifying the function of the output amplifier, it goes from operating in a clean, linear mode to a warm and harmonically enriched one, which Pedal of the Day described as "providing a real analog sound to your compression and overall tone"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict was strong. In the words of the review: "this is one of the most powerful and best-sounding compressors we've ever come across"1.
"this is one of the most powerful and best-sounding compressors we've ever come across"
Related compressors
FEA Labs builds other dynamics pedals in the same family, including the FEA Labs Opti-FET Compressor and the FEA Labs DB-CL Dual Band Compressor Limiter. For the wider field, see the site's guide to Compressor Pedals.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Warmth knob do on the FEA Labs DE-CL?
The Warmth knob modifies the function of the output amplifier, going from a clean, linear mode to a warm and harmonically enriched one. Pedal of the Day described it as providing a real analog sound to your compression and overall tone, so it lets you dial in how much color the pedal adds after the compression stage.
How does the limiter side work with the compressor side?
The Limiter side runs parallel to the Compressor side. When the Limiter is activated, its Gain control takes the place of the Compressor's Gain control. The Limiter side uses hard-knee limiting at all times, which makes it useful both as a high performance limiter and as a high ratio compressor.
Can the FEA Labs DE-CL run on a 9V battery?
Yes. The DE-CL operates from a single 9-volt battery or a DC power adapter. An internal charge pump lets the circuitry run at 18 volts, on +9 and -9 volt rails, from that single 9-volt source, so the pedal gets higher internal headroom without a special supply.
What is the difference between soft-knee and hard-knee compression?
On the DE-CL's Compression side, the Ratio setting determines the knee. With the Ratio set lower you get soft-knee compression, where gain reduction eases in as the signal approaches the threshold. With the Ratio set higher you get hard-knee compression, where gain reduction engages more abruptly once the signal crosses the threshold.
Sources (2)
- FEA Labs DE-CL Dual Engine Compressor Limiter, Pedal of the Day, 2018-11-09
- FEA Labs DE-CL Dual Engine Compressor Limiter, Pedal of the Day, 2018-11-08
