The Mojo Hand FX Clarity is a compact compressor pedal built for players who want clean, studio-quality compression in a small pedalboard footprint1. Mojo Hand FX describes it as a transparent compressor, and unlike most transparent pedals it does the job with DSP rather than an analog circuit: Premier Guitar's launch coverage says the American-made pedal "utilizes DSP technology to deliver clean, quiet and transparent compression"2.
The control surface is deliberately minimal. Two knobs, Comp and Mix, plus one push button that switches between two compressor types, Slope and Envelope1. A silent noise gate is built in to keep the pedal quiet1.
Comp, Mix and the two compression modes
The Clarity's whole interface is three elements, and each one does a lot.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Adjusts the amount of compression desired1 |
| Mix | Blends compressed signal with dry signal. Fully left is 100% dry, fully right is 100% compressed1 |
| Slope/Envelope button | Selects between the two compressor types1 |
The Mix knob is the heart of the "transparent" idea. Instead of committing your whole signal to the compressor's action, you dial in as much squashed signal as you want on top of your untouched dry tone. Delicious Audio notes this is particularly useful for bass, where blending back clean signal keeps the low end from losing its character3.
The Slope/Envelope button changes the compressor's personality rather than just its amount1:
- Slope (button up): a linear, traditional style of compression. The attack is fast, quickly grabbing signal peaks for a smooth response and feel1. Delicious Audio calls it "perfect for evening out a performance in a natural-sounding way"3.
- Envelope (button down): dynamic and punchier, with a greater response to attack. Mojo Hand FX describes it as a heavier-sounding compression with slight "pumping" that introduces a perceived warmth1.
Delicious Audio summed up the split by saying the two modes "deliver drastically different kinds of 'signal squashing,'" with Slope the more linear and traditional of the pair3. Both modes can be tamed by pulling clean signal back in with the Mix knob3.
Noise gate and quiet operation
Because the Clarity aims at clean, quiet compression, Mojo Hand FX incorporated a silent noise gate "to help further this goal"1. Bass Musician Magazine's review confirms the gate is there "to even further reduce noise" on top of the pedal's already quiet operation4.
Power and bypass
The Clarity runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, and draws about 70mA1. There is no battery compartment2.
The ~70mA draw is modest by digital standards but real: the Clarity needs a powered pedalboard output or a dedicated 9V adapter, and with no battery option it will not run standalone.
Switching is true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged your signal passes through untouched1. The enclosure wears a baked-on, extremely durable "vein" finish2, and the pedal carries a limited lifetime warranty2.
Where it came from and what reviewers said
Mojo Hand FX unveiled the Clarity in November 2021 as its newest original design, at a $139 MAP / street price2. Delicious Audio covered it the same month as "a simple, two-mode DSP-powered compressor created for players seeking a clean, simple but" effective solution3.
The fullest published review came from Bass Musician Magazine in June 2022, where Ty Campbell put the pedal to work on rock and classic country gigs4. His verdict leaned on ease of use and the mode switch:
"it's pretty much set it and forget it type of pedal, adjust the controls to your liking and not much change is needed"
Campbell called it one of the finest and easiest to use compressors he had played, praising the Slope/Envelope button in particular4.
A note on the name
The Clarity name is shared by another compressor: the Horizon Devices Clarity Compressor, a separate pedal from a different maker with its own control set (Clarity, Mix, Intensity, Volume and Comp knobs). The two are unrelated products that happen to share a name, so check the maker when comparing listings5.
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Mike Hermans
Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX Clarity true bypass?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX lists true bypass switching for the Clarity, and both Delicious Audio and Premier Guitar's launch coverage confirm it. With the pedal off, your signal passes through without buffering or coloration.
Does the Clarity take a battery?
No. The pedal has no battery compartment and runs only on a standard 9V DC center negative supply, which is not included. You will need a pedalboard power supply or a dedicated adapter to run it.
Is the Mojo Hand FX Clarity analog or digital?
It is digital. The Clarity is a DSP-powered compressor, using digital signal processing to deliver what Premier Guitar described as clean, quiet and transparent compression in an American-made pedal.
What is the difference between Slope and Envelope mode?
Slope mode, with the button up, is a linear, traditional compression style with a fast attack that grabs signal peaks for a smooth feel. Envelope mode, with the button down, is more dynamic and punchier, responding more to your attack with a heavier sound and slight pumping that adds perceived warmth.
Does the Clarity work with bass?
Yes. Delicious Audio notes the Mix knob, which reintroduces clean signal, is particularly useful for bass, and Bass Musician Magazine's Ty Campbell reviewed it after using it on rock and classic country gigs, calling it one of the finest compressors he has used.
Does the Clarity have a noise gate?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX built a silent noise gate into the Clarity to reduce noise, and Bass Musician Magazine's review confirms the gate is there to further cut noise on top of the pedal's quiet operation.
Sources (5)
- MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX
- Mojo Hand FX Releases the Clarity Compressor, Premier Guitar, 2021-11-15
- Mojo Hand FX Clarity Compressor, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-15
- Mojo Hand FX Clarity Compressor Review, Bass Musician Magazine, 2022-06-06
- Guitar Pedal X - GPX Blog - Horizon Devices releases its own special take on ultra transparent compression - The Clarity Compressor, Guitar Pedal X
