The Sonicake Source Comp is a compressor pedal built around the circuit of the 1176, the studio limiter famous for its fast attack and aggressive ratio settings. Sonicake describes it as a "Modified 1176-style Compressor" and a "compressor pedal based on a world-famous 1176 studio compressor"1. The circuit is 100% analog, and the pedal uses buffered bypass rather than true bypass1.
What it does to your sound
A compressor evens out the volume of your playing, lifting quiet notes and taming loud ones. Because the Source Comp is based on the 1176, it carries the character of that unit: a wide ratio range and very fast attack times, which is what the controls below give you access to. Sonicake says that "No matter in the clean and overdrive, Source Comp has excellent feel and can better reflect your playing details"1. As with any compressor, it sits naturally alongside overdrive and distortion pedals, and it is a common first compressor for players building a board; see the compressor pedals page for how the type works.
The pedal is built into a hard metal casing with a heavy-duty metal footswitch and an on/off status LED1. The LED does more than show on and off: "The color change of LED provides dynamic feedback in real time," so you can watch how hard the compressor is working as you play1.
The controls
The Source Comp gives you four knobs, covering the main parameters of a 1176-style compressor2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Dry | Blends your unaffected signal back in; Sonicake notes this knob is gold in color2 |
| Ratio | Sets the compression ratio, from 4:1 up to 20:1, increasing clockwise2 |
| Attack | Sets how quickly compression engages, from 1.7 ms at its slowest (fully counter-clockwise) down to 0.020 ms at its fastest (fully clockwise)2 |
| Release | Sets how quickly compression lets go, from 267 ms at its slowest up to 32 ms at its fastest, faster clockwise2 |
The attack range is worth a note for players new to 1176-style pedals: the fastest setting, 0.020 ms, is far quicker than most pedals of any type, which is part of what the 1176 design is known for21.
Power and size
The Source Comp runs on DC 9-18V center negative, and a power supply is not included1. Current consumption is 80mA at 9V and 97mA at 18V1. The pedal measures 93.5mm deep by 42mm wide by 52mm high and weighs 234g1.
The Source Comp is buffered bypass, not true bypass, and it has no battery option mentioned: plan a center negative supply with at least 80mA of headroom at 9V (97mA at 18V) if you are adding it to a shared power supply1.
Videos
intheblues
Alex Price and SONICAKE
The Guitar Effect
Questions
Is the Sonicake Source Comp true bypass?
No. Sonicake describes the Source Comp as 100% analog with buffered bypass rather than true bypass. A buffer stays in the signal path when the pedal is off, which the maker presents as part of the design. Players who want a strictly true-bypass chain should keep this in mind when planning a board.
Does the Sonicake Source Comp come with a power supply?
No. Sonicake lists the power requirement as DC 9-18V center negative, not included, so you will need your own supply or adapter that meets that specification. The pedal draws 80mA at 9V and 97mA at 18V, which is worth checking against a shared supply's spare current.
What polarity does the Sonicake Source Comp use?
The Source Comp uses center negative polarity, the same convention as most modern compact pedals, and accepts DC 9-18V. Sonicake notes that a power supply is not included with the pedal.
How much current does the Sonicake Source Comp draw?
Sonicake lists current consumption at 80mA when running at 9V and 97mA at 18V. Those figures matter when adding the pedal to a daisy-chained or isolated power supply, since the combined draw of all pedals has to stay within the supply's output.
How big is the Sonicake Source Comp?
Sonicake gives the dimensions as 93.5mm deep by 42mm wide by 52mm high, with a weight of 234g. That is a compact footprint that fits alongside other mini-format pedals on a crowded board.
What does the LED do on the Source Comp?
Beyond showing on/off status, the LED changes color as the pedal works. Sonicake says the color change provides dynamic feedback in real time, giving a visual read on how hard the compressor is reacting to your playing.
Sources (2)
- Sonicake Source Comp product page, Sonicake
- Sonicake Source Comp Compressor Pedal, Sonicake (de.sonicake.com)