The Spaceman PDX-2A is a special edition of the Spaceman Effects Ixion, an optical photocell compressor pedal. It keeps the Ixion circuit and adds a custom engraved faceplate redesigned to match the look of the vintage rackmount compressor that inspired the pedal, along with industrial gray powder-coat, black bakelite knobs and a red indicator jewel1. Spaceman Effects built it as a limited run of 20 hand-wired units, and it is now sold out1.
What it is and how it relates to the Ixion
The Ixion: Optical Photocell Compressor was influenced by the classic rackmount Leveling Amplifier, and Spaceman Effects describes the Ixion as "an extremely smooth, clean, and low-noise optical compressor that gives you an astronomical amount of variation, depth and dimension"1. The PDX-2A carries that same circuit into a special edition. On the PDX-2A product page, Spaceman Effects explains the idea behind the faceplate: "This custom engraved faceplate is a nod to the original vintage device that inspired the Ixion"2.
The maker is explicit that the pedal is not a copy of the vintage unit. As the product page puts it, "Although not a clone of the vintage circuit, this cool classic visual design is a fun way to close out this chapter"2. Players comparing the two should treat the PDX-2A as an Ixion in a different skin rather than a different compressor design. For the standard version, see the Spaceman Effects Ixion, and for how this kind of circuit sits among other designs, see Compressor Pedals.
The PDX-2A is sold out1. Spaceman Effects describes it as part of the final batch of NOS Ixion Optical Compressors, a very limited Space Mod edition with an updated faceplate design2.
The faceplate and finish
The visual changes are the point of the edition:
- A custom engraved faceplate, completely redesigned to match the look of the vintage rackmount compressor1
- Industrial gray powder-coat finish1
- Black bakelite knobs1
- A red indicator jewel1
Spaceman Effects notes that this faceplate design was previously only available on an extremely limited Spacelab edition2.
Build and numbering
Each of the 20 hand-wired units is signed and numbered inside, with a hand-hammered number tag on the enclosure1. That makes every pedal in the run individually identifiable.
Power and external control
The PDX-2A can accept up to 18V for higher headroom1, which matters for players running clean compression into hot signals. It also has an external input jack that can be used for signal processing or with an external expression pedal1, opening up control options beyond the panel knobs.
Questions
Is the Spaceman PDX-2A sold out?
Yes. Spaceman Effects lists the PDX-2A, the special edition Ixion, as sold out on its product page. The run was limited to 20 hand-wired units, each signed and numbered inside with a hand-hammered number tag on the enclosure, so the edition closed out once those units were gone.
How many PDX-2A pedals were made?
The PDX-2A was limited to 20 hand-wired units. Each pedal is signed and numbered inside, and carries a hand-hammered number tag on the enclosure, so every unit in the run is individually identified.
What is the difference between the PDX-2A and the Ixion?
The PDX-2A is a special edition of the Ixion optical compressor. The circuit is the same optical photocell compressor; what changes is the presentation. The PDX-2A has a custom engraved faceplate redesigned to match the look of the vintage rackmount compressor that influenced the Ixion, along with industrial grey powder-coat, black bakelite knobs and a red indicator jewel.
Can the PDX-2A run at 18V?
Yes. Spaceman Effects says the pedal can accept up to 18V for higher headroom. Running it at 18V gives the compressor more headroom than a standard 9V supply would.
Can I use an expression pedal with the PDX-2A?
Yes. The PDX-2A has an external input jack that can be used for signal processing or with an external expression pedal, so you can control the compressor from outside the pedal.
What rackmount compressor is the PDX-2A based on?
The PDX-2A is a special edition of the Ixion, which Spaceman Effects describes as influenced by the classic rackmount Leveling Amplifier. The maker is clear that the Ixion is not a clone of the vintage circuit; the PDX-2A's engraved faceplate is a visual nod to that original device.
Sources (2)
- PDX-2A (Special Edition Ixion: Optical Photocell Compressor), Spaceman Effects
- Ixion - Optical Photocell Compressor - Spaceman Effects, Spaceman Effects
