Quartz Optical Compressor

The Quartz Optical Compressor takes inspiration from the Diamond CPR-1 Compressor and BCP-1 Bass Compressor, two classic optical compressor pedals that share a similar schematic design. Initially launched in 2005, the original Diamond Compressor utilized an optocoupler for dynamic gain reduction, characteristic of optical compressors. However, it introduced an innovative tone control feature, modeled after the “Tilt” control found in the 1980s Quad Model 34 hi-fi preamps. This control functions similarly to the bass/treble pivot of the Big Muff tone control but is refined for a genuinely flat frequency response in the center. The Quartz reimagines the original Diamond circuits, enabling the construction of either the standard or bass versions. Additionally, our model incorporates a third position to the frequency selector, a feature present in the 2023 compact pedals but absent in the original designs.