Nordland ODR-C Compact Overdrive Owner’s Manual
- June 4, 2024
- Nordland
Table of Contents
ODR-C Compact Overdrive
Owner’s Manual 
Please read this manual carefully! After reading, keep this document where it will be available for reference.
Introduction
Moin, Moin, as we say here in Nordland and congratulations on purchasing this effects device from the new Compact series! These, like my first and large version “ODR-C” Custom Overdrive, are mainly made by hand. They are equipped with equivalent or the same selected components and have been personally checked and measured by me. The Compact series has slightly fewer functions than the original ODR-C and therefore fewer components, which leads to less effort. This is of course reflected in the price, which should be correspondingly lower! Basically, I have taken out e.g. the battery operation and the LED brightness setting. That creates the prerequisites for smaller housing. I also offer two variants:
- ODR-C Compact ODR-CC Overdrive without Mid-knob
- ODR-C Compact+ ODR-CC+ Overdrive with Mid-knob
This is the detailed guide for both versions.
Operation
Velcro or rubber feet?
A set of rubber feet is included, which can be glued on if necessary unless
Velcro is to be used. To do this, remove the foil and attach the rubber feet
as close as possible to the edge!
Connection to a DC power supply:
A commercially available power supply unit (hum-free, electronically
stabilized!) with a voltage between 9 V and 18 V is connected to the DC socket
3. If the polarity is incorrect, the built-in reverse polarity protection
prevents (to a certain extent) damage to the ODR-C Compact or Compact+.
Nevertheless, it should be avoided because when using other devices on this
power supply unit, the positive contact on the housing (usually: ground) is
applied. This can lead to a short circuit on this power supply unit if it is
touched or wired with another device and may damage it! After connecting to
DC, the device is always switched on automatically!
Connection
The output signal from the instrument or from an effects device is connected
to input socket 1 with a mono jack* cable. A jack cable to the downstream
device (amplifier, additional effects pedal, etc.) is also connected to output
2.
- 1/4″ (6.3 mm) plug
Effect On/Off
The effect is switched on/off with the true bypass switch 5. When on, the LED 4 lights up. If the effect is off (LED E = off), the signal is routed from the input socket via the foot switch directly to the output socket. Before switching on, please ensure that volume 6 is set so low that impairments or damage of any kind (health: hearing, electrical: loudspeakers, amplifiers) are excluded.
Note: Clicking noises when switching cannot be prevented 100%. Especially after connecting to a DC power supply, it can be a little louder the first few times when switching. It just takes a while until the operating values are stable. Then it gets quieter.
Level
This knob 6 is used to set the output volume of the ODR-C Compact.
Drive
This knob 7 is used to set the amount of overdrive. The overdrive can be set between “almost clean” and “massively overdriven”. This overload limits the signal and therefore it sounds more compressed (longer sustain) and creates a lot of harmonic waves. The volume changes depending on the position. Then adjust the volume with the Level-knob 6 if necessary.
O.D.C. / Overdrive-De-Compress
With This knob 8 the compression of the overdrive stage is reduced. This makes the sound more dynamic (sounds more open), more centered, and also a little louder. The effect is subtle and becomes more audible the more the Drive-knob is turned up.
Note: In the left position of the O.D.C. knob, as well as the right position of the bass knob and in the middle position of the mid knob (if available) the ODR-C Compact / Compact+ sounds like my development of the ODR-1 from 1992.
Bass
This knob J is used to set low frequencies (bass). Due to the missing signal component, the auditory impression of less overload can arise, since the density of the signal corresponds accordingly.
Orange: Fully left stop
Red: Mid-position
(In this position the knob engages noticeably!)
Blue: Fully right position
Bonus: If the knob is turned all the way to the left (orange), the
overdrive increases again (from about 9 o’clock) to counteract the reduced
distortion!
With the ODR-C Custom Overdrive, This knob is called Lo-Cut and controls the
opposite! For aesthetic reasons, I reversed the direction of rotation of the
compact versions!
Mid / only available with the Compact+
With This knob K the center frequencies can be raised (cyan) or lowered
(violet).
Although this changes the natural sound, it can, for example, ensure a much
better assertion in the band structure when playing solo. The frequency and
bandwidth are optimally selected for the guitar sound and also overlap with
the Spectrum knob. Then, if necessary, correct with the Spectrum-knob!
Purple: Fully left position
Orange: Mid-position
Green: Fully right position
Spectrum
This knob L has always been something special! In contrast to other devices on
the market (called tone or treble control), which simply cut the signal in the
treble. I use active electronics that not only regulate the treble (from
approx. 1 kHz), but also the lower mids (ca. 300 Hz).
Orange: Turning the knob to the left will decrease treble and lower mids
bass accordingly.
Red: If the button is turned to the left, the highs and lower mids are
lowered accordingly. What remains is a good-sounding mid-range (600 Hz to 1
kHz). This results in easily playable sounds in all positions.
Gray: Turning the knob to the right raises treble and lower mids.
Technical Data
- Input impedance ~1 MΩ
- Output impedance ~1 kΩ
- DC power supply 9 V to 18 V (electronically stabilized)
- Power consumption: ~14 mA @ 9 V, ~18 mA @ 18 V
- Dimensions 105 (L) x 60 (B) x 50 (H) mm
- Weight approx. 220 g
Important information / safety information
- DC voltages over 20 volts can damage the device!
- Do not use the device in a damp, dusty, dirty or hot environment.
- Liquids of any kind can damage the device. (Keep your cat away!)
- Do not use harsh detergents. If necessary, the device should be cleaned with a soft cloth.
- We reserve the right to make technical and written changes!
- These instructions describe the technical data and details of the device when this document was published.
- A current version of these instructions can be found on the Nordland website: https://nordland-electronics.de/en/products/download-en.html
WEEE-Reg.- No.: DE59471800
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