ORIGIN EFFECTS CALI76 Bass Compressor Owner’s Manual
- June 1, 2024
- ORIGIN EFFECTS
Table of Contents
CALI76 Bass Compressor
Owner’s Manual
CALI76 Bass Compressor
www.origineffects.com
ORIGIN EFFECTS is a trademark of Origin Effects Limited and is a registered
trademark in the United States, United Kingdom, China and the EU.
The ORIGIN EFFECTS Totem Device is a trade mark of Origin Effects Limited and
is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and China.
CALI76 is a trademark of Origin Effects Limited and is a registered trademark
in the United States.
All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective
owners and are hereby acknowledged.
1176® is a registered trademark of Universal Audio, Inc.
Origin Effects has no affiliation with Universal Audio, Inc.
UREI is a registered trademark of Harmon International Industries, Inc. Origin
Effects has no affiliation with Harmon International Industries, Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
whether mechanical or electronic, without the written permission of Origin
Effects Limited.
Origin Effects Limited reserves the right to change the features and
specifications described herein without notice or obligation. Origin Effects
Limited cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage arising directly or
indirectly from any error or omission in this manual.
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, PAY ATTENTION TO SAFETY WARNINGS.
© Origin Effects Limited 2024
IMPORTANT:
This product is designed to be powered from a 9VDC, >200mA power supply with
2.1mm centre-negative barrel connector.
Introducing the CALI76 Bass Compressor:
The Cali76 Bass Compressor is a studio-grade compressor pedal inspired by the
world-famous Urei ® studio compressor. The 1176® has been heard all over the
best studio recordings ever since its release in the late 1960s, and the
Cali76 Bass Compressor makes these industry-standard tones available to the
modern bassist using all-analogue circuitry.
With a full complement of studio-style controls and the ability dial in
parallel compression, the Cali76 Bass Compressor does it all, from transparent
transient control to flat-out limiting and monster sustain. A 10-LED bar graph
meter allows accurate monitoring of gain reduction and the 9VDC input voltage
is increased internally, resulting in exceptional clarity and enough headroom
for use with line level signals.
Origin Effects has a strong reputation among guitarists and bassists, with
years of experience making the best compressor pedals available. The Cali76
Bass Compressor is the latest in this lineage, incorporating a number of
refinements, including tweaks to the dynamic response that bring it closer to
the highly sought-after “large-format” Cali76 pedals that put Origin Effects
on the map.
Key Features:
- All-analogue signal path
- Ultra-fast FET compression
- 1176 -inspired circuitry
- Dedicated Attack, Release and Ratio controls
- HPF control provides extra low-end clarity
- Dry Blend control for parallel compression
- 10-LED bar graph gain reduction meter
- Voltage increased internally to 24V for high headroom
- Optimised for guitar, compatable with line-level signals
- Improved dynamic response matches ‘big box’ Cali76
- High-quality buffered bypass
- Premium components throughout
- Designed and built in England
Connecting the CALI76 Bass Compressor: 9VDC: Connect a 9VDC 2.1mm centre-
negative mains power adaptor (minimum 200mA). Voltage is increased internally
for additional headroom.
INSTR: Connect to your guitar or other instrument.
AMP: Connect to your amp or other eff ects pedals.
Controls
IN: This control sets the signal level into the compression circuit, with
higher levels resulting in more compression.
Like an 1176® , the Cali76 Bass Compressor has a fi xed threshold (the level
above which compression is applied). Increasing the IN control pushes more of
your signal over that threshold, meaning that a greater portion of the signal
is compressed. Increasing the IN control will also make the signal louder, so
this should be balanced with the OUT control.
OUT: This control determines the level of the compressed signal present at the
pedal’s output. This control will need to be increased when using lower
settings on the IN knob and vice versa. For most predictable results, compare
your compressed signal to the bypass tone and adjust the OUT knob so that the
levels match – or turn it up to boost your amp!
DRY: This control varies the amount of dry, uncompressed signal present at the
pedal’s output, mixing the dry signal in parallel with the compressed signal.
Parallel compression is a popular studio technique, which can be achieved on
your pedalboard using the DRY control. Adding some uncompressed signal in
parallel can restore some natural dynamics and clarity to heavily compressed
sounds. Unity gain can be found at approximately 2 o’clock on the DRY knob,
while turning this control fully clockwise will boost the signal by 9dB.
NOTE: The DRY control and OUT control are separate level controls, so you
will need to decrease the OUT control as you increase the DRY control in order
to maintain the same overall volume.
RATIO: This control adjusts the ratio of the compression. In other words,
how much gain reduction is applied to signals that exceed the fi xed threshold
of the compressor. This control ranges from a ratio of 4:1 all the way to
20:1. Generally, higher ratios are used when less of the signal is exceeding
the threshold (lower settings on the IN control). Setting the RATIO high and
the IN control low will mean just the peaks of the signal are clamped down
quite severely. High IN settings with lower ratios result in a gentle
fattening of the whole signal.
ATT/REL: This control simultaneously adjusts the Attack and Release of
the compressor, giving you quick access to the most useful combinations of
these two parameters. This control ranges from fast Attack and slow Release in
its counterclockwise position to slow Attack and fast Release in its clockwise
position.
Attack refers to how quickly the compressor starts acting after the signal
exceeds the threshold. With a bass guitar signal, the fi rst part of the note
is the loudest part, so the signal will exceed the threshold almost
instantaneously.
A longer attack time allows the initial attack of the note through before the
rest of the signal is compressed, creating an exaggerated percussive eff ect.
Fast attack times will reduce this initial note attack and create very smooth,
even dynamics. Attack times range from 1.6 ms to 5.1 ms.
Release refers to how quickly the compressor stops acting after the signal
begins to drop in level. Longer release times will result in increased
sustain, as the tail of the note continues to be compressed. Shorter release
times will allow the compressor to recover between notes, giving a more lively
and natural dynamic response. The RELEASE control’s fastest setting is fully
clockwise. Release times range from 73 ms to 880 ms.
HPF: This control adjusts a variable high-pass fi lter on the
compressor’s sidechain – the part of the circuit that determines how the
compressor responds to the input signal. There is a huge amount of low-
frequency content in a bass guitar signal, which can lead to excessive
compression. By fi ltering out the lowest frequencies from the sidechain, the
compressor is prevented from being overwhelmed. Instead, the sidechain is able
react only to the higher-frequency details of your playing, such as the diff
erence etween playing softly with your thumb and playing aggressively with
pick or slap techniques. This results in more natural dynamics and fullness in
the low end, with higher frequencies still kept tightly under control. The HPF
knob ranges from 0 Hz to 400 Hz.
Metering: The Cali76 Bass Compressor is equipped with a 10-LED bar graph
gain reduction meter, giving an accurate visual indication of what the
compression circuit is doing. Once the signal exceeds the fi xed threshold,
the LEDs will begin to illuminate. Marked according to dB of gain reduction,
the gain reduction meter shows not only how severely the signal peaks are
being compressed, but also how fast the compressor is acting.
ON / OFF Operation:
Bypass Switch: This switch toggles the pedal on and off. The Cali76 Bass
Compressor uses buffered bypass and electronic switching for low-noise
operation. When powered up, the pedal will automatically default to being
switched on. This is so that it can easily be used with switching systems and
rack systems, where pedals need to be left active and may be inaccessible.
NOTE: It is good practice to always turn on your pedalboard first, before
turning your amp on or connecting any DI outputs, as some pedals can produce a
“pop” noise when powered on.
Compressors & Noise:
It is important to take care when dialling in your compressor to guarantee the
best noise performance. Because compressors increase the level of quiet
signals relative to peak level, they will increase any background noise from
devices placed before them, such as overdrive or distortion pedals. For this
reason, most players tend to place their compressor near the beginning of the
chain, with drive pedals placed afterwards so that any background noise is not
exaggerated by the compressor.
Compressors will also increase the level of hum picked up by single coil
pickups. This can be reduced by using more subtle compression settings.
Signal Chain Tips:
Minimising noise is one important reason to use a compressor near the start of
your signal chain, so that it does not amplify noise from other pedals.
Another reason to use a compressor near the start of your chain is so that it
can easily respond to the natural dynamics of your instrument. Running your
compressor first in the chain means that it can work with the raw signal from
your bass, shaping the dynamics exactly as you want before passing this signal
on to other pedals.
This is more difficult if using a compressor after overdrive or distortion, as
these effects have their own effect on dynamics which prevents the compressor
from shaping transients and sustain. This is typical for clean tones, where
the compression effect needs to be obvious. This placement is also useful when
adding unnatural sustain without needing extra overdrive.
However, some players like to use compression after overdrive or distortion.
This signal chain order allows the bass guitar to interact naturally with the
overdrive effect. The player is then able to clean up their tone from their
bass guitar’s volume knob, while the compressor keeps the overall volume
constant. This placement is more likely to be favoured by rock players and
those who like to use playing dynamics to vary the level of breakup in their
overdriven tones, with less obvious compression. Using a compressor near the
end of the chain can also add a studio-style gloss to your tone, helping it to
sit well in the mix.
To keep noise to a minimum and to preserve some of the natural dynamics of the
instrument, more subtle compression settings are best when using the
compressor after overdrive or distortion.
NOTE: The Cali76 Bass Compressor uses buffered bypass to achieve
consistent tone and low-noise operation. Any pedals that do not work well
after a buffer should be placed before the Cali76, such as some vintage Fuzz
and Wah pedals.
Line Level Signals:
The Cali76 Bass Compressor can also be used with line level signals. The 9V
input voltage is increased internally to 24V, resulting in impressive
headroom. This means that the Cali76 Bass Compressor can be used with
keyboards, drum machines and as studio outboard. It can be connected in the
insert of mixing console or used for re-amping tracks in the studio.
Although the pedal has plenty of headroom for dealing with higher signal
levels, the circuitry is still primarily designed for use with bass guitar
signals, so it may be necessary to lower the IN control to accommodate for
line level signals and avoid excessive compression. This will ensure that the
right amount of signal is exceeding the fi xed threshold, and this can be
monitored using the 10-LED gain reduction meter.
Routing Diagram:
The diagram below shows the signal routing within the Cali76 Bass
Compressor.
Sample Settings
DYNAMIC CONTROL
This setting provides a natural compression, balancing dynamics between
various playing techniques. A medium HPF setting results in honest translation
of lower string dynamics. PARALLEL COMPRESSION
Parallel compression is a popular studio-derived technique that blends dry
signal in parallel with a heavily compressed tone. Enhance picking attack and
natural dynamics by balancing the OUT and DRY controls, while retaining the
presence and character of super-squashed FET compression. PERCUSSIVE &
LIVELY
Using a slower attack time allows the compressor to accentuate the start of
any note. A fast release allows the compressor to recover between notes so
that phrases sound more percussive.
TRANSIENT SHAPING
This subtle setting gently evens out the dynamics of your signal, without
sounding too obvious or altering playing feel. A high IN setting and a low
RATIO are combined with a moderate ATT/REL setting and plenty of HPF, making
sure your bass sits just right in the mix.
Appendix A: Physical Specification
| Measurement | Unboxed | Boxed |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 553g (19.5oz) | 661g (23.3oz) |
| Length | 124mm (4.8”) | 135mm (5.3”) |
| Depth | 64mm (2.5”) | 90mm (3.5”) |
| Height | 58mm (2.3”) | 85mm (3.3”) |
Appendix B: Performance Specification
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1M Ω |
| Output impedance | 1k Ω |
| Current draw | 200mA |
| Power supply requirements | 9VDC 2.1mm centre negative connector |
Appendix C: Connector Pin Out
Instrument & Amplifier 1/4” TS Sockets:
| Pin | Description |
|---|---|
| Tip | Signal |
| Sleeve | Ground |
Appendix D: Safety Notices
General Safety
Keep these instructions and heed all warnings. Do not use this apparatus near
water. Clean only with a dry cloth. Do not install near any heat sources such
as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifi ers)
that produce heat. Refer all servicing to qualifi ed service personnel.
When using an external power supply, use only attachments/accessories specifi
ed by Origin Effects.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus. Do
not defeat the safety purpose of the polarised or grounding-type plug. A
polarised plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type
plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third
prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fi t into
your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods
of time.
CAUTION! No user-servicable parts inside. In the event of damage to the
unit, service or repair must be done by qualifi ed service personnel only.
This Product is CE compliant.
The crossed out wheely bin symbol indicates this product is classifi ed
as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in the European Union and
should not be discarded with household waste. Other territories may vary.
Contact your local authority or Origin Effects for more information.
This product conforms to the European Union’s directive 2011/EU on
Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including nickel, which
is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go
to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Appendix E: Warranty
This product is covered by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty from the date of
purchase. This applies only to original purchasers who have bought their
product from an authorised Origin Effects dealer or directly from Origin
Effects.
All returns or servicing should be arranged through the original dealer. Proof
of original ownership may be required in the form of a purchase receipt.
For full warranty details visit
www.origineffects.com/warranty.