ORIGIN EFFECTS SlideRIG Compact Deluxe MK2 Instruction Manual
- June 6, 2024
- ORIGIN EFFECTS
Table of Contents
SLIDERIG COMPACT DELUXE MK2 ****
The slider Compact Deluxe Mk2 takes the transparent tone and incredible sustain of the original SlideRIG and adds continuously adjustable control over attack and release times.
The Attack/Release knob adjusts both compression stages simultaneously, offering a carefully designed sweep of attack and release characteristics with no unpleasant artefacts. With this single control, you have the freedom to shape the transient of each note, from smooth, uniform sustain to a spiky and percussive pick attack.
Using the pedal’s unique three-way mixer stage, you can access conventional single-stage compression as well as SlideRIG’s trademark dual-stage compression, then blend in some of your dry, uncompressed signals to restore natural dynamics. This trio of blend controls feeds into a single master volume control, allowing you to easily set your overall output level.
The Mk2 makes the complicated business of setting up two compressors in sequence incredibly easy, delivering awesome slide tones and endless clean sustain that’s perfect for slide.
Key Features:
- 100% Class-A discrete signal path
- Classic, ultra-fast “FET” response
- Studio-grade discrete-transistor preamp
- Single-stage and dual-chained compression circuits
- Input/Comp and Master Output level controls
- Dry, Single-stage and Dual-stage level controls
- High-current, low-noise electronics
- Ultra-wide frequency response
- Ultra-high input impedance
- Silent switching
- High-quality “signal-conditioning” bypass mode
- Premium components throughout
- Advanced power supply filtering and protection
- Flexible external power requirements (9-18V DC)
- PSU Spec. 82mA @ 9V / 108mA @ 18V
- Designed and built in England
ABOUT THE SLIDERIG COMPACT DELUXE MK2
With the original SlideRIG, our goal was to reproduce the slide guitar tones
first heard on Little Feat’s classic album “Dixie Chicken”.The tone is clean
and transparent, with an almost infinite shimmering sustain. For many, this
represents the ultimate in slide tone.
In the studio, the Little Feat tone was achieved by daisy-chaining two Urei
1176 FET compressor channels, one after the other. 1176 has a fast response,
unique character and smooth compression profile. Chaining the compressor
sections allows this character to be retained, while vastly increasing the
amount of compression. This high degree of compression is generally referred
to as “limiting” as the signal is maintained at a consistent level.
This is exactly the same principle behind SlideRIG. It’s built around our
1176-inspired Cali76 circuit, with two identical Cali76 blocks being utilised
in a true dual-chained topology.
The Cali76 is a studio-grade FET compressor, featuring high-current, low-
noise, discrete Class-A circuitry. One of the reasons why our compressor
pedals sound so good is that they deliver true FET compression, with a fast
yet highly musical response that is a world away from the brutal and
unforgiving sound of traditional VCA compressor pedal designs.
The pedal’s circuitry is wholly transistor-based (otherwise known as
“discrete”), with absolutely no opamps or VCAs used in the signal path. Well-
designed transistor circuits, in contrast to IC-based designs, generate fewer
harsh distortion artefacts. In addition, subtle harmonics are created which
can positively enhance tone.
We’ve also included a studio-grade 1960s-style discrete preamp, to work as an
electronic interface between your guitar and the compressor. The preamp
provides gain and also creates the optimum conditions for signal transfer.
The pedal features a mixture of traditional through-hole and SMD components,
spread across a pair of densely populated, stacked boards. The signal path
utilises film and tantalum capacitors, carefully chosen low-noise transistors
and rugged MELF resistors (essentially traditional through-hole resistors
without the leads), which offer low-noise performance and rock-solid
reliability.
Our pedals are powered by a mains adaptor only. Dispensing with the usual
internal 9V battery option allows more space inside the enclosure for high-
quality circuitry, while also supporting the high-current circuit design that
is the key to these pedals’ astonishingly low noise levels.
CONTROLS
IN : The SlideRIG Compact Deluxe Mk2 features a very nice studio-grade
input preamplifier. This works as an interface between the guitar and the
compressor sections. The In control allows the user to vary the gain of this
preamplifier, which drives the input of the first compressor. At the same
time, the In control determines how much signal is fed from the first
compressor to the second.
Turning the In control clockwise increases the overall gain of the pedal. This
also increases the amount of compression. The guitar will become increasingly
touch-sensitive as the gain is increased. Too much gain and the preamplifier
will clip and distort.
ATT/REL : This control simultaneously sets the attack and release
characteristics of both of the compressors inside the pedal. These parameters
determine how long it takes for the compressors to react to the presence of a
signal and initiate gain reduction (attack) and how long gain reduction then
lasts before the compressors return to their idle state (release). With the
Att/Rel knob turned clockwise, the compressor has a slow attack and fast
release, best for percussive playing. A slow attack allows the initial
transient of each note to avoid compression, thereby emphasising your pick
attack, while the fast release means that the compressor can recover in time
to react to the next note. Turned anti-clockwise, the compressor has a fast
attack and slow release, offering a smoother, more “spongy” feel. A fast
attack means the whole note is compressed, providing more uniform gain
reduction, while the slow release means that gain reduction will gently taper
off with no sudden “pumping” effects.
STAGE 1 : The Stage 1 control determines the amount of signal fed from
the output of the first compressor to the pedal’s Master output control. At
this point, the signal is lightly compressed as it has passed through a single
stage of 1176-style compression, with a ratio of 4:1.
STAGE 2: The Stage 2 control determines the amount of signal fed from the
output of the second compressor to the pedal’s Master output control. The
signal is now heavily compressed as it has passed through two stages of
1176-style compression, each with a ratio of 4:1.
DRY: The Dry control is the third part of the pedal’s three-channel mixer
circuitry. It determines the amount of dry, unaffected signal fed to the
output of the pedal.
You can balance the dry signal against the two stages of the compressed signal
by varying the Dry, Stage 1 and Stage 2 knobs accordingly. Correct adjustments
should deliver the increased sensitivity and sustain of the compressed
signals, combined with the dynamic integrity of the dry signal.
MASTER: The Master control simply determines the overall signal level
present at the pedal’s output. The Stage 1, Stage 2 and Dry knobs set the
levels fed to the output from different parts of the circuit. These signals
are summed together by the Master control, which allows you to turn the
overall level up or down without having to re-balance the three mixer knobs.
CONNECTIVITY & POWER REQUIREMENTS
INSTR: Insert your guitar, other instrument or signal source here. The
ultra-high input impedance will even work with piezoelectric pickups, provided
that the connected lead is of sufficient quality and is reasonably short in
length (a long lead will “load” a piezoelectric pickup, reducing the
bandwidth). We strongly recommend placing the SlideRIG directly after your
guitar, to maximise the signal-to-noise ratio.
AMP: Connect to your amp or other pedals. The output impedance is low in
all modes, so the unit will drive signals down the connected guitar lead,
overcoming the issues of high-frequency signal loss associated with passive
bypass systems.
9-18VDC: Insert power here. A high-quality regulated supply should be
chosen to avoid damage from voltage surges and other over-voltage conditions.
The connector should be the 2.1mm type with the centre-pin “wired negative”.
For best performance, the pedal should be powered from an 18V supply. This
will increase the headroom, allowing cleaner processing of conventional guitar
signals. This will also permit the use of hotter source signals, such as
active guitar pickups.
MAXIMISING SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
The slider is extremely quiet by the standards of most pedals. However, while
the pedal itself adds minimal additional noise, with so much compression and
clean gain on tap it can quickly highlight noise induced in pickups and other
effects units.
Humbucking or noise-cancelling pickups will allow you to push things further
without suffering from 50Hz mains hum. Meanwhile, to avoid amplifying noise
created by other pedals, we recommend placing the SlideRIG straight after your
guitar and before any other effects.
Keep the guitar’s volume up for best results. This will be counter-intuitive
for some, especially those who like to manipulate stage level directly from
the guitar, but you quickly get used to things! Volume pedals must be placed
after the pedal, as the SlideRIG will laugh in the face of any coordinated
changes in signal level, and will work to maintain a consistent output!
However, placing a volume pedal after the unit is a great way to manage stage
levels.
EXAMPLE SETTINGS
Conventional compression. Here we have the blend dial set anti-clockwise for a single stage of compression with a fast attack to catch peaks and a slow- release to avoid pumping. Basically the same signal path as our Cali76 pedal. Great as a general guitar compressor, to smooth out dynamics and make your guitar feel a little more sensitive and alive. Ultra versatile.
Dual-stage compression/limiting. Classic SlideRIG dual-chained compression.
Little Feat tone! Your guitar will be ultra-sensitive and sustain will be
vast. As you turn up the In dial, compression & sensitivity will increase, as
will pick up induced noise. This must be taken into consideration, especially
in a live scenario. The attack is set to slow just like the original
slider.
Parallel compression. A best of both worlds approach! Blend compressed and dry signals for increased sensitivity & sustain yet with a full sense of dynamic integrity. For players who want a fattened tone but without having the life compressed out of their carefully crafted dynamic playing style. Works well with guitar volume pot swells.
ABOUT ORIGIN EFFECTS
Origin Effects is the brainchild of Simon Keats, a guitarist, an electronic engineer and an analogue circuit designer who has worked for the likes of Vox, Focusrite and Trident Audio. Having built bespoke effects for professional musicians and producers for many years, he launched the Origin Effects brand in 2012 to bring his exceptional designs to a wider audience.
His first two pedals – the Cali76 compressor and the unique SlideRig dual-
chained compressor – were soon followed by the Compact Series of compressors
for guitar and bass. Widely recognised as the best pedal compressors ever
made, they have found favour with guitarists and bass players like David
Gilmour, Pino Palladino and Steve Lukather, as well as Grammy Award winning
producers like Paul Epworth, Ross Hogarth and Terry Britten.
In 2018, Origin started a new chapter with the launch of the RevivalDRIVE, a
groundbreaking overdrive pedal that recreates the circuit topology, sound and
response of a cranked non-master-volume valve amp.
Please note that Simon Keats & Origin Effects Limited are in no way affiliated
with Urei or Universal Audio.
T: +44 (0)800 810 1070 • E:
info@origineffects.com •
www.origineffects.com
Origin Effects Limited, Unit 4 Top Angel, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18
1TH, UK.