Source Audio's Atlas DSP Multi-Compressor with 6 onboard Presets Aims to be the Ultimate All-in-One Single Box Compressor

When I first read the Atlas Compressor blurb it sounded like Source Audio had doubled down on the 3 Analog Circuit Crazy Tube Circuits Phi Golden Ratio V2 Multi-Compressor. If you scan through the text it really seems to indicate discrete component analog compression - but reading between the lines it soon becomes evident that this is modelling of said components, not the discrete circuitry itself.

So the early excitement faded a little, while this is still a hugely impressive achievement - and one that has taken a lot of calibration and refinement to get just right. Also it’s not really 6 different individual circuits as far as I gather but rather 3 core ones (Studio / Optical / Dual) with an Alt Variation on each.

Controls - Alt Function Button, Makeup Gain / (ALT) Threshold, Tone / (ALT) Ratio, Preset Selector : Studio (+ALT) / Optical (+ALT) / Dual (+ALT) , Attack / (ALT) Blend, Output / (ALT) Release, Engage Footswitch.

6 Factory Presets :

• STUDIO : Studio Snap - A hard knee VCA style compressor that uses both Peak and RMS detectors to create a dual-stage release and applies a dynamic EQ to enhance attacks
• STUDIO (ALT) : Studio 76 - Based on the famous 1176, a studio rack mount FET compressor known for its very fast attack times. This version has been optimized for use with guitar
• OPTICAL : Optical Rack - A gentler and more relaxed compressor based closely on a studio rack mount staple, the LA2A optical compressor
• OPTICAL (ALT) : Cubic Zirconia - A less clean optical compressor based on a popular, discontinued yellow compressor pedal (Diamond!) that used an LED to achieve its compression
• DUAL : Dual Band - Based on modern digital processing, this is a two-band compressor that treats frequencies under 333hz differently than those above. This allows for fewer compression artifacts and an enhanced blooming sustain on chords or notes that ring out
• DUAL (ALT) : Dual Jangle - A modern style dual band compressor that is aimed at enhancing harmonics above 2000hz, but without adding additional harshness to pick attack. This works very well to enhance 12 string guitars, Jangly strumming patterns, and arpeggiated picking techniques

So the little Alt button on the top edge of the pedal is very significantly important as it controls the various (ALT) Parameters of the 4 Knobs (indicated in Light Blue above), as well as the Alternative Variant Compression Presets.

As this is a Source Audio One Series Pedal - you obviously have full access to adjust every parameter via the Neuro App. While me being a stomp-box purist means that I tend to want to do everything I can on the actual pedal interface. The only app I use in any regular manner is the Eventide H9 App - and that is because the on-pedal interface is rubbish - but also because the App allows you to control pedal parameters over bluetooth. For me these one series types are a step back from that typically.

I thought that Source Audio - on the back of their Zio might perhaps be venturing more into analog circuits - but that is not the case here.

I was a little bit excited when the pedal was first teased as I hoped we were finally getting the Multi-Modulation Equivalent of the Nemesis and Ventris pedals - put alas that seems nowhere nearer to becoming a reality - while it would be killer on the market. The new Walrus Audio M1 High Fidelity Modulation Machine came close, but not close enough to what was required...

So the Atlas Compressor is a valiant entry for sure here, but not necessarily one for the purists. I feel in this space there are several preferable analog varieties - including very much the already mentioned CTC Phi Golden Ratio V2.

For sure this will appeal to a lot of people, while I personally am still somewhat more drawn towards analog compressors and I have quite a long list of preferences above and beyond this Atlas currently - while of course I’m open-minded and open to persuasion!

I would be interested to know whom among my readers this appeals to, and who is considering getting one and why!