Can an External Compressor Mimic the NV 400 DDT Compression?

Don Mogle · From: Round Rock, TX, USA

Hi Forumites,

Can anyone tell me if a Boss compressor (or any other) pedal can be used to mimic the NV 400 DDT compression function?

Thanks,

Don

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I think we're talking two different things.
Erv

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

Knowing how that circuit works I would say no.
The DDT compression circuit is an amazing circuit. It monitors the amps power output continuously on the N400 and limits the output to a perfect 200 watts. When testing on the bench with a signal generator, oscilloscope and a dummy load you can see the perfect sine wave hold at 200 watts and not change in shape at all.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Why would you want to mimic the DDT?
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Don Mogle · From: Round Rock, TX, USA

Richard

To protect the speaker from blowing...

Thanks Ken! Great information to know!

Don

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Wattage isn't the only worry when it comes to blowing or damaging speakers. Programming (the actual signal being fed to the speaker) must also be considered, along with the speaker cabinet design. If used improperly (read: using distortion or excessive bass), you can blow a 200 watt speaker with a 150 watt amp. Winking

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

The downside with more constant use of the DDT circuit, or a limiter/compressor for that matter, to keep the signal loud without running into distortion, is that most speakers and amp's output stages will burn out if output is kept too high for too long even if it is "measurable on the safe side".
No speakers, and very few higher-power SS power stages, are cooled well enough to be constantly pushed and "held" up towards max specified power.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

The DDT has a different feel/reaction compared to compressor pedals. It's more of a hard and fast peak-limiter than a "compressor".

Sure, they're both related to each other, but the DDT really just grabs the peaks and overs as they hit and it immediately releases. DDT is a magical part of Peavey amps, makes them quite forgiving, keeps them from blowing, lets you bang on them really hard and feeds you something smoothed out in a nice, musical way when at max power.

If you want a pedal to behave in a somewhat similar fashion, see if someone makes a good "peak limiter" pedal or device and maybe don't look at "compressor" pedals.

B

Don Mogle · From: Round Rock, TX, USA

Thanks Ken, Brad. George, Donny and others for responding...

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Keep in mind that 200 watts (when using an efficient speaker) is incredibly loud for normal guitar/steel programming! The simple fact is that, except for instantaneous peaks, most "older folks" (those over 40) don't like music that loud, and they almost never play that loud. The exceptions would probably be at an outdoor gig, where the amp is a good distance from the player(s), or where you're using lots of distortion or heavy bass. In fact, I'd guess most steelers using 200-300 watt amps seldom get into the 100+ watt range.

Of course, if you're young or playing rock music, all bets are off. Laughing

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

I agree Donny. I have suspected for a long time that part of the NV112's success is due to that 80 watt sweet spot for loudness AND that the DDT limiter kicks in at 80 watts. When I hear a steeler on a fairly loud stage with a NV112, I hear that DDT really working its magic even more than with the louder amps because it's easier to reach that loudness threshold where the DDT kicks in.

B

Steve Sycamore · From: Sweden

It sounds like you would want a limiter rather than a compressor. A limiter won't affect the signal until it gets near the maximum signal that won't distort.

Two problems are that perfect limiters are almost impossible to design with electronics and that the circuit in the amplifier (with tone controls) will create new overload situations that an effects device cannot handle, unless you patch the device between the amplifier's preamp out and power amp in, if the amplifier always you to do that.

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