Hendyamps Studio Products

Van Gogh Compressor

When considering the optical based, tube studio compressor, there have been some fantastic examples produced over the years. Typically these compressors have typically fallen into the “tried and true” category, desiring to stick to one or two main applications. However, what if an optical tube compressor could break through the historical model, incorporating a whole host of “crazy” ideas that incorporated some of the past, but merged it into something that embodied true versatility and pure tone?
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Well, you would have the Hendyamps Van Gogh, and it is not for the feint of heart!
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Tube Optical Compressor
Housed in a 2U rack unit, the Van Gogh employes 12au7‘s for the makeup gain portion of the unit. The signal first enters the Van Gogh by passing through an ultra high fidelity Jensen transformer, and from there moves to the two 12au7 gain stages. The signal exits the Van Gogh by passing through another ultra high fidelity Jensen output transformer. The entire compressor is completely hand-built, all tube, discrete, single ended, and Class A in design, causing it to handle transients and the full range of frequencies in a way that few compressors are able to accomplish.
The compression is handled by three different circuits that all feed in together, allowing for the user to engage and manipulate any combination of the compressors at the same time. .
Regarding the control features, the Van Gogh offers a unique and extraordinarily versatile set of tools at the user’s disposal:
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- The GAIN control allows the user to increase the gain after the compression has been added to the signal.
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- The RATIO control allows the compression to affect the signal more as the knob is turned clockwise.
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- The COMP switches allow the user to switch the gain reduction for that particular compressor in and out of the circuit for immediate analysis regarding the compression vs bypassed signal.
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- The GLOBAL THRESHOLD knob controls the overall gain reduction circuit for all compressors at the same time. Using this control in conjunction with the Threshold controls for each compressor allows for an incredible amount of versatility and options.
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- The DISTORTION SHAPE switch changes the shape and character of the third compressor. In the down position the compressor acts as a hard limiter that produces a large amount of distortion and fuzz. In the up position, the distortion becomes much more sharp and aggressive. The down position is very nice on bass guitars while the up position is perfect for snares.
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COMPRESSOR 1
The first compressor is an optical circuit that is quick in attack and release response. While not as fast as a typical VCA or FET design, this is about as fast as an optical circuit can go, and when pushed hard, can begin to behave in somewhat unpredictable and interesting ways.
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COMPRESSOR 2
The second compressor is closest to the traditional optical sound that is embodied by the word “smooth”. This circuit just plain works on almost any source, retaining a full, rich tone, even when pushed very hard.
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COMPRESSOR 3
The third compressor is something completely different and unexpected. Whereas most compressors attempt to make a signal clean and smooth, this compressor attempts to destroy a signal as much as possible! As this compressor is pushed, it responds by adding a significant amount of unique distortion/fuzz as well as near brickwall limiting. When smashing a signal to the max, it actually provides a somewhat disorienting result that simply needs to be heard in order to fully understand. What this compressor does in moderate settings to sources like a snare drum is downright stunning!
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MIXED SETTINGS
If it were not enough to have three unique and amazing compressors in one unit, there is still another option that allows for even more creativity - All compressors are able to be used at the same time! This not only provides for an infinite amount of different combinations of compression, but as you turn up and down the different controls, each compressor’s response curves change as they all draw off of the same triggering circuit. What that means is turning up the threshold of one compressor affects all the others...even when they are not engaged! The possibilities are absolutely endless, making this unit one of the most interesting compressors on the market today.

I think Blackbird has a pre thought I read that on the Hendyamps site maybe you could rent it first

There in Houston Tx unless they moved

Maybe I'm thinking of Little Walter...

I own the Michael Angelo Eq, it's incredible!

Little Walter Tube Amps are close to the ocean in North Carolina.

Shhh... when you talk about things like this, they go up in price.

Thanks for stopping by, Hendyamps! Definitely want to check these out.

The Michelangelo is always in my Mastering chain and The 4 channel Rembrandt is my favorite pre of all time in the Tube world.....
Chris's stuff is the shit!

There's a four channel Rembrandt?

Received the Michelangelo back in September and it is THE shit as indiehouse stated above.

Trying to decide on the Rembrandt or one of Chris's channel strips. Originally I thought I'd use the Michelangelo with the Rembrandt but quite frankly it is locked into our mastering chain so a channel strip is probably the way to go.