Mister Focus - COMP

Name: Mister Focus - COMP
Brand: Louder Than Liftoff
SKU: LTL-MF-COMP-IMP
Price: 449.0 USD
Availability: InStock

$449

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Quantity

In stock

Shipping info

New orders will ship in 3-5 business days when in stock.

Have a question?

Check out our FAQ and Support page. We have an extensive knowledge base of help articles. You can also click the help icon in the lower right hand corner of this page.

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Overview

Mister Focus - COMP a two-knob compressor with character. The compression is either classic 1176 FET limiting powered by our Implode module, or aggressive FET compression powered by our special edition Avenson Audio MN-50 Smash Compressor module. Our single-knob FOCUS EQ can be placed before or after this stage for effortless tone shaping pre or post compression. The signal lastly passes through the MEGA stage powered by the Mass Drivr module. This features a discrete 2520 style op amp driving a beefy sounding output transformer, which can be toggled on or off.

Features

1176 style FET limiting amplifier

Fixed threshold
Jumper selectable ratios: 4:1, “All Buttons In”
Attack and Release set by trimpots on module

MN-50 Smash Compressor

Fixed threshold with jumper selectable input gain
Release set by trimpot on module
Customized to our specs for enhanced mojo

COMP Input:

-6 to +18 dB input gain sets amount of compression
Constant output gain

COMP Mix:

crossfade blend of compressed and dry signal
MEGA engages “A” style transformer coupled output stage

Focus EQ adapted from Chop Shop:

Switchable to pre or post compression
Internal jumpers to select corner frequency
All circuit components chosen by ear for maximum MOJO
Nichicon HE and Panasonic FR electrolytic capacitors
Wima polypropylene film capacitors
Thin film 0.5% resistors
Audiophile grade op amps (OPA1602), class A biased
Alps pushbutton switches
Analog plugin slots are Colour compatible

Made by tone geeks for tone geeks. Designed and assembled in Silicon Valley, California.

Documentation

Audio Samples

Mister Focus Sound Clips
Mister Focus Overview Video - coming soon

FAQ

What is Colour?

Colour is an exciting new modular platform for creating your own custom analog signal chains. The ever-growing family of modules allows you to bring multiple stages of high end analog processing to your setup a la carte.

The Colour platform consists of Colours and hosts like Mister Focus or Chroma. Colours are ultra-compact, swappable analog circuit blocks that snap into the host, and impart various types of analog color such as distortion, saturation, compression, EQ, and even echo. The host device provides input and output controls, power, and support circuitry for the Colour modules. On both Mister Focus and Chroma there is also control of wet/dry mix via its C-MIX knob.

Check out our Colour-compatible analog plugin modules here.

What analog plugin (Colour) modules work best in slot 1?

For the first slot we recommend modules that benefit from being driven and mixed with dry signal: line amps, compressors, EQs, saturators, distortion are some of our favorites.

What analog plugin (Colour) modules work best in slot 2?

For the second slot we recommend modules that work well as presets toggled on or off: filters, line amps, EQ boosts/cuts, etc.

When is this product shipping?

As of 4/9/19 assembled Mister Focus units are in stock and shipping with a standard 2-3 day lead time.

How long does it take to manufacture a product like Mister Focus?

It generally takes 4-6 weeks to have PCBs made and assembled, 4 weeks to have the faceplates fabricated and finished, and about 2 weeks for final assembly and calibration. Once all that is complete (about 6-8 weeks total), we box up the units and ship them out to customers all over the planet.

Email support@louderthanliftoff.com with any questions

A TWO-KNOB COMPRESSOR WITH CHARACTER

Mister Focus - COMP is your dream channel featuring three blocks of high end analog processing: COMPRESSION, MEGA, and FOCUS.

LISTEN TO SOUND CLIPS

COMPRESSION

This module is all about intuitive, classic FET compression. Imagine the grabby punch of an 1176, but if it had the user interface of an LA2A. Select COMP with one of two colorful compression options:

Implode - Tracks hit hard at either 4:1 or Implode ("all buttons in") ratios.

MN-50 Smash Compressor - A special edition of this explosive FET compressor that excels on drums and bass.

Turn up the INPUT gain for more squeeze, and then dial in a parallel blend with the dry signal using the MIX knob.

MEGA

Powered by our Mass Drivr module, MEGA engages an American console Line Amp for the final output stage for further transient shaving and tone. A Rogue Six 2520-style discrete op amp drives a custom American-wound output transformer for aggressive punch and thickness.

FOCUS EQ

Bring tracks into focus with the intuitive single-knob FOCUS EQ from the Chop Shop. Effortlessly rebalance the bass and treble energy of the sound. Turn right go brighter. Turn left to go heavier. Apparent loudness is maintained constant for meaningful A/B comparisons. Internal SHIFT jumpers decrease turnover frequency for a different midrange response.

The PRE-C switch allows FOCUS to be placed before or after the primary Colour slot for the most sonic flexibility.

CONSOLE-LIKE SIGNAL FLOW

Easily select one of two signal paths by swapping the order of the COMP and FOCUS processing with the PRE-C switch:

HOW IT WORKS

Mister Focus - COMP has a simplified set of controls that are results-oriented. No tweak fest here. We designed this for artists who simply require great tone quickly.

VIEW COLOUR MODULE MANUALS

Expand each section to learn more

NERDY DETAILS

ANALOG EXPLANSION SLOT

Choose from our growing list of Colour module options to customize Mister Focus. There are two analog plugin slots on each unit you can fill to build your dream channel. You can also install any of the Colour modules from DIY Recording Equipment. This is a platform that adapts to the needs of your studio.

APPLICATIONS

Mister Focus - COMP is amazing on individual tracks and busses. Our favorite uses are drum room mics, vocals, drum bus, guitars, and keys. The Implode version comes preset with the time-tested "Dr. Pepper" attack and release settings for proven results right out of the box. You can tweak the preset compression character to your needs using the internal attack and release trimpots, and ratio jumpers. Just like the original 1176 you can even turn off the compressor sidechain and use the discrete transistor amplifiers for their bright edgey tone. The MN-50 Smash Comp version is dialed for aggressive, dirty, pumping FET oblivion. If you like your drum rooms exploding, and your bass tones thick and angry then this is the version for you.

PREMIUM COMPONENTS & BUILD QUALITY

We chose every component in Mister Focus by ear for maximum mojo and its sonic synergy with the rest of the circuit. Our meticulous development process involved both empirical measurement and real-world studio use to validate the design. We also leveraged what we learned designing and building Chop Shop and Chroma. In this design you will find high end parts from Nichicon, Panasonic, Vishay, Susumu, Wima, TI, and Analog Devices. All audio path resistors are 0.5% or 0.1% thin film types for low distortion and noise. Where applicable, Mister Focus features custom American wound transformers and our very own discrete op amp in some modules. Other components like switches, knobs, and faceplate are sourced from American suppliers. Our PCBs use high temperature Tg 170 material for long-term reliability. The entire assembly is RoHS compliant (lead free). All assembly and testing is performed right here in Silicon Valley.

Country/region

Mister Focus - COMP