Electro-Harmonix White Finger Analog Optical Compressor Pedal

The White Finger Analog Optical Compressor Pedal from Electro-Harmonix is a warm-sounding compressor pedal useful for both guitar and bass, as well as home recording. This pedal features optical compression and an FET signal path. The White Finger is a fixed threshold compressor, meaning the threshold remains constant while you have the ability to change the amount of signal that goes to the compressor circuitry. The signal level sent to the compressor is controlled by both the Pre-Gain and Compress knobs. Some gain is needed to adjust the output level so that it matches the original level, and this is accomplished with an FET fixed gain pre-amp circuit.

The White Finger features Compress, Sensitivity, and Pre-Gain/Post-Gain knobs. Its Lamp/LED switch selects the light source to drive the optical attenuator, and the SQSH/Norm switch selects between normal attack and a "squashed" long attack time for the attenuator. This unit features a Compression Level LED which gives a visual indication of the gain reduction caused by the compressor, and a Status LED.