Name:ZZORDZZ
Date:1/12/2009
Build Report:tnx for this layout and schematics ... i make this compresor in 3 days and its so cool ...
and i buff it ..

here's the link for the pix of my made..

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q195/ixion_hardcore/?action=view¤t=PICT0105.jpg


http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q195/ixion_hardcore/?action=view¤t=PICT0106.jpg

Name:Stefan
Date:9/13/2006
Build Report:Muito bom!
eu fiz aqui na minha casa e ficou perfeito
tá excelente
muito bom compressor

Name:henry
Date:12/7/2005
Build Report:After a lot of work, I finally built the dynacomp. It was hard to find the CA3080. The sound is very good, i'm impressed; it is a very strong compressor, so use with care.
I had some problems adjusting the trimpot; if possible, play it with several guitars and setups do assure it is set correctly.

Name:mr_fender
Date:10/21/2005
Build Report:This is a great compressor. I've never owned a real dyna-comp or a ross compressor, so I can't really comment on how close it is to the real thing. It does sound really good though and is very versitile. I initially built the Ross comp. Very smooth and warm sounding. Very natural compression. Then switched to the Dyna-comp. Dyna sounds more squeezed and tight at higher settings. Great for slapping those strings. In my rig, the Dyna was more flexible with a wider range of dynamic variation, sounding smooth and subtle, much like the Ross, when at lower sustain levels, yet I could crank the sustain up and get great funk and country/chicken pickin' sounds. Ross sounded really good too, but did not seem as flexible in its range of compression. This is purely subjective and depends entirely on your setup and preferences. Both are VERY usable and sound great. Highly recommended project. TONEPAD RULES!!!

Name:10acErnie
Date:10/1/2005
Build Report:I wanted true bypass and a LED but I didn't want to mod either of my MXR Script Logo Dyna Comps so I bought a BYOC clone because I thought it would be easier than ordering all the parts myself.

The BYOC sounded like a real piece of crap so I decided to do the Tonepad build. Although the circuit board was a little tight everything worked out great and this baby fired up first try!

I've had my Script Dyna's since the 70's and I love the sound/response of those beautiful but noisy little devils! The Tonepad Dyna Clone doesn't sound exactly like the old MXR's but it sounds really good. In a quiet room the highs are a little more brittle to my ears and it "feels" a little different but it certainly sounds good enough to live in my live rig without too much noticeable difference.

I may try a CA3080A can IC instead of the 8 pin DIP CA3080E to see if that makes a difference. Also, I'll give the 500k reverse audio taper pot a try.

Just for fun I'm going to build the Ross version soon.

Thanks Tonepad for this great project!

Name:Marty
Date:1/14/2005
Build Report:This is a very nice compressor and was built without problems, other than a transistor reversal ! ( my mistake )
I found it to be nice and bright but lacking bottom end, so changed the input cap to a 0.1 uf and got back some low end, perhaps even a 0.47 would be better.
Socket this to try out some caps.
Very useful pedal ! :-)
Marty.

Name:anonymous
Date:11/30/2004
Build Report:I got it working fine. At first it didn't work, but then I realised I had forgotten both 27k resistors. So, improper bias AND no feedback. Needless to say, it didn't work. After discovering the mistake, however, I added them and sure enough it sounds great. I'm not a hugh fan of compressors, but they have their use. This is great for sitting back behind the rest of the band on some clean rhythm stuff. I went with the Dynacomp circuit. Overall, a great effect.

Name:JOHN WHITE
Date:9/11/2004
Build Report:I built the ROSS version(DYNA sounds way 2 funky-but really good!)
Results are great!!!
Thanx Everyone At TonePad!!!

Name:Davide Rocker
Date:7/24/2004
Build Report:I build first Ross Compressor. I think "more component, better sound", but I don't happy of result. I switch my ross to dyna, and I find a wrong capacitor!! DynaCompressor is a beatiful effect, very trasparent with my guitar.
I happy to build it: a great compressor!

Davide from Italy!

Name:Mark Hammer
Date:11/21/2003
Build Report:Built this one for a buddy on request, but I was sort of sorry to see it go. I built the Ross version. Very nice tone though it clearly colours the sound at higher compression settings.

I modded this one to have a variable decay/recovery control. This was based on looking at the schems of a number of other commercial pedals (e.g, the BOSS CS-2) that use an almost identical design. The 150k resistor connected to the collectors of Q3 and Q4 determines the time required to discharge the 10uf cap. It is currently set to maximum recovery time. In the Boss and other pedals, it is replaced with a 150k pot and a fixed 10k series resistor. I have to be honest and say that although you can really hear the difference between the two extreme decay settings, I didn't find a whole lot of use for what was between them. So, it's up to you. You might consider wiring up a 250k pot as is, in series with the fixed 10k resistor, or with a parallel resistor to bring it down from a max resistance of 250k to 150k, *OR* you might consider just installing a toggle switch to get the most noticeable differences. If you use a 3-position on-off-on SPDT toggle and replace the existing 150k resistor with a 180k resistor, you can switch in a 12k fixed resistor in parallel with the 180k for minimum decay time, or a 100k resistor in parallel for an intermediate decay time. That can provide a reasonable assortment of usable decay times. Shorter decay times provide more of a limiting-like effect and less of the "squeezed note bloom" after you pick. I don't think either is better but they each have their uses.

Name:Brett
Date:4/27/2003
Build Report:Made a silly mistake putting this together - I connected the capacitors on the Dyna/Ross switch in the wrong order, and got no output because I was sending the signal to ground.

Anyway, this pedal rates FAR BETTER than any other compressor I've built (which is about 5 or 6, including my own version of the very ordinary LED/LDR type). IMHO these other pedals are fairly much a waste of time. The only other compressor I use besides the Dyna/Ross is an Orange Squeezer (it's subtle and different).

My hybrid Dyna/Ross gets HEAPS more use than I thought it would. I love it!

Name:Peter
Date:12/28/2002
Build Report:This is a great effect. Very musical to my ears. I made the Dyna first modded to Ross afterwords.

Dyna is great for funk, Ross is more discreate.

Great mod:
You should take away the Cd cap across the input in the Ross version (0.0022 uf). It takes the treble away. Sounds way better without!!

I could not get the 2N5088. Used 2N5089 instead. Sounds fine.

Name:Neil Oler
Date:9/26/2002
Build Report:Just a fix for my last one:

You CAN get it to be a subtle effect. Sorry about that. Build this pedal, you won't be sorry!

Name:Neil Oler
Date:9/22/2002
Build Report:I just finished building the Ross/Dyna Comp pedal. I've not checked out a million compression pedals, so I really can't compair it to any thing, but to me, I got a sound that was both interesting and useful, but at the same time, you can't turn it to be a subtle effect. I also used the mod that some one put up for the Ross / Dyna hybrid. May that person be blessed forever! The ross is great for rock stuff, but if I want that high end back, I just flip the toggle switch. Check it out. This is a great pedal, built it first time, and it works awesome.

Name:steve henderson
Date:8/9/2002
Build Report:very straightforward worked first time (surprise)
built using dynacomp cct as oposed to ross
decent quality fx

Name:Gino
Date:3/8/2002
Build Report:What more can I say. It works well! I built with the Ross Compressor changes. VERY smooooth! Great project!

Name:Matt Burnside
Date:3/5/2002
Build Report:I must love this one, because I have built 2 and I'm building a third. Although the same physical layout can be used for the Ross, the Dyna has more high end; it's less smooth, more crisp. A better compressor for country-type soloing and funk chording, while the Ross is better suited for rock soloing to my ears.