Diamond Compressor Settings Guide
The Diamond Compressor is a photocell-based optical compressor — the same technology used in classic studio compressors like the LA-2A. Optical compression has a unique character: attack and release times are determined by the photocell's physical response to light rather than electronic components, producing an inherently musical, program-dependent compression that feels more natural than OTA compressors. Three controls (EQ, Comp, Volume) keep it simple while the optical character does the heavy lifting.
The best Diamond Compressor settings start with: EQ at 5/10, Comp at 5/10, Volume at 6/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Country: EQ 6/10, Comp 7/10, Volume 6/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| EQ | 5/10 | Dark → Bright |
| Comp | 5/10 | Light → Heavy |
| Volume | 6/10 | Off → Loud |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Higher Comp for classic country squash. EQ at 6 adds slight brightness for Telecaster twang. The optical character of the Diamond Compressor responds musically to chicken-picking transients — the pick attack passes through naturally before the compressor clamps down, preserving the articulation that defines country technique.
Light Comp for transparent dynamic control. The Diamond at Comp 4 adds barely perceptible compression — just enough to even out fingerpicking dynamics without coloring the tone or reducing attack. EQ neutral. The optical character at light compression settings is virtually inaudible as an effect.
Moderate Comp for sustain enhancement on lead lines. The optical compressor's slower attack (compared to OTA designs) lets more of the pick attack through before compressing — this preserves the "bloom" on blues bends rather than squashing them flat.
Higher Comp with brighter EQ for tight funk rhythm. The optical character at Comp 7 is more obvious and rhythmically present — the compression adds a pumping quality that accentuates funk rhythm patterns. EQ at 6 adds sparkle to clean chord work.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- Optical compressors (Diamond, LA-2A, Teletronix designs) respond more slowly and more musically to dynamic changes than OTA compressors (Dyna Comp, CS-3). The photocell's physical reaction time creates program-dependent behavior that sounds less mechanical and more like a natural dynamic variation.
- The EQ control on the Diamond Compressor adjusts the frequency balance of the signal going INTO the compressor, not the output. This allows frequency-aware compression: with EQ bright, high frequencies trigger compression faster; with EQ dark, low frequencies trigger compression faster.
FAQ
Diamond Compressor — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Diamond Compressor: EQ at 5/10, Comp at 5/10, Volume at 6/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Country: EQ 6/10, Comp 7/10, Volume 6/10. Higher Comp for classic country squash. EQ at 6 adds slight brightness for Telecaster twang. The optical character of the Diamond Compressor responds musically to chicken-picking transients — the pick attack passes through naturally before the compressor clamps down, preserving the articulation that defines country technique.
For Jazz / Clean: EQ 5/10, Comp 4/10, Volume 6/10. Light Comp for transparent dynamic control. The Diamond at Comp 4 adds barely perceptible compression — just enough to even out fingerpicking dynamics without coloring the tone or reducing attack. EQ neutral. The optical character at light compression settings is virtually inaudible as an effect.
EQ: Pre-compression tilt EQ — adjusts frequency balance entering the compressor (Dark to Bright). Comp: Compression amount — the photocell threshold (Light to Heavy). Volume: Output make-up gain (Off to Loud)
Optical compressors (Diamond, LA-2A, Teletronix designs) respond more slowly and more musically to dynamic changes than OTA compressors (Dyna Comp, CS-3). The photocell's physical reaction time creates program-dependent behavior that sounds less mechanical and more like a natural dynamic variation. The EQ control on the Diamond Compressor adjusts the frequency balance of the signal going INTO the compressor, not the output. This allows frequency-aware compression: with EQ bright, high frequencies trigger compression faster; with EQ dark, low frequencies trigger compression faster.
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