Universal Audio 1176 Compressor Limiter Pedal

The 1176 Compressor from UAFX is becoming one of my favorite compression pedals I have ever used, and yet, I feel like I am still learning the pedal and probably only appreciate 20% of what it can do. You get three different modes, which I beleive are modeled after a single 1176 rack compressor, a “dual” mode that creates basically an overdrive effect using two 1176’s, and a “sustain” mode with crazy amounts of note sustain. I’m going to focus mostly on the primary, “Single” mode, which is the one I am using. The challenge with the 1176 is that it looks like a compression pedal and can be used like a compression pedal, but it’s really a digital model of a vintage rack compressor repurposed into pedal format. What this means is that some of the normal controls you’d expect from a BOSS CS-3, MXR Dyna Comp, etc. are there, but they might have different names. Or there may be additional controls, or ones where the knobs work in reverse of what you’d expect. The INPUT knob is sort of like a combination between the amount of signal fed into the front end of the compressor, and the level of compression effect itself. The OUTPUT knob is essentially the output volume of the pedal itself. So, if compression settings result in a quieter signal, the OUTPUT knob can “make up” that volume. ATTACK and RELEASE become “faster” as you turn the knob up. What that means is that a high ATTACK knob setting means the compression kicks in more quickly. If you want to retain the initial attack of your picking, try a lower setting. The RELEASE knob is essentially how long the compression affect is applied. But, of course, it’s reversed, so a lower setting will have MORE “sustain” and a higher setting will be faster release (more percussive). The RATIO knob is extremely useful, as it controls the aggressiveness of compression. I use the 4:1 setting for a very subtle effect with some limiting and light sustain. If I wanted more of a “squished” and sustained sound, I would try 8:1 or the higher settings. Interestingly, you can also set this to OFF, and then you are basically using the 1176 as a boost pedal that colors the tone with its circuit, but applies no compression. There are an infinite number of possible settings given all of these controls, but I’ve pretty quickly found a few that I really like. I find that the 1176 can be used very discretely - basically just to tame high-end or volume spikes - or it can be set more aggressively such that it becomes an effect in and of itself. It’s one of the few pedal compressors that I’m comfortable using with acoustic guitar, since it can add sustain and normalize output without making the acoustic sound artificial. At the street price of $179, a lot of people mocked these compact pedals as stripped-down money grab versions of their premium gear. However, UAFX gear often goes on sale (this was listed at $99 for an extended period) and it’s a crazy value at that price. It’s not the simplest compressor to use, but it sound like a premium piece of audio gear in a tiny pedal.

This compressor sounds great, you can dial in a subtle compression to lift your guitar or you can rip heads off in the dual mode. The case is good quality and takes up less real estate than many pedals. There aren't a ton of controls you have to mess with, but this is an incredibly versatile compressor. The one gripe I have is that the Input/Output jacks and power input are crammed SUPER close together, so if you use MXR patch cables then some power plugs might not fit in between the input/output cables.

I have waited a month to write this review because I wasn’t confident enough that this unit wouldn’t crap out like the two I bought before it. Extremely musical, I love this compressor but I had to buy 3 until I got one that didn’t fail within 48 hrs! If you buy this compressor be sure to give it its own 9v center neg power supply of 250ma or higher. The first unit I plugged into a regular 100ma supply, so that one was on me because this unit requires 250ma. The second time I plugged it into a 350na line off of the power supply on my board and that one failed. The final one I bought a dedicated 500ma (9v center neg) and this one seems to be ok. Why three times? Because, like I said, it’s the most musical compressor I’ve ever had on my board. There: that’s the good, the bad and the ugly.

Solid compressor for anyone looking to add compression to their pedalboard. The 1176 is a classic studio compressor (one of my go-to compressors in the studio), and to have a pedalboard friendly version is really nice to have. I love having the option to run the pedal in parallel, allowing to run a compressed signal as well as uncompressed signal. I upgraded from the Walrus Audio Deep Six (which is patterned after an approximation of the 1176), and is a great pedal, but the UA pedal offers quite a bit more versatility.

Best pedal I own.

Up until I got this 1176 pedal I would sometimes use the Boss Compression/Sustainer CS-3 pedal that I’ve had for many years - the CS-3 is a best seller. But I wasn’t thrilled with the tones and attack/release sounds when I simply wanted added sustain with a tiny bit of compression. I am thrilled with the quickest speed setting of the Attack and how dialing in the Release can enhance the percussive sound of the string attack - the tones are great 👍🏻. This pedal in Sustain mode with an ALL ratio makes my guitar sing! One thing to note: someone else made this comment and it actually prevented me from returning this 1176 pedal - use a 500 mA power supply (negative center) or HIGHER. The instructions say 250 mA or higher, but something is off (under powered) when I used a 300 mA power supply. I’m now using a 1000 mA (1A) power supply and it works properly, though another reviewer stated 500 is enough.

Love this compressor! Very low noise floor and does NOT alter my sound whatsoever. I've had several compressors over the years and this is now my go to unit. Really like UA guitar pedals!

Awesome pedal. Great sound quality and rich with features.