NCD (New Compressor Day)! Templo Pocket Comp

[p_wats]

When it comes to pedals, I usually just build everything I want (within reason), but for mic stuff it gets more complicated, so I picked up this Templo Pocket Comp on sale the other week (couldn't resist $100 off). Small Canadian company---I already have one of their amps, so I knew to expect good things.

Very clever design overall---uses any polarity power supply (I wonder how they achieve that?), battery option, can supply 48+ for condenser mics, external sidechain send/return, so you can do fun things like duck a synth around a kick drum. The gain reduction metering is great too (would love to figure out how to build something like that into a comp pedal).

I was most surprised by the packaging though, as it's lovely with a great booklet.



My only downfall was trying it on guitar (as it has 1/4" in/out too), which made me realize I now want to build a guitar pedal compressor, as I've never had one!

 

[Harry Klippton]

I had been thinking those look cool. Glad to hear you like it

 

[p_wats]

I had been thinking those look cool. Glad to hear you like it

So far it's great! Very versatile. I plan to use it with microphones into my synth gear, but it works very well as a guitar compressor too and I love the various connection/power options.

 

[Harry Klippton]

Just realized you said $100 off. I would have bought it too. Good score

 

[p_wats]

Just realized you said $100 off. I would have bought it too. Good score

Technically the page description still says $100 off even though the price has been updated, so maybe he would honour it?

 

[almondcity]

I never heard of these guys. Looks really cool

 

[p_wats]

I never heard of these guys. Looks really cool

Yeah, small Canadian company with a slowly increasing inventory of products. I bought their Nomad 50 amp on pre-order last year, as it ticked a lot of boxes for me and has been great. So far the Pocket Comp has been excellent too!

 

[Harry Klippton]

@p_wats do you still like this comp?

 

[p_wats]

@p_wats do you still like this comp?

Yeah, I use it mostly on vocals in a live setup these days or to use as a DI if I'm direct recording guitar here and there, but it works well in many scenarios

 

[Harry Klippton]

Cool good to know. I keep seeing ads for it but not really any reviews from owners

 

[p_wats]

Cool good to know. I keep seeing ads for it but not really any reviews from owners

Hmm. Maybe I should do one. I mostly do synth stuff on Youtube, but have been experimenting with MIDI guitars and other things here and there, so a pedal demo might not be too out of place (did one for a Chase Bliss Onward a few months back too)

 

[p_wats]

It's not really obvious here, but the Pocket Comp is acting as a DI for my guitar signal while I trigger the synths via a MIDI pickup:

 

[Harry Klippton]

That video is great. I don't know what most of that gear is but it sounds really cool. What's that guitar? It's gorgeous. I need to immediately not watch any more of your YouTube videos too avoid wanting even more gear.
I made the mistake of watching your vox Continental reissue video and it reminded me that I kind of want a Nord electro.

 

[p_wats]

That video is great. I don't know what most of that gear is but it sounds really cool. What's that guitar? It's gorgeous. I need to immediately not watch any more of your YouTube videos too avoid wanting even more gear.
I made the mistake of watching your vox Continental reissue video and it reminded me that I kind of want a Nord electro.

Thanks! That's just a partscaster made mostly out of salvaged pieces from other castoff guitars (the body had been painted a few times and I stripped it all back, leaving just some black in the grain). I also spray painted the pick guard.

That Vox is such a weird beast. Sort an older Electro when I got it, but I don't really need it either these days (the little Reface CP in this video does a great job of some of those sounds and lets me fit all the other toys too. Ha)

 

[Harry Klippton]

My first and only keyboard is a vr-09 and I've been mostly happy with it. I like how it sounds but the keys and action are pretty cheesy. I recently started investigating getting a memotron m2d which raised the question of just replacing my vr-09 with an electro 5 or something instead. Not that I have the funds for any of those at the moment but the question remains.

 

[p_wats]

My first and only keyboard is a vr-09 and I've been mostly happy with it. I like how it sounds but the keys and action are pretty cheesy. I recently started investigating getting a memotron m2d which raised the question of just replacing my vr-09 with an electro 5 or something instead. Not that I have the funds for any of those at the moment but the question remains.

I had a VR-09 briefly and can see the appeal, but I agree it felt a bit cheap/plastic-y. I try to sell/trade things when I bring something new in, so it keeps the funds reasonable, but it can get out of hand sometimes. Ha

 

[Band of Dans]

It's not really obvious here, but the Pocket Comp is acting as a DI for my guitar signal while I trigger the synths via a MIDI pickup:

This is so cool! I admire how much gear you’ve crammed into such a compact space. I also picked up one of those zoom L6 mixer/recorder dealies this year and am looking forward to checking out your review video. I love that I can plug it straight into my phone but am still getting used to its, erm, eccentricities.

 

[p_wats]

This is so cool! I admire how much gear you’ve crammed into such a compact space. I also picked up one of those zoom L6 mixer/recorder dealies this year and am looking forward to checking out your review video. I love that I can plug it straight into my phone but am still getting used to its, erm, eccentricities.

Thanks! It's a fun setup, for sure. Usually I use my Synthstrom Deluge as the brain too.

The L6 is super handy, but does have some quirky compromises