PEDAL BENCH
by Stompbox Labs
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Compressor1976· MXR (USA)

MXR Dyna Comp

OTA-based optical-feel compressor — the Nashville chicken-pickin' standard.

⏳
Schematic pending verification

We don't ship reference schematics until they've been hand-authored against authoritative sources (manufacturer service docs, ElectroSmash analyses, GEOFEX writeups) and reviewed in the simulator. Until then, the BOM, signal chain, controls and mod notes below are accurate, and you can still add this pedal to a project — it just won't include a circuit yet.

About

Built around the CA3080 OTA (operational transconductance amplifier). Output is half-wave rectified and fed back to control the OTA's bias current, reducing gain on louder signals. Snappy attack, audible 'squish'.

Signal chain preview

5 stages
Input
Input buffer
CA3080 OTA as voltage-controlled amplifier
Output buffer (op-amp)
Envelope detector (half-wave rectifier + smoothing cap) controls OTA bias
Sensitivity + Output pots
Output

Quick facts

  • The 'squish' is mostly a fast attack + medium release acting on a sub-millisecond envelope detector.
  • Sustains country bends and adds the percussive bite Nashville session players love.
  • CA3080 is out of production; modern clones use LM13700 with minor changes.

Controls

  • Sensitivity (10k linear)
  • Output (10k linear)

References