The Carma Compressor.

CARMA - four knobs = $225.00:

Pictured on this page is the CARMA4 in a custom variation. I've added a Near Zero compression toggle switch that places the CARMA4 into a boost mode. It reduces the comression levels to nearly zero and makes the CARMA4 an excellent clean booster with just a teensy-tiny bit of comression .. Near Zero amounts of squish (hence the name of the subcircuit!) This option is available as an upcharge, write me if you're interested. You may also have the CARMA4 with the silver machined aluminum knobs as shown, or with black aluminum knobs as well. Go to the FINISH OPTIONS and PRICING page for information about knob selection as well as finish and graphics choices.

CARMA Compressor Video - short version - done by Brett Kingman. This link is a video that was done of our CARMA compressor. A while ago we had a special run of the CARMA going on known as the "BURGS" compressor. Functionally and tonally the Burgs is identical in every way to the CARMA, so they sound completely identical and operate exactly the same way. So this video is totally relevant even though it is of a comp with the name "Burgs" on it.

The video embedded below is of our venerable and hugely popular MODEL 9.

The Model 9 uses a CARMA compressor circuit as the input stage and as one of the five gain stages of the MODEL 9 (precisely the same circuit that is found in every CARMA and CARMA2 compressor). So, at time indexes 3:40 to 5:35 the compression stage (a CARMA) is demonstrated very well.

BOOSTERCOMP:

NOTE: If you like how the compression stage and the "boost" stage of the MODEL 9 sound together - time index 5:35 to 6:36 - then check out our JOE Boostercomp. The JOE was where all of this compression stuff here at Farndurk got started in the first place!

OVERDRIVE:

NOTE: If you like how the OVERDRIVE stage of the Model 9 sounds in this video, take a look at any of our X-Series modules. There are even variations within the X-series that have booth the boost stage and the OD stage of the Model 9, so check them out as needed.

The CARMA4 represents every good thing we ever applied to the LittleJoe compression circuit. What I've actually done here is taken all of the best modifications, all of the most popular control setups and knob assignments, and applied them within the CARMA4. So it contains all of the best and most popular controls that have been used and requested over the last 4+ years of compressor production.

The CARMA4 is powered by our LittleJoe compression circuit. This circuit is the very same one used previously in our line of "BURGS" series compressors. Since 2008 the LittleJoe compression circuit has served us in so many different designs it's difficult to count them all. I initially developed the LittleJoe as a kindof "smaller JOE". The JOE compression circuit had been under development for a good while, but the JOE circuit board itself is physically kinda large. The JOE compression circuit uses a more sophisticated post amplification circuit that ends up making the pcb a bit large for use in smaller enclosures and also for using it in multi-circuit designs (like combination pedals that might have an overdrive and a compressor .. or whatever .. inside of them). So I really needed a smaller format compressor circuit. I worked at it for quite a while until I was able to come up with a circuit that I could get as small as 2 square inches. The first less sophisticated compression pcbs I made were the Sultans. These pcbs were still a bit large, so I continued to redesign things, reducing complexity and parts count, improving sound and tone as I continued to redesign until .. ultimately .. the LittleJoe was created. Since then the LittleJoe has been in every BURGS series compressor and every CARMA series compressor ever built. Improvements and changes made in the LittleJoe found their way into the JOE as well (the JOE is our ultimate compression circuit).

Btw .... we know that Carma isn't spelled with a "C" ... the "c" thing is a personal reference to a long, boring, and rather comedic story that involves this circular universe and my lifelong struggle to prove it's imbalance (man oh man .. the futility of such a thing! ... a very unproductive struggle mind you ... the very thought of it is pointless! Jimminy Christmas I think of the oddest things!).

After years of developing, tweaking, adjusting, redesigning, and remodeling our compression ideas we have come up with our ultimate baseline compressor ... the Farndurk CARMA. We took every good idea that was applied to every single one of the different iterations and modifications of our basic compressors and applied them to the CARMA. Input level, Compression amount, Compression Attack time, and Output Volume. Four control knobs, easy setup, and mondo adjustability. The CARMA can be set for uber quiet and feathery-light, or for heavier ~pumping~ compression. It can be used as a preamp, or a heavy comp. It contains the Farndurk Near Zero circuitry as well which allows you to use it as a booster.

The Farndurk LittleJoe compression circuit.

The Farndurk Carma compressor is the original compressor circuit that we started with years ago with all of the refinements and changes that have come to be since 2008. The sound and tone of it has retained everything from our original Sultan pcb that we started out with, and has been the staple of our compression pedal lineup since 2008. It's the same core circuit that we use in our Burgs series compressors as well. Our LittleJoe compression circuit has served us well over the years. The CARMA is the ultimate expression of all of the modifications, tweaks, and setups I've done to our basic compression circuit over the years. Everything learned from the Model 9, the Burgs/Burgs2, and the Sunshine compressors has been applied to the Carma compressor.

To make the Carma comp I needed to go back to my original designs, pre-Burgs-era. Over time I took the best ideas of what made the Sultan sound good, and used it to create our LittleJoe compression pcb that we currently use in the CARMA compressors, and previously the Burgs/Burgs2 comps (two huge winners in their own right).

Since it sounds so good in our JOE compression series and MODEL 9 preamps, we've outfitted the CARMA with a Burr Brown main IC chip. This insightful application gives us a bit more headroom and more fidelity as well. With a very non-Ross type compressor tone, the LittleJoe compressor circuit used in the CARMA is outfitted with Tantalum and Germanium goodness within to achieve it's trademark Farndurk sound. It sounds like nothing else out there. Snappy, clean, and very toneful. Check out the sound clips of the CARMA comp on the Demos page! Also see the reviews on the Reviews page.

Near Zero Mode = Killa Boost mode!! Why the heck would anyone want to use a compressor that won't compress? Well, the CARMA compressor has an EXCELLENT sounding preamp. So much so that some folks use the CARMA as just a clean booster, which is something that it absolutely excels at. Brett "Burgerman" Kingman once told me "I don't use your compressors just because you're my buddy you genius nut, I use them because they make my guitars SHINE." I've totally modified the entire circuit so that this boost mode aka "Near Zero Mode" is now attainable by simply setting the "C" knob (squish control) to minimum. This negates the need for more off-board circuitry, switches, and knobs etc... making for a cleaner and even quieter compressor pedal.

Questions on How To Order? Here's your answers!.

Advanced Compressor Use Information:

COMPRESSOR OPERATION PAGE: This link takes you to very comprehensive information regarding the operation and use of this compressor. It's pretty much the "Owner's Manual" for our compression modules. It would be a good idea to go over it to get a better understanding of what to expect from the compression circuits we design and build.

Here's a summary of the controls that the CARMA4 offers...

The CARMA4 has four knobs:

• Input level (marked "I"): Adjusts the input signal level.
• Compression Amount - aka "squish" (marked "C"): This control simply adjusts the compression amount.
• Attack (marked "A"): This control knob adjusts the compressor's attack. In other words you can dial in how soon or late the compressor actually starts compressing.
• Output Level (marked "V" for volume): This control allows you to set the compressor's output volume.

So four knobs, a footswitch to True Bypass the pedal, and an indicator LED all in our smallest enclosure. One nice little package.

Audio and Video Demos:

Here's a You Tube video of the Burgs comp in use (predecessor to the CARMA .. precisely the same exact sound as the CARMA and CARMA2). This is Brett Kingman doing his thing on a stock Y2K Standard Tele through standard Burgs compressor and into a Bassman clone amp ....

Brett Kingman on a Farndurk CARMA

Questions on How To Order? Here's your answers!.

FINISH OPTIONS and PRICING: Click here for info on finishes and knobs.

Price

List price: $225.00.