Light bulb compressor

  • Thread starter Thread starter amzavareei
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My THD Univalve uses a light bulb to cut some of the noise when using the built in hotplate. Different voltage/wattages render very significant results. It's not a mod...it's part of the deal and it works. A little different application, I don't have the schematics to know how it's integrated into the audio path but hey...it's fuel for the fire right?!
 
I believe that some Ampeg cabs do this as well. I can't figure out what else the phrase "resistive bulb wired in series" in their product descriptions could mean.
 
Ford Van said:
Errrrrrrr...so does a speaker!
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but not in the same way... the speakers doesnt change so much as it varies with respect to frequency... the bulbs resistence varies with respect to total current through the output...
 
To me the biggest downside is bulb longevity. Probably the bulb is being operated way below rated current, so it *should* last a good long while, but when it goes, you'll lose the signal. Not something I would want to try live.
 
sounds kinda silly if you ask me..

for the price of a pack of light bulbs, you could buy a cheap behri compressor.

i paid $20 for one. i use it when i'm running v-drums through my PA and thats about it..

really, theres no real control over it. it's not compressing, its reducing the overall current. there's no threshold to where it starts to compress, or anything at all.

you could make a pretty box around a light socket, wire up 2 1/4" jacks, and make a fortune i'd bet. some spaz would buy one (i think i might..)
 
superspit said:
yes...technically that is a sound statement. (although it can be set to do other things).
Look AMZ, I'm going to give you some good rep, because your question is really cute and innocent, and I'm a believer in asking questions....you know....the only bad question is one that's not asked.
This is not how a comp works in reality....it's like putting an ashtray on a motorcycle...it can be done....but it's next to useless.
Kindest regards to you my friend,
Superspit.
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best post ever!!!! :D
 
jpw23 said:
best post ever!!!! :D
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thanx mate....I reckon you're the only one who might agree with me?
I'm lead to believe though that some people are achieving some 'interesting' results with the 'globe' thingy...and good on 'em.!
Regards,
Superspit.
 
superspit said:
my last rep.......

Light bulb compressor 11-19-2006 18:27 you are a cocksmoking moron

(grey dot?)

thanks Fuckface!!
Regards,
superspit.
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I got a little red dot that was unsigned just because I wrote " best post ever"
what a weenie! BTW.....red chicklet was weak to say the least :rolleyes:
These damn rep points keep me from sleeping at night :rolleyes:
 
grey dots even out rep on a post. so if someone neg reps a post and someone else greens it, it shows up grey.
 
zacanger said:
grey dots even out rep on a post. so if someone neg reps a post and someone else greens it, it shows up grey.
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thanx for the info Zac......often wondered how the whole rep thing works.
What are rep point(s) actually worth anyway (2 points, 10 points etc)...is the amount of points variable/proportional to something.(other than bad or good?).
Ta again.
 
jpw23 said:
I got a little red dot that was unsigned just because I wrote " best post ever"
what a weenie! BTW.....red chicklet was weak to say the least :rolleyes:
These damn rep points keep me from sleeping at night :rolleyes:
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Hi jpw,
do what I do and take a pill prior to sleep!! :)
PS...sorry for dragging you down mate. :(
 
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Sounds to me that it would be acting as an attenuator, rather than a compressor. All you are doing is introducing a resistive load. I have an Altair Power Attenuator that consists of a bunch of nichrome wire coils wired up to a rotary switch. It goes between the amp and speaker cabinet and you can crank your amp up to full and dial it down to any level while still getting that fully-driven amp sound (supposedly). I thought it thinned things out myself. I suspect that the light bulb may be doing something of the same, only not adjustable.
 
superspit said:
Hi jpw,
do what I do and take a pill prior to sleep!! :)
PS...sorry for dragginng you down mate. :(
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its amazing that one would get pissed off about a light bulb! But, if thats the kind of equipment a person wants to show off in their studio then more power to em....personally, if I walked into a studio and they had bulbs dangling off the racks, I would just walk out.....I can do a shitty job all on my own! :D
 
If you get a light detector and plug the output of that into your speaker, THEN maybe you'll have a compressor. Until then you'll mostly have a lightbulb.

It's not a useless trick, I'd just have to question why on earth you'd bother? What does it achieve that a £20 compressor pedal couldn't more effectively and more safely? :confused:
 
noisedude said:
If you get a light detector and plug the output of that into your speaker, THEN maybe you'll have a compressor. Until then you'll mostly have a lightbulb.

It's not a useless trick, I'd just have to question why on earth you'd bother? What does it achieve that a £20 compressor pedal couldn't more effectively and more safely? :confused:
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JPW and Noisedude.......Great Points!
 
zacanger said:
grey dots even out rep on a post. so if someone neg reps a post and someone else greens it, it shows up grey.
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i don't think so :)

each opposite polarity rep poster would have to have

the same rep power



actually, grey chicklets

are given by people who have zero rep power



and, if you have an idea of

who might have given you the rep

put him on "ignore" in your user cp


if it was that poster

the rep will disappear from your list
 
cannabis said:
i don't think so :)

each opposite polarity rep poster would have to have

the same rep power



actually, grey chicklets

are given by people who have zero rep power



and, if you have an idea of

who might have given you the rep

put him on "ignore" in your user cp


if it was that poster

the rep will disappear from your list
Click to expand...

Hi C!
wow! thanx man!! I'm going to find out! (just for shits and giggles!!)
 
Kinda surprised that no one has brought up opto-compressors, which use a light bulb and optical attenuator to create compression/limiting. The famous Teletronix LA-2A and LA-3A use this principle. No, it's not the same as using a bulb as load-protection, like many speakers do, but it does use light energy to make real gain reduction.

Demeter makes a foot-pedal opto-compressor called The Compulator. It's the smoothest and most musical pedal compressor I've heard. DemeterComp-1 :)
 
Drewcifer666 said:
Kinda surprised that no one has brought up opto-compressors, which use a light bulb and optical attenuator to create compression/limiting. The famous Teletronix LA-2A and LA-3A use this principle. No, it's not the same as using a bulb as load-protection, like many speakers do, but it does use light energy to make real gain reduction.

Demeter makes a foot-pedal opto-compressor called The Compulator. It's the smoothest and most musical pedal compressor I've heard. DemeterComp-1 :)
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Hi D666,
please, don't be surprised....what you are talking about is well designed, beautiful pieces of audio gear......

We were talking how amazing/un-amazing the light globe is.
(and managed to piss some people off in the process!!)

Kindest Regards,
Superspit.
 
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