MiniComp Boutique Compressor

MiniComp Boutique Compressor brings the magic of the pedal world straight into your Reason rack.
Inspired by the highly respected Keeley™ Mini Compressor and Compressor Plus, this device captures the musical, studio-grade compression that guitarists, bassists, and producers have relied on for decades. Both of these pedals are considered modern classics, and MiniComp* lets you experience their responsive, touch-sensitive feel inside your DAW with the flexibility of a Rack Extension.

Unlike heavy-handed studio compressors that require careful setup, MiniComp is designed for fast, musical results.
Turn up the Sustain, adjust Tone, and you instantly get that sweet spot between controlled dynamics and natural expression. Whether you’re playing single-coil pickups with lots of sparkle or pushing fat humbuckers with extra drive, MiniComp adapts
automatically to your instrument with the Pickup Type switch, ensuring the right response for your signal.

But the MiniComp is not just for guitars. Put it on a bass track to tighten low-end rumble without losing punch, use it on vocals for smooth leveling and added clarity, or place it on a drum bus to add glue and sustain to your mix. Its Blend and Auto Blend features make it easy to find the right balance between dry dynamics and compressed tone, a trick often used in parallel compression setups but now available at the twist of a knob.

The heart of MiniComp lies in its pedal-inspired architecture: intuitive controls, optimized ranges, and instant musicality. You don’t have to be an engineer to get it sounding right — it’s made for players, creators, and anyone who wants polished, record-ready tone in seconds.

If you’ve ever wanted the feel of a boutique compressor pedal in your Reason rack, MiniComp delivers: always-on dynamics control, smooth sustain, and versatile tone-shaping, perfect for
guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, and producers alike.

PARAMETERS

PICKUP TYPE: Switch between Single Coil and Humbucker.
Adjusts detector release and attack timings to match pickup dynamics.

SUSTAIN: Controls the amount of compression. Internally linked to Threshold, Ratio, and Release.
• Low = subtle leveling.
• High = strong sustain, squash.

TONE: Tone control doesn’t color the audio directly like an EQ knob — instead, it shapes how the compressor’s detector “listens” to your signal.
• Tone left (0%) → more full-range detection. The compressor responds equally to lows and highs, giving a warmer, smoother, more natural feel.
• Tone right (100%) → boosts the compressor’s sensitivity to high frequencies. Bright notes, pick attack, and upper harmonics trigger more compression, adding sparkle and definition while keeping the low end tight.
Internally, this is done by reducing low-frequency response (Detector LF) while boosting high-frequency sensitivity (Detector HF).
The result is a very musical sidechain EQ, similar to how Keeley pedals tighten up bass while letting treble shine through.

BLEND: Mixes between dry (incoming unporocessed) and wet (compressed) signals.

AUTO BLEND: Automatically adjusts the dry/wet balance depending on Sustain.
• At low Sustain settings, Auto Blend keeps more of the dry signal in the mix. This preserves natural transients, attack, and playing dynamics.
• As you increase Sustain, Auto Blend gradually brings up more of the compressed signal, enhancing sustain and evening out dynamics without making the sound feel over-processed.
Mimics the “auto-blend” feel of Keeley Mini.
Use Auto Blend ON when you want quick, always-musical results.
Switch it off and use the Blend knob manually when you want full control of the dry/w ratio for more specific parallel compression setups.

COMP LEVEL: Make-up gain stage after compression (up to +20 dB). Compensates for level lost to gain reduction.

OUTPUT LEVEL: Global device output gain, independent from compression. Useful for project gain-staging (rear panel).

ACTIVE FX: On/Bypass switch for the effect. Variation of effect bypass with fade in and fade out that excludes loud peaks when you enable or disable the effect

INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE

MiniComp models a boutique pedal compressor chain:

1. Input stage → adapts to pickup type.

2. Envelope detector with LF cut & HF boost shaping via Tone.

3. Compression core (Threshold, Ratio, Attack/Release linked to Sustain).
4. Auto Blend module → mixes dry + wet intelligently.
5. Makeup gain & output stage → + rear panel output trim.

This architecture ensures a pedal-like feel while remaining flexible for DAW mixing tasks.


HOW TO USE

1. Insert MiniComp as an insert effect on guitar, bass, keys, or vocals.

2. Select Pickup Type (Single Coil / Humbucker).

3. Turn Sustain to set compression intensity.

4. Shape response with Tone.

5. Blend compressed and dry signals with Blend or let Auto Blend do it automatically.

6. Adjust Compressor Output Level for desired loudness.
7. Use the rear panel Output if you need final gain staging.


TIPS & TRICKS

• Use Auto Blend for quick results without overthinking dry/wet balance.

• For single-note sustain (solos, leads), push Sustain high and Blend around 70%.

• For rhythm guitar, keep Sustain moderate and Blend ~50%.

• On bass, lower Tone to avoid pumping from sub-frequencies.

• Try MiniComp on drums or vocals — not just guitar — for instant “glue” and polish.



PRESETS LIST

• MiniComp: Deafault Compressor patch
• Bass Tight: Thickens bass lines, reduces boom, keeps low end tight
• Boost Comp: Minimal compression, used as a clean boost into an amp
• Bright Acosutic: Evens out strumming, adds sparkle for acoustic guitar
• Crunch Rock: Pushes distortion/amp, adds tight sustain
• Funk Chops: Percussive and rhythmic, great for wah/funk
• Lead Sustain: Singing sustain for solos
• Limiter Feel: Behaves like a light limiter, keeping levels perfectly even for recording
• Mini Gentle: Always-on transparent comp, like Keeley™ Mini at noon
• Minimal Squeeze: Pushes the amp, adds a bit of sustain but still subtle
• Mini Style (Auto): Smooth sustain, warm, subtle blend (classic Keeley™ Mini feel)
• Minimal Clean: Acts as a clean boost with mild leveling
• Nashville +: Tight, twangy comp with attack clarity
• Plus Blues: Warmer, softer comp for jazz/blues rhythm
• Plus Studio: Balanced, transparent studio-style compression
• Plus Style: Feels like a “Nashville” compressor — clear, snappy, extra sustain
• Smooth Jazz +: Soft attack, lows preserved, not harsh
• Snappy Perc: Snappy, percussive acoustic strums with extra sparkle
• Sparkle Country: Classic country chicken-pickin’, Telecaster style sparkle
• Warm Pad: Soft, subtle compression for ambient/chords