Darkglass Electronics Hyper Luminal Compressor

The Darkglass Hyper Luminal is the first hybrid compressor of its kind . What does that mean?

Well, it’s an all-analogue VCA signal path controlled by a digital side-chain. This means Darkglass can model the behaviour of several legendary studio compressors without ever putting your signal through a digital converter. It is digital modelling control of a wholly analogue signal chain.

Key Features

• Fully analogue VCA compression circuit, controlled by a digitally modelled side-chain
• Three compressor models: BUS (modelled on the SSL Bus Compressor), FET (inspired by the 1176), and SYM (Darkglass’s own discontinued Super Symmetry 115 GeV Compressor)
• Dual touch-sensor controls for Mode and Ratio, in place of mechanical switches
• 10-segment gain reduction meter
• USB-C connection to the free Darkglass Suite software for deeper editing and firmware updates
• Regulated 9V DC only – does not accept batteries, and higher or unregulated voltages can damage the unit
• 250mA current draw

Three Classic Compressors, One Analogue Signal Path

What makes the Hyper Luminal unusual is where the digital side of the design actually sits.

As we said, your bass signal itself runs through a genuine analogue VCA the entire time. It’s the side-chain, the part of a compressor that decides when and how hard to squeeze, that’s digitally modelled.

That’s how Darkglass can offer three distinct compressor characters in one pedal without ever putting your tone through an A/D converter.

• BUS recreates the glue-y, mix-bus character of the SSL Bus Compressor.
• FET goes for the fast, aggressive grab of a classic 1176-style compressor, with a ratio option that goes all the way to “ALL IN” for full limiting.
• SYM is Darkglass’s own take, based on their now-discontinued Super Symmetry pedal.

Mode and Ratio are both set via touch sensors on the faceplate rather than mechanical switches, and each mode offers its own set of ratio options tailored to that compressor’s character.

Connect the pedal via USB-C to the free Darkglass Suite software and you can go further still — custom-mapping the Time control’s attack and release behaviour, and assigning different responses to each mode.

Controls

• Blend: mixes clean and compressed signal; sits before the Output control, so with Blend at minimum the pedal can also work as a transparent booster
• Time: sets the attack and release time constants; fully customisable per mode via the Darkglass Suite
• Output: sets the overall output volume
• Compression: sets the overall amount of compression, and also affects the internal makeup gain
• Ratio (touch sensor): sets the compression ratio, with options specific to each mode — BUS: 2:1, 4:1, 10:1, 15:1; FET: 2:1, 4:1, 8:1, 20:1, ALL IN; SYM: based on the original Super Symmetry’s settings
• Mode (touch sensor): selects between BUS, FET, and SYM

Power

Requires a regulated 9V DC centre-negative supply only, drawing 250mA. It does not accept batteries. Darkglass specifically warns that unregulated supplies or higher voltages can cause noise issues or damage the unit and void the warranty — this is not a pedal to run above standard 9V. A CIOKS SOL is a suitable, regulated option.

Who Is This For

Worth a serious look if you want studio-grade, genuinely different compressor characters in one pedal rather. Particularly interesting or bassists who want to switch between a glued-together mix-bus feel and a fast, aggressive FET sound.

Watch The Darkglass Hyper LuminaI In Action

FAQs