The Daking Comp IIT is a hand-built compressor/limiter made in the USA, designed to deliver the sound quality of far more expensive units while remaining straightforward to operate. It provides smooth, musical compression across a wide range of studio sources. Equipped with Cinemag transformers on both the input and output, the Daking Comp IIT offers low distortion, a touch of analogue character, and the cohesive “glue” effect engineers often seek when working with stereo material.
Its intuitive layout and large vintage-style analogue meters make the Daking Comp IIT accessible to both seasoned professionals seeking quick, reliable results and beginners who are still learning how to dial in compression. Developed by Geoff Daking and Dave Thibodeau, it’s been carefully tuned to perform well in real-world studio situations and may change how you think about what a two-knob compressor can achieve.
This dual-channel unit can run in either dual mono or stereo linked modes. In stereo, it preserves a detailed, natural stereo image without a master control – each channel maintains full independent adjustment. In dual mono, the Daking Comp IIT acts as two separate compressors, ideal for use on different sources simultaneously.
Control Functions
- Compression/Threshold: Determines the level at which the compressor begins to work.
- Ratio: The slope of the gain reduction. Compress is a low ratio good for general gain reduction, while Limit presents more of a “brick wall” to the signal.
- Attack: The speed with which the compressor begins to react. Slow allows transients, like the attack of drums, to pass while compressing the back end. Fast will remove transients.
- Release: Determines how quickly the compressor “lets go”. Fast is self-explanatory. Auto reacts to both the level of the signal and it’s duration. Small peaks will release quickly, while long and loud signals will release much more slowly.
- Make-up Gain: Compensates for any gain lost in compression. For serious rock stars, note the output goes to 11!
The Daking Comp IIT features a sophisticated design that uses a VCA configured to behave like a FET, preserving the distinctive sound of Daking’s classic compressors. Unlike typical VCA circuits, it incorporates feedback-style gain reduction, a peak detector, and a fully discrete Class A follower. Cinemag transformers on the input and output provide a touch of smooth analogue colour.
An external power supply ensures low noise and universal voltage compatibility, while illuminated switches offer clear visibility in low-light studio settings. The rear panel includes XLR inputs and both XLR and ¼” TRS outputs. Fully analogue and intuitive to use, the Daking Comp IIT delivers great sound with ease – and may quickly become your go-to compressor.
