Dinosaur DCP-1 DynaComp style compressor - Aria Pro II CP-1 and Boss CS series remake - 1990s

The Dinosaur DCP-1 Compressor is part of the obscure but fascinating pedal family that rebranded several Aria Pro II designs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It follows the same topology as the Aria Pro II CP-1 style compressor, which itself sits firmly in the CA3080 OTA lineage known from early Ross and DynaComp circuits. The DCP-1 uses the classic three-knob layout of Level, Attack, and Sustain, delivering a smooth, musical, analog compression with the slightly gritty harmonic texture characteristic of OTA-based designs. Its sonic fingerprint is very similar to the Aria units of the period, which makes sense given their shared manufacturing history and component choices. This pedal was built in the early 1990s and is still rocking solid. I managed to snag one brand new a few months ago, complete with box, foam insert, and even the original battery. It is not a flashy or dramatic pedal, but it excels as a compressed boost, especially with Stratocaster-style guitars. For the recording session all knobs were set at 5 to keep the compression musical and to avoid any unwanted overdrive. These captures were created through a tube preamp using its tube stage for warmth, detail, and a natural harmonic response. They join the rest of my personal archive and are provided strictly for non-commercial use.