okko pedals OKKO Cocaine – Guitars Rebellion

The OKKO Cocaine is a... (take a deep breath): opto compressor, dual clean boost and preamp, all within the same pedal! So. Take a breath and let's go. As always with OKKO, everything is very easy to access, ultra easy to adjust and above all, ultra efficient! For this model, we find the same case as on the Diablo with a beautiful aesthetic and without surprise, a flawless manufacturing quality, as always with OKKO!

Let's take a quick look at the front. We start with the compressor section which is made up of a Sustain button, which, as its name suggests, brings more sustain and fluidity to the notes; and a Squash button that brings together - in a way - the usual Attack / Release / Threshold controls in a single knob while controlling the compression in general. The Boost / Preamp slice is made up of a dual band EQ, a Volume and a Boost knob. The latter works in a somewhat special way: when turned clockwise, it acts like a classic Clean Boost. Turn it counterclockwise and there it goes into Mid Boost mode, emphasizing the mids and tightening the bass. Importantly, the clean boost is independent of the compressor, so you can turn it on without having to use the compressor (cheers from the roaring crowd!).

On the sound side, what does it give? The compressor part is strictly identical to that of the Coca Comp. The first thing you notice when activating the Cocaine is its extreme silence. Indeed, it is a model of its kind and it is extremely rare! Even much more expensive products are not so discreet!
The second thing is its transparency and musicality. Whatever the setting adopted, Cocaine never distorts your signal, and always remains musical without being caricatural. It really is a studio quality compressor plus an excellent clean boost. You can use it without any problem to enhance an electric guitar, acoustic, a bass... It accepts everything.
Long story short, Cocaine doesn't change your sound, it just makes it better! Whether you use it to gain punch and definition on a clean channel, or to boost a pedal or a crunch channel and recover dynamics and sustain, it excels whatever the configuration! An optocoupler is used for smooth and natural compression (and no, L'Oréal has nothing to do with that! ;)
The great musicality of the OKKO Cocaine is largely due to its specific mode of operation. This is what you might call an "upward" compressor. It works in a reverse way to the usual, retaining the attack and dynamics of notes played strongly, and enhancing those that lack level. As you will have understood, the on-board circuit within this blue box has absolutely nothing to do with that of the grey, red and orange pedals that every guitarist knows.
Let's go to the boost. First of all, we greatly appreciate the fact that it is independent of the compressor and placed just behind the compression stage. Enough to keep a maximum of headroom and clarity: it's big. The EQ is active, so it is extremely effective and will allow you to adapt the effect to the instrument as desired.
By switching the Boost button to the right, we find ourselves in "full range" Boost mode. We then have a superb clean boost, ultra transparent and natural. It brings greater dynamics, more presence and articulation. It is also very quiet which is always nice.
The Mid Boost mod will allow you to pass through the mix and will stack perfectly on a pushed crunch channel, to obtain a "tight" low, percussive, and forward mids to gain bite. To push a solo or a complex rhythm with a lot of gain, there's nothing better!

The OKKO Cocaine is an extremely complete pedal and a real precision tool that will allow you to sculpt dynamics and frequencies very simply. Within the same pedal, we have one of the best compressors available from Guitars Rebellion to date, and an extremely musical boost that will make everyone agree. It becomes a habit: OKKO never disappoints, for our greatest pleasure!