Cocaine | Compressor Preamp Boost

The OKKO Cocaine is a... (take a deep breath): opto-compressor, dual clean boost and preamp, all in one pedal. There you go. Now breathe. As always with OKKO, everything is straightforward, easy to dial in and above all, extremely effective. This model shares the same enclosure as the Diablo, with a great aesthetic and, no surprise here, flawless build quality — as always with OKKO.

Let's run through the front panel. The compressor section features a Sustain knob, which as the name suggests adds sustain and smoothness to notes, and a Squash knob that essentially combines the usual Attack / Release / Threshold controls into a single pot while managing overall compression. The Boost / Preamp section features an active dual-band EQ, a Volume knob and a Boost pot. The Boost works in a slightly unusual way: turning it clockwise engages Classic Clean Boost mode. Turn it the other way and it switches to Mid Boost mode, pushing the mids forward and tightening the low end. Crucially, the clean boost is independent from the compressor, meaning you can engage it without activating the compressor (cue thunderous applause).

So how does it sound? The compressor section is identical to that of the Coca Comp. The first thing you notice when engaging the Cocaine is how incredibly quiet it is — a rare feat in this category, and one that even far more expensive units often fail to match. The second thing is its transparency and musicality. Whatever the setting, the Cocaine never colours your signal and always remains musical without becoming a caricature. It is genuinely a studio-grade compressor as well as an excellent clean boost. You can use it with an electric guitar, acoustic guitar or bass without any issues. It takes everything. In short, the Cocaine doesn't change your sound — it improves it. Whether you're after more punch and definition on a clean channel, or boosting a pedal or crunch channel to recover dynamics and sustain, it excels in every configuration. An optocoupler handles the compression for a smooth, natural feel. The musicality of the OKKO Cocaine comes largely from its specific operating principle. It is what you might call an "upward" compressor. It works in the opposite way to most compressors: rather than clamping down on loud notes, it preserves the attack and dynamics of strongly played notes while lifting those that lack level. The circuit inside this blue enclosure has absolutely nothing to do with the grey, red and orange pedals every guitarist knows. On to the boost. First of all, its independence from the compressor is a big plus — placed right after the compression stage, it allows you to maintain maximum headroom and clarity. The active EQ is highly effective and makes it easy to tailor the effect to any instrument. Flipping the Boost knob to the right puts you in Full Range Boost mode: a superb, ultra-transparent and natural clean boost with more dynamics, presence and articulation — and equally quiet, which is always welcome. Mid Boost mode cuts through the mix and stacks beautifully on a pushed crunch channel, delivering a tight, punchy low end with forward mids for added bite. For pushing a solo or a complex rhythm part with a lot of gain, there's nothing better.

The OKKO Cocaine is an extremely versatile pedal and a genuine precision tool that lets you sculpt dynamics and frequencies with ease. In a single enclosure, you get one of the best compressors available at Guitars Rebellion to date, paired with a boost of exceptional musicality that will satisfy everyone. It's becoming a habit: OKKO never disappoints, much to our delight.