Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Empress Effects Releases the Compressor MkII and the Bass Compressor

A pair of updated squeeze boxes that uses features and controls borrowed from high-end studio models.

Empress

Ottawa, CAN (November 12, 2020) -- Empress Effects is releasing two new compressors on Nov. 25th! When we released our original Compressor back in 2011, it quickly became a favourite among guitar and bass players alike who were searching for something more than the typical oversimplified controls found on most compressor pedals.

Compressor MKII: we redesigned our compressor based on our users’ valuable feedback, we’ve taken everything great about our original Compressor and made it even better.

On top of the full range of features and controls normally only seen in high end studio equipment, such as input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert, we’ve now added a ‘tilt’ tone eq control, and a selectable sidechain high pass filter built into the Compressor’s detection circuit. Oh, and the whole package is now half the size and available in two snazzy colours!

Bass Compressor: Although our original Compressor sounded great on bass (and still does!) we set out to do even better.

On top of the full range of features and controls normally only seen in high end studio equipment, such as input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert, we’ve now added a fully variable sidechain high pass filter, and a two position ‘tone + colour’ circuit which adds gentle tone sculpting and harmonic distortion, giving your bass some delicious character.

MKII

  • All Analog Signal Path - no digitals in here!
  • Extremely Transparent - Add dynamic control without altering the original tone of your instrument
  • 3 Compression Ratios - 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios offer lots of flexibility
  • Attack and Release Control - allows for ultimate control over the compression characteristics
  • Mix - Blend uncompressed signal in with the compressed signal for parallel compression, New York Style!
  • Metering - Meter both gain reduction and input levels on separate meters.
  • Tone - New tone knob, a "tilt" sytle tone knob centered at 500Hz to nail that perfect tone.
  • Sidechain Send/Return- 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compresson.
  • Sidechain High Pass Filter - No need to add a high pass filter to the sidechain, now there is one built in that can be toggled off or set to 120 or 240Hz.
  • True Display LEDs - Bright multi-color LEDs always let you know what the compressor is doing.
  • Power On Bypassed or Engaged - For musicians that never want to turn their compressor off.
  • True Bypass - The Empress Compressor employs true bypass, so you can be sure that it's not affecting the signal when disengaged.
  • Small Size - New enclosure approximately half the size of the original compressor, which is delightfully small when considering all the features packed into this unit.
  • Beautiful Case - It has a sparkle you can't deny, in blue or silver!

BASS

  • All Analog Signal Path - no digitals in here!
  • Extremely Transparent - Add dynamic control without altering the original tone of your instrument
  • 3 Compression Ratios - 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios offer lots of flexibility
  • Attack and Release Control - allows for ultimate control over the compression characteristics
  • Mix - Blend uncompressed signal in with the compressed signal for parallel compression, New York Style!
  • Metering - Meter both gain reduction and input on separate meters.
  • Tone + Color - Adds mild harmonic distortion with a mid range cut or an upper mid range boost.
  • Sidechain Send/Return- 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compresson.
  • Sidechain High Pass Filter - a variable high pass filter that filters low frequencies from the sidechain. The filter frequency ranges from 20Hz to 400Hz.
  • Improved Low End Frequency Response - To handle those low low sounds, completely flat down to 20Hz.
  • True Display LEDs - Bright multi-color LEDs always let you know what the compressor is doing.
  • True Bypass - The Empress Compressor employs true bypass, so you can be sure that it's not affecting the signal when disengaged.
  • Small Size - New enclosure approximately half the size of the original compressor, which is delightfully small when considering all the features packed into this unit.
  • Beautiful Case - It has a sparkle you can't deny, available in blue or silver!

The Compressors will both be available for $249 (US). It is available direct from Empress Effects at www.empresseffects.com or through any Empress Effects Dealer. For a complete list of dealers, please visit www.empresseffects.com/dealers

For more information:
Empress Effects