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Empress Compressor
- Thread starter Mr_McBride
- Start date
Adamixoye
A PT Pro is cool for worship, right?
- Apr 9, 2012
- 18,158
- 69,338
- Disclosures
- Occasional Beta Tester for Confusion Studios, Singular Sound, and Source Audio
Empress has a YouTube video on how to use the side chain. They show you how to make a super-cheap high pass filter (one capacitor + one TRS plug), and---someone correct me if I'm wrong---since the side chain isn't actually in the audio path, it won't introduce any noise.
^^^^^
You are correct. I have not made one yet but after watching the video and talking to Empress it's a great and effect solution.
Played last night with a GK MB 200 and the Empress and all I can say is it was like "the sound in my head".
Smooth, warm, tight. Even the drummer said he could really hear the bass. Great gear.
You are correct. I have not made one yet but after watching the video and talking to Empress it's a great and effect solution.
Played last night with a GK MB 200 and the Empress and all I can say is it was like "the sound in my head".
Smooth, warm, tight. Even the drummer said he could really hear the bass. Great gear.
I use the Empress Compressor for a number of reasons, many of which are stated above. It's quite versatile, too; the only thing it really won't do is the super-duper 1:20-plus Tony Levin squish.
The biggest reason, though, is that it's so easy and intuitive to adjust quickly, on the fly between songs -- a must in a cover-band situation like mine.
I've owned at least 10 compressors (EBS, Diamond, BBE, Keeley ... and the vaunted FEA Labs Opti-FET), and the Empress is by far the most use-able and cleanest sounding. Congrats!
The biggest reason, though, is that it's so easy and intuitive to adjust quickly, on the fly between songs -- a must in a cover-band situation like mine.
I've owned at least 10 compressors (EBS, Diamond, BBE, Keeley ... and the vaunted FEA Labs Opti-FET), and the Empress is by far the most use-able and cleanest sounding. Congrats!
I've tried the capacitor & TS jack hi-pass filter thing, and there's indeed a slight difference in how the compressor "listens" and compresses the lows. Alternatively you can achieve similar results with the blend knob at 90% (letting some of the dry signal come through uncompressed), instead cranking it all the way up.
But it's a truly awesome compressor either way, with or without the hi-pass filter, two thumbs up!!
Adamixoye
A PT Pro is cool for worship, right?
- Apr 9, 2012
- 18,158
- 69,338
- Disclosures
- Occasional Beta Tester for Confusion Studios, Singular Sound, and Source Audio
That is true of MANY pedals both cheaper and more expensive than $250. You really only get power supplies with some brands, like Digitech and some EHX pedals, or pedals with special power requirements (e.g., Pigtronix likes 18V). Not Boss or most boutique brands. It's not a sign of being cheap, it's the way things are.
I have a box full of useless power supplies that were included with various pedals. One spot powers my whole board and is much quieter then some of those crappy bundled supplies. I can see where it would be frustrating for someone just buying their first pedal. Spend the $20 for a onespot you’ll soon get over it
I'd expect pretty much anyone who is willing to sink $250+ into a compressor to also have their power situation sorted. Having a power supply with multiple isolated outputs is pretty much the fundamental of a good pedal board.
If you decide to make a pedal board it's easier to plug in one power supply in rather than all those 9V batteries or many power supply cords.
Dedicated power supplies are a requirement for a multiple pedal board or it just gets too messy.
I bought one off Amazon for 20 or 30 bucks it wasn't much. That one had 5 leads on it. No noise.
I have removed the batteries from the pedals that take batteries.
The Empress is really a great compressor. I love mine. Been using it for about 6 months and it's not coming off the board.
Hadn't heard, found this post
Looks excellent! Not going to be a priority of mine since I already have a v1 and an MXR Bass Compressor and they're both excellent, but the thought of selling them off and getting two of these is quite tempting. If anything, just for the reduced size and improved monitoring, but I think I could find use for the HPF and tone where my MXR is. Won't be switching them around as I use the Empress largely for sustain.
This is an interesting discussion on the Empress from a year-or-so back:
post your Empress Compressor settings!
Riis
post your Empress Compressor settings!
Riis
I wish the makers of pedals could come to some sort of consensus about whether the jacks are to be top mounted or side. All of the current ones I have are side mounted.
Besides the HPF, which my Mesa Subway DI has, I don't see the reason to upgrade.
Well with my power sorted out I’ve got a chance to play with the empress a bit. 1, it’s dead quiet. 2, very transparent. It really doesn’t color the sound of my bass at all. it just evens things out for me when things get too boomy up the neck on the fat strings. I’ve got it set to squash those “wolf tones” so the bass has even output wile maintaining dynamics. ppp-fff. It’s pretty nice. As an effect it sounds nice finger picking in the upper register as well. My bad complaining about the no power supply after talking to some friends. I didn’t know it’s pretty standard to have to provide your own.
