New Empress Compressor MKII

[Ewo]

Let's get back to regularly scheduled programming.
Since this thread is entitled "New Empress Compressor MKII" I'm wondering how many have the MKII. My MKII arrived on Friday and I had a little time with it over the weekend. Definitely a lot of similarities but it is a different product and I can see where some might prefer one over the other. I definitely need more time with it and I will be publishing a formal review.

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I preordered the bass version, because (Mayor of Simpleton that I am...) it said _bass_ on it. But I'm very glad I did. I had a compressor with a tilt EQ a while back, and didn't find it to add much; I use the onboard EQ of the bass for tone changes during a show, and the amp's EQ for dialing in the room sound. OTOH, the _variable_ HPF in the sidechain is absolute gold to me. Being able to fine tune the cutoff frequency is far better than just having the choice of two.

 

[Ewo]

Does the SC HP knob do anything if you're not using the sidechain feature?

Somebody please burst open the lid on my understanding if I've got this wrong, but AFAIK...

The variable HPF is in line with the feedback loop which controls the gain reduction. There's a diagram of this in the manual. So the HPF is useful without an external signal being patched in.

 

[geobassix]

I’m still playing with the bass comp. While using an active bass (classic 4-string ray) I’m getting the clicking noise when the -3 gain reduction LED goes out. Typically, with a passive bass the clicking noise happens when the -1 gain reduction LED illuminates. Is anyone else encountering the same problem? The way I find it is by hitting a low note and holding it until it goes through the 3rd LED. It still happens a little bit on the 1st one though.

While I have the issue with my bass in passive mode, it goes away when switching to active mode...

 

[scubaduba]

So the HPF is useful without an external signal being patched in.

That is correct. The HPF works with either the onboard dial or the input jack.

 

[kranahan]

While I have the issue with my bass in passive mode, it goes away when switching to active mode...

Nice! I guess my Ray isn't very active.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Mine arrived an hour ago, and I immediately tried it with a passive bass. At first I didn't hear any noise whatsoever. That was my own fault: I initially thought "I'll squash my signal to make sure I hear it". After I didn't hear any artifacts I put my brain into gear and remembered that the issue only happens on the -1 and -2db LEDs -- duh. So I put the Empress into "barely there" mode, and sure enough, I can hear a bit of static as those LEDs fade out, mainly the -1. It's not much, but I was playing at condo volume, not gig volume. So, I'll get on the waiting list for the fix.



Aside from that, the Empress has all the goodness I was hoping for plus more. One thing that surprised me: the overdrive is less subtle than I expected. It's definitely not "metal", but noticeably stronger than the max setting on the FEA DE-CL's Warmth knob (I have the recent DE-CL on which Warmth was scaled back). I agree with scuba that the Colour modes won't replace any of my distortion pedals... but that said, if I felt like being lazy at a non-hard-rock gig, I could get away with Empress Bass all by itself and use Colour for a bit of grit.

 

[TwototheValley]

Mine arrived an hour ago, and I immediately tried it with a passive bass. At first I didn't hear any noise whatsoever. That was my own fault: I initially thought "I'll squash my signal to make sure I hear it". After I didn't hear any artifacts I put my brain into gear and remembered that the issue only happens on the -1 and -2db LEDs -- duh. So I put the Empress into "barely there" mode, and sure enough, I can hear a bit of static as those LEDs fade out, mainly the -1. It's not much, but I was playing at condo volume, not gig volume. So, I'll get on the waiting list for the fix.



Aside from that, the Empress has all the goodness I was hoping for plus more. One thing that surprised me: the overdrive is less subtle than I expected. It's definitely not "metal", but noticeably stronger than the max setting on the FEA DE-CL's Warmth knob (I have the recent DE-CL on which Warmth was scaled back). I agree with scuba that the Colour modes won't replace any of my distortion pedals... but that said, if I felt like being lazy at a non-hard-rock gig, I could get away with Empress Bass all by itself and use Colour for a bit of grit.

My experience is pretty much the same...the overdrive is subtle but still tasty.

I also get the noise problem using the Bass Compressor with all my basses (all of which are passive), but Empress has already contacted me to let me know they’re sending me a replacement cable ASAP.

The compressor otherwise sounds great...tons of functionality. Kudos to Mitch for being so quick to address the noise issue for those affected by it.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Jeez. I’m not even a comp kinda guy, but this one (the Bass version) is getting really, really hard to resist.

 

[monsterthompson]

Jeez. I’m not even a comp kinda guy, but this one (the Bass version) is getting really, really hard to resist.

Right?
Except I just bought a different comp, and I'm currently enjoying it.
But still, this is pretty tempting. I'm glad these will be in regular production and available for a while. I see one jumping on my board at some point.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Today I tested with two active basses, both of which have passive mode and passive tone control. Results went as I expected:

1) Zon, on which the passive tone control only functions in passive mode: the noise happened in passive mode, but not active mode

2) Sadowsky, on which the passive control functions in both active and passive modes: the noise happened in both modes

This indicates that a passive tone control can essentially "debuff" an active circuit, as previously speculated.





And OBTW, Mitch from Empress confirmed that I was on the waiting list for the fix, and would be given tracking # and instructions when the part shipped out.

 

[geobassix]

Nice! I guess my Ray isn't very active.

Hi @kranahan, I would like to apologize. After reading @Fuzzbass post I decided to try for myself, but this time with headphones.

My bass is an Ibanez BTB1805 on which the passive control functions in both active and passive modes.
I DO hear the noise in both modes and almost exactly as you said.
Passive mode: As the gain reduction decrease, the first noise is at -3db and the second one at -1db
Active mode: As the gain reduction decrease, the only noise is at -3db

The noise is not a pop or click or anything that audible, it is indeed more like static noise.

 

[kranahan]

Hi @kranahan, I would like to apologize. After reading @Fuzzbass post I decided to try for myself, but this time with headphones.

My bass is an Ibanez BTB1805 on which the passive control functions in both active and passive modes.
I DO hear the noise in both modes and almost exactly as you said.
Passive mode: As the gain reduction decrease, the first noise is at -3db and the second one at -1db
Active mode: As the gain reduction decrease, the only noise is at -3db

The noise is not a pop or click or anything that audible, it is indeed more like static noise.

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I really hope this replacement cable will fix the clicking/static noise for both passive and active basses. I already sold my backup comp. Lol.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I really hope this replacement cable will fix the clicking/static noise for both passive and active basses. I already sold my backup comp. Lol.

Empress has said that they are testing the DIY fix, which they believe will work, but if it doesn't, then they will replace the pedals (once the problem is eliminated with a non-DIY fix, I assume).

IME the noise does not occur with purely active basses: those without a passive tone control in the active circuit.

 

[Ewo]

Today I tested with two active basses, both of which have passive mode and passive tone control. Results went as I expected:

1) Zon, on which the passive tone control only functions in passive mode: the noise happened in passive mode, but not active mode

2) Sadowsky, on which the passive control functions in both active and passive modes: the noise happened in both modes

This indicates that a passive tone control can essentially "debuff" an active circuit, as previously speculated.

Good job. Seems like it'd be useful to compare notes with various basses.

I use a Sandberg Cali TM-5 with Delano pickups. The controls are volume/blend/treble/bass. I habitually run it active, but this discussion prompted me to try it with the preamp bypassed. The treble EQ works as a good ol' _tone_ knob that way.

There's no noise in active mode. In passive mode, the noise is just barely perceptible--but yeah, it's there when the -1/-2 lights blink.

Hmn...IANA tech, but I'm guessing the pickups' impedance prolly has something to do with how much noise sneaks in, without buffering. That would account the different experiences folks have described.

 

[kranahan]

Empress has said that they are testing the DIY fix, which they believe will work, but if it doesn't, then they will replace the pedals (once the problem is eliminated with a non-DIY fix, I assume).

IME the noise does not occur with purely active basses: those without a passive tone control in the active circuit.

Is my ray classic 4 not fully active? I’m just curious.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Is my ray classic 4 not fully active? I’m just curious.

Yes, but the passive tone control changes its impedance. See next post.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Good job. Seems like it'd be useful to compare notes with various basses.

I use a Sandberg Cali TM-5 with Delano pickups. The controls are volume/blend/treble/bass. I habitually run it active, but this discussion prompted me to try it with the preamp bypassed. The treble EQ works as a good ol' _tone_ knob that way.

There's no noise in active mode. In passive mode, the noise is just barely perceptible--but yeah, it's there when the -1/-2 lights blink.

Hmn...IANA tech, but I'm guessing the pickups' impedance prolly has something to do with how much noise sneaks in, without buffering. That would account the different experiences folks have described.

IANA tech either (it would be nice if one chimed in), but a friend of mine is, so I'm going on what he told me awhile back.

You have a good point that there are active pickups and passive pickups, but active pickups are relatively rare. Most active basses have passive pickups followed by an active preamp.

So with that in mind: pickups are first in the signal chain, obviously. Then there's the active buffered circuit. Without anything else in the chain, you have low impedance, buffered output which will not trigger the static noise in the Empress Bass. However it's become popular for active circuits to include a passive tone control for easy treble cut. It also makes the active circuit sound "warmer"... and my friend said that this is because it raises impedance to make the output more similar to a passive system. Because of the higher impedance, instrument cable capacitance comes back into play and rolls off some treble (does not apply to someone using a wireless system). With low impedance output, you don't lose that high end from the instrument cable.

Similarly, low impedance will not trigger the noise from the Empress, but if that low impedance is raised by a passive tone control that follows the active circuit, then that higher impedance will trigger the noise.

Hopefully a tech will clarify/correct me as needed.

 

[kranahan]

IANA tech either (it would be nice if one chimed in), but a friend of mine is, so I'm going on what he told me awhile back.

You have a good point that there are active pickups and passive pickups, but active pickups are relatively rare. Most active basses have passive pickups followed by an active preamp.

So with that in mind: pickups are first in the signal chain, obviously. Then there's the active buffered circuit. Without anything else in the chain, you have low impedance, buffered output which will not trigger the static noise in the Empress Bass. However it's become popular for active circuits to include a passive tone control for easy treble cut. It also makes the active circuit sound "warmer"... and my friend said that this is because it raises impedance to make the output more similar to a passive system. Because of the higher impedance, instrument cable capacitance comes back into play and rolls off some treble (does not apply to someone using a wireless system). With low impedance output, you don't lose that high end from the instrument cable.

Similarly, low impedance will not trigger the noise from the Empress, but if that low impedance is raised by a passive tone control that follows the active circuit, then that higher impedance will trigger the noise.

Hopefully a tech will clarify/correct me as needed.

Thank you for the explanation. That would make sense why my ray is triggering the static noise then.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Thank you for the explanation. That would make sense why my ray is triggering the static noise then.

Earlier someone had said that their Sadowsky was triggering the noise even in active mode, so I confirmed that with my own Sadowsky, and eventually put two and two together. I think!

 

[Ewo]

You have a good point that there are active pickups and passive pickups, but active pickups are relatively rare. Most active basses have passive pickups followed by an active preamp.

Well, actually that wasn't what I meant, and I should have been clearer. I meant that plain old passive pickups vary in impedance (that right?), so bypassing the pre in various active basses is gonna present different impedances to the compressor, and they'll be more or less prone to picking up the noise.