I've got one on the way too. Looking forward to it.
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New Empress Compressor MKII
- Thread starter crguti
- Start date
I've got one on the way too. Looking forward to it.
Not to pile on, but I mentioned it the bigger compressor thread, too. I think the HPF is a side chain function, not a straight HPF on the Instrument signal.
- Sidechain High Pass Filter - a variable high pass filter that filters low frequencies from the sidechain. The filter frequency ranges from 20Hz to 400Hz.
Just ordered too. I just sold my Smoothie a month ago in anticipation of this pedal. Can't wait.
Not exactly, from my read. The Cali 76-CB doesn't have an "input" for the side chain from what I can see. The description on their site reads like it listens only to the instrument signal.
I think the Empress functions similarly, but the HPF is controlling how the Side Chain reacts to the external signal coming into the pedal via the TRS input.
Forgive my ignorance, how does the side chain and SCHP control work? Their manual doesn't look it's complete yet. Thanks!
The TRS input is a separate sidechain, for you to insert whatever else you’d like into the sidechain. But it also has a built-in sidechain HPF that essentially functions the same as the HPF knob on the Cali76-CB. It doesn’t roll off the low end... It just alters what frequencies the pedal is actually compressing.
If it has the Cali style built in HPF then that would be nice. The site text is misleading. It calls it SC HPF
Sidechain High Pass Filter - a variable high pass filter that filters low frequencies from the sidechain. The filter frequency ranges from 20Hz to 400Hz.
I think what I was missing was that the Side Chain is a Send/Return, so that would make more sense.
- Sidechain Send/Return- 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compression.
Heck yeah, I've been waiting a while for this. Sold my other one assuming it was going to be sooner. I like how you can turn off the EQ, and as cool as the mixed lights were on the old one this will work better
Damn, now I gotta sell my Empress Compressor. I was running a Broughton HPF in the side chain, but this compact set up makes it all worth the upgrade.
The only spec that doesn’t excite me is the 2.2k ohm output impedance. Since my compressor is the only effect I have on 85% of the time, I like for it to have a low output impedance, preferably under 1k ohm. 2.2k is higher than I’d prefer, and I’d rather not add an additional buffer.
Regarding the HP function: It is developed such that the compressor will NOT react to any frequency below the threshold you set. In other words, if you set the HP to roughly 80hz that means that the compression engine would not be triggered by frequency less than 80hz.
I had alot of fun running my old one through a EQ, it really dialed in what was compressing and what wasn't. Not sure about this 3.5 plug though
That was understood. What was unclear from the Empress site was if it *only* responded to the Side Chain TRS input from external sources - or - if it could also respond to just the Instrument signal. The blog post from October reads like it will listen to the Instrument signal if no other Side Chain source is plugged in to the TRS jack, which is far more useful than if it only listened to the TRS input for an external source.
It may just be semantics confusion, but actually no. Side chains affect ONLY the threshold trigger. The audio passing through a full range comp (as in, not a Multiband comp), will experience the same gain reduction across all frequencies. Removing lows in the side chain ONLY CHANGES how the threshold responds. It does not alter the EQ of the compressed audio path.
Yes, that was my intended meaning. You said it better.
Compression seems to be a point of confusion for a lot of people, side chains can push some over the edge. This was about the 5th or 6th time I’ve made that post, because I think a side chain HPF is a really valuable, functional tool. I love it, and don’t want it to be misunderstood.
Oh yeah, and the new empress bass compressor that just popped up in my Reverb feed looks freaking amazing.
Bass Compressor. Just saw this on FB today shipping Nov 25!.. I may have to save my $$ and get one for my recording go kit. Will have to see what the squeeze heads say.
