New Empress Compressor MKII

[Ewo]

Here's my .02 on the bass version:

Still getting familiar with it, but I'm mightily impressed with the new Empress. (Couldn't resist doing that...) I've used a number of top-of-the-line pedal compressors for live work in the past, but repeatedly got a bit frustrated and stopped using them. I've been looking for one that doesn't add coloration or rob the dynamics, doesn't pump or breathe noticeably, and has metering to tell me how hard I'm hitting the threshold and how much gain reduction it's doing.

I especially like the mix feature (so you can run parallel compression, which can really help preserve the dynamic feel). And the HPF in the built-in sidechain lets you tame the tendency for low notes to make the compressor clamp down too hard. Maybe there is one, but I don't know of another pedal compressor that has the full metering, the mix, and the sidechain HPF in one box.

Man, this thing is checking every item on my wish list. Haven't yet had the opportunity to use it at a live show (had a nice calendar for November and December until the latest round of virus hoopla killed all the dates) but it sure sounds great in my music room.

 

[scubaduba]

Here's my .02 on the bass version:

Still getting familiar with it, but I'm mightily impressed with the new Empress. (Couldn't resist doing that...) I've used a number of top-of-the-line pedal compressors for live work in the past, but repeatedly got a bit frustrated and stopped using them. I've been looking for one that doesn't add coloration or rob the dynamics, doesn't pump or breathe noticeably, and has metering to tell me how hard I'm hitting the threshold and how much gain reduction it's doing.

I especially like the mix feature (so you can run parallel compression, which can really help preserve the dynamic feel). And the HPF in the built-in sidechain lets you tame the tendency for low notes to make the compressor clamp down too hard. Maybe there is one, but I don't know of another pedal compressor that has the full metering, the mix, and the sidechain HPF in one box.

Man, this thing is checking every item on my wish list. Haven't yet had the opportunity to use it at a live show (had a nice calendar for November and December until the latest round of virus hoopla killed all the dates) but it sure sounds great in my music room.

Awesome! Nice review and I think many are going to end up selecting one of the new Empress compressors as their device of choice, and for good reason. Probably the most directly comparable, all things considered, would be the Becos Stella.

 

[Zymba]

I was torn between the Becos and the new Empress. When the official Empress pre-order hit I jumped on it. Unfortunately, between work and school, I've had no time to even plug in yet. Damn. Well, it's here when I do have time! I'm not surprised by the positive reviews so far. Both units I considered feature everything I'd want/need in a compressor..and then some. I'll chime in once I can put it through its paces.

 

[SubSonicAK]

Sorry to ask again, but my question got buried in the sea of positive reviews. Just looking for a bit more intel on the Tone+Color knob. What effect does it have on tone? Is it a possible alternative to someone looking at a Diamond but wanting more control? Thanks

 

[Lowendtech]

Sorry to ask again, but my question got buried in the sea of positive reviews. Just looking for a bit more intel on the Tone+Color knob. What effect does it have on tone? Is it a possible alternative to someone looking at a Diamond but wanting more control? Thanks

From the manual;
tone + colour: The left position is a mid range cut at 500Hz, while the right position is a upper mid range boost at 2kHz. Both positions engage the ‘colour’ circuit which adds a subtle touch of harmonic distortion.

I had a BCP-1 some years ago and my tuppence would be absolutely, yes.

 

[Lowendtech]

Sorry to ask again, but my question got buried in the sea of positive reviews. Just looking for a bit more intel on the Tone+Color knob. What effect does it have on tone? Is it a possible alternative to someone looking at a Diamond but wanting more control? Thanks

Also you should read scubaduba’s review on it if you haven’t already. As usual, it is most excellent.

Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more

 

[scubaduba]

Sorry to ask again, but my question got buried in the sea of positive reviews. Just looking for a bit more intel on the Tone+Color knob. What effect does it have on tone? Is it a possible alternative to someone looking at a Diamond but wanting more control? Thanks

Hmm. If you are referring to the Empress Bass Compressor (not Empress MKII) I'd say, not really. The Diamond has a tilt EQ which essentially acts as a form of variable boost of the low end and attenuation of high end when turning counterclockwise vice versa turning clockwise from noon. This tilt EQ is not adding harmonic content per se like the Empress switch is when flipping the switch to the left or right position. The Empress has no real variable EQ control. Tone+Color is a 3-way switch, not a knob. The Tone+Color switch is adding harmonic content (slight breakup) that the Diamond is not.

 

[SubSonicAK]

Hmm. If you are referring to the Empress Bass Compressor (not Empress MKII) I'd say, not really. The Diamond has a tilt EQ which essentially acts as a form of variable boost of the low end and attenuation of high end when turning counterclockwise vice versa turning clockwise from noon. This tilt EQ is not adding harmonic content per se like the Empress switch is when flipping the switch to the left or right position. The Empress has no real variable EQ control. Tone+Color is a 3-way switch, not a knob. The Tone+Color switch is adding harmonic content (slight breakup) that the Diamond is not.

Thanks for the explanation, it's much appreciated. Looking at my first compressor pedal and think I'll go with the Diamond Bass Comp Jr. for price and ease of use. The Empress sounds brilliant for utility but maybe a bit too complicated for me at the moment if I'm just looking to dip my toe in and understand how they work first hand. Colouring tone is just a bonus, but I like what I've heard about the Diamond.

 

[Lowendtech]

Thanks for the explanation, it's much appreciated. Looking at my first compressor pedal and think I'll go with the Diamond Bass Comp Jr. for price and ease of use. The Empress sounds brilliant for utility but maybe a bit too complicated for me at the moment if I'm just looking to dip my toe in and understand how they work first hand. Colouring tone is just a bonus, but I like what I've heard about the Diamond.

Sounds like a great place to start. My first comp was an MXR M87 and sadly I bit off more than I could chew on for a first comp so I traded it for a BCP-1 and was quite happy with that choice for several years. Diamond makes great stuff.

 

[SubSonicAK]

Sounds like a great place to start. My first comp was an MXR M87 and sadly I bit off more than I could chew on for a first comp so I traded it for a BCP-1 and was quite happy with that choice for several years. Diamond makes great stuff.

Glad to hear it! I'm a pathological tinkerer and can't imagine having too many things to play with would be very productive when I'm just coming to terms with compression, generally, but I'm always conscious about future proofing as much as I can so I don't have to buy more stuff later... hence my question about whether the Empress might have the best of both worlds.

Sorry to sidetrack the conversation, keep enjoying the new Empress stuff!

 

[eeyorebass]

Can anyone provide a comparison with the Keeley Compressor Pro?

 

[scubaduba]

Can anyone provide a comparison with the Keeley Compressor Pro?

Both are excellent but different. I’d encourage you to read this:
https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/post/keeley-compressor-pro-review

And this

https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/post/empress-bass-compressor-review

 

[Real Soon]

Maybe there is one, but I don't know of another pedal compressor that has the full metering, the mix, and the sidechain HPF in one box.

The Hyper Luminal does have all of these items, and they're three reasons I love mine. That said, I am containing my lust for one of these the best I can, with its extra tone control and what looks like the ability to insert, say, a kick drum into the sidechain (for if you want some modern dancey ducking comp). And they're purdy.

 

[eeyorebass]

Both are excellent but different. I’d encourage you to read this:
https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/post/keeley-compressor-pro-review

And this

https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/post/empress-bass-compressor-review

Thanks, Scuba! Great reviews!

Sounds like they are very similar in a lot of ways.

[edit to add] The feature I'm most curious about is the Knee switch on the Pro. I'm guessing the Empress is a hard-knee? How big a difference does that make in the feel? I only ever use lower ratios anyway?

 

[Ewo]

Was wondering...Has anybody gotten inside and turned off the _colour_ circuit DIP switch on the tone control? There's a reference to that capability in the manual. I opened the box, and the DIP switch is covered with tape. Peel it off, I guess.

Think I'm gonna leave mine alone for the moment. Just was wondering, though.

 

[scubaduba]

Was wondering...Has anybody gotten inside and turned off the _colour_ circuit DIP switch on the tone control? There's a reference to that capability in the manual. I opened the box, and the DIP switch is covered with tape. Peel it off, I guess.

Think I'm gonna leave mine alone for the moment. Just was wondering, though.

The two dip switches are at the red arrow. I like the color so I've left them both on (upward position) but it works great to turn them off too if you want to cut the harmonic content.

 

[crguti]

Gear Outlet uploaded this video on YT

 

[Mitch -Empress]

Gear Outlet uploaded this video on YT

So it looks like we did miss this unfortunately. We are getting reports of a click when using a passive bass. We
came up with a simple fix which involves replacing the ribbon cable with a flex PCB. We will receive these early next week and be ready to ship them out the week after that, after we test to insure that this will work. We are sorry if you have experienced this issue and are committed to insuring the bass compressor works up to our normal standards and will do whatever we need to fix the issue. If you do put a buffer before the pedal it will fix the issue for now. I'll post back here again when I have more details and info on the fix.

This issue affects only affects the Bass Compressor.

 

[scubaduba]

So it looks like we did miss this unfortunately. We are getting reports of a click when using a passive bass. We
came up with a simple fix which involves replacing the ribbon cable with a flex PCB. We will receive these early next week and be ready to ship them out the week after that, after we test to insure that this will work. We are sorry if you have experienced this issue and are committed to insuring the bass compressor works up to our normal standards and will do whatever we need to fix the issue. If you do put a buffer before the pedal it will fix the issue for now. I'll post back here again when I have more details and info on the fix.

This issue affects only affects the Bass Compressor.

Awesome! Thank you for the update.

 

[Ewo]

Hey, I'd appreciate some education on this. What little electronics knowledge I possess doesn't explain to me why the click happens with a passive bass but not an active.

So...a buffer between the bass and the pedal cures the click, eh? Something to do with the pedal loading the pickups in a passive bass?