I found it hard to get a *good* sound out of it. Ymmv.
It is simple-ish, but it's not really plug and play, there's a lot of knob-twiddling to be done
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Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, Lusithand & more
- Thread starter scubaduba
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It is simple-ish, but it's not really plug and play, there's a lot of knob-twiddling to be done
I agree that the Empress is not beginner friendly, but for those experienced with compression parameters (attack, release, sc hp, etc) it's easy enough to get transparent compression. Caveat: transparent when the Colour modes are not used -- they are colorful by design. A wonderful feature is the Mix control -- i.e. clean blend. I can get excellent compression from the Empress even fully wet, but Mix is a fantastic tool to get a more natural sound when dialing in stronger compression.
To add on the Empress, those meters are nice to have to see what's going on, especially when you change basses regularly 
Beginner-friendly ? Can't say but it's my first compressor and I really like it.
Beginner-friendly ? Can't say but it's my first compressor and I really like it.
In my experience with the Empress, the only transparency happened at 100% dry blend. I'm putting it down to my bass having too hot an output for the Empress
I would recommend either EBS Multicomp or Keeley Bassist...
Yes it is. Basically, plug in, adjust the input level for your bass, and pick a compression ratio from the 3 offered and adjust from there. Or as the manual says:
Basic Operation
- Start with all knobs at noon and the RATIO switch at 4:1.
- Play your instrument and adjust the INPUT knob until the INPUT meter shows a healthy signal, ideally peaking around -2dB to 0dB.
- Adjust the ATTACK and RELEASE knobs to shape the compression response. Experiment to find a setting that feels natural and responsive to your playing style.
- Use the MIX knob to blend in the desired amount of compressed signal. For subtle sustain, use a lower mix. For a more pronounced compressed sound, increase the mix.
- Experiment with the RATIO switch to achieve different levels of compression intensity.
- Engage the TONE + COLOUR switch to explore additional tonal characteristics.
- Adjust the OUTPUT knob to match the volume of your bypassed signal.
100% dry, LOL. Fair point about bass output. The Empress handles my hottest bass, but it has a 9V pre so I don't believe it approaches the hottest basses on the market.
The Empress Bass Compressor(and Compressor MKII) regulates it's voltage internally to ~16V which should give plenty of headroom to handle a hot active bass signal or high-output pickups without clipping. It's worth noting that the pedal can function when supplied with 12V or 18V but since the voltage is regulated internally this will not increase the headroom.
The pedal is designed for transparency (with the colour circuit turned off), but of course depending on your instrument, other pedals/gear, and your ears, your mileage may vary
The pedal is designed for transparency (with the colour circuit turned off), but of course depending on your instrument, other pedals/gear, and your ears, your mileage may vary
Let me clarify why I think these two comps are suitable for someone who is inexperienced in the field of compression.
The parameters which are difficult to master for beginners are, IMHO, attack and release.
These two compressors do the work for the user...
I didn’t have any problems with either of my active basses, a Sire V7 and a Roscoe. YMMV, as always.
The Empress can produce sounds like clipping or farting with very short attack times, expecially when paired with high ratios IIRC. I had problems setting it up, too, but it could be resolved.
Definitely not a beginner compr though IMHO. I am with @Zbysek here regarding the Keeley, which is also good becuase of its transaprency and lack of sound alteration.
Optocomps like the Alma or the Union Lab are great and simple to use (Union Lab) but add a tone alteration and the typical "plop" of the optocomps, depending on setting. They are very nice, but not neutral and thus maybe not ideal for beginners.
Definitely not a beginner compr though IMHO. I am with @Zbysek here regarding the Keeley, which is also good becuase of its transaprency and lack of sound alteration.
Optocomps like the Alma or the Union Lab are great and simple to use (Union Lab) but add a tone alteration and the typical "plop" of the optocomps, depending on setting. They are very nice, but not neutral and thus maybe not ideal for beginners.
D
I will agree, Empress is not the easiest compressor for beginners. I have not tried very simple compressors, but I can say that Cali76 v2 is much more forgiving with the user even at a very high ratio. Attack/Release are combined and do not have such a wide spectrum, that is why it is much harder to make a bad setting. Plus it is built like a tank.
But, I am a slap and funk maniac with ghost notes (generally jazz fusion and the Mezzoforte type as a sound), and Empress actually gives me that, that defined, percussive slap, those present notes and those clearly audible ghost notes. It is not for nothing that I have two Empress compressors on one of the pedalboards. Sometimes I feel the Cali76 compressor is too shrill, a lot of high mids, extremely defined, but it's not percussive enough for me, it is limited by the 5.1ms which is the maximum for slow attack. I prefer to have about 20-25ms set on the compressor.
But, I am a slap and funk maniac with ghost notes (generally jazz fusion and the Mezzoforte type as a sound), and Empress actually gives me that, that defined, percussive slap, those present notes and those clearly audible ghost notes. It is not for nothing that I have two Empress compressors on one of the pedalboards. Sometimes I feel the Cali76 compressor is too shrill, a lot of high mids, extremely defined, but it's not percussive enough for me, it is limited by the 5.1ms which is the maximum for slow attack. I prefer to have about 20-25ms set on the compressor.
I have this overdrive sound when I first have the empress bass comp through a TH350. Almost return the pedal. But found out it was the amp, I have to zero out the gain and drive on the amp to avoid that. Eventually replaced the amp with subway D350.
Now, I like it a lot for the extensive control parameters and its transparency.
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The only one I've used was the EBS and having found it so easy to use made me wonder why we never hear about them anymore. I'm still a fan and don't see how anything could be easier to use.
I don't have their Multicomp at the moment...but I am using their Octabass and Sheehan drive (which features their compressor)..
EBS has bigger market share in Europe than in the US, I guess...
Makes sense, bought mine in Japan and I suppose they've got a bigger market over there too.
I have been playing ping pong with my Twain going back and forth between stacked and dual band. I like both, but usually go back to dual band. Lately stacked is the way, or at least with my current settings using the Twain as a limiter and my passive stingray in single coil mode. I keep looking at compressors, but I have not seen anything that makes me have GAS for another compressor. Thank you Becos FX.
Every so often, I make the mistake of wandering into this thread just to see what’s going on. Lately I’ve been contemplating whether or not to upgrade from my Lusithand Alma v1 (which I’ve been very happy with) to the newer MKIII. Then I read @scubaduba ’s review of the Becos Yuna. Now I’m intrigued. One online review (The Wetter Bass) made a passing remark that the Alma is a close comparison to the Yuna, which gives me some confidence that this might be a compressor I would like.
My main question is whether to order one with or without the DITOS transformer. If I go with the DITOS, I have to give up the 9V battery, which I might find useful. However, it might be a worthwhile trade off.
Is anyone else using the Yuna? Did you go with the DITOS transformer, and if so, are you using it for live performance?
My main question is whether to order one with or without the DITOS transformer. If I go with the DITOS, I have to give up the 9V battery, which I might find useful. However, it might be a worthwhile trade off.
Is anyone else using the Yuna? Did you go with the DITOS transformer, and if so, are you using it for live performance?
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Just saw the new Aguilar TLC on BassTheWorld YT channel. Looked pretty interesting.
It sounds great, I really wish they had a DI option on it so it was an all in one box too.
