Empress Effects Compressor Mk II (Silver)

The Compressor MKII is a fully analog FET compressor in a compact Silver Sparkle enclosure, designed by Empress Effects as the successor to the original 2011 Compressor – at half the physical size with an expanded feature set. The classic control set (Ratio, Attack, Release, Mix, Input, Output, side-chain input) is joined by two additions: a three-position side-chain high-pass filter switch (120 Hz, 240 Hz, Off) and a Tone knob – a tilt EQ centred at 500 Hz that simultaneously boosts the high frequencies and cuts the low frequencies (or vice versa). Metering uses two independent LED indicators: a 10-segment Gain Reduction meter (–1 to –25 dB) and a 5-segment Input meter (–2 to –14 dB). Input impedance: 1 MΩ. Output impedance: 2.2 kΩ. THD: below 0.1%. SNR: –101 dB. Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (–3 dB). Power: 9–18 V DC, 100 mA. Attack time: 50 µs – 50 ms. True bypass.

Tilt EQ at 500 Hz – how it differs from a standard Tone control and when it matters

A standard Tone control in a compressor is a shelving filter operating in one direction – boost or cut. The tilt EQ centred at 500 Hz works differently: rotating the knob in one direction simultaneously boosts frequencies above 500 Hz and cuts frequencies below, while rotating the other way reverses those relationships. The effect is a global tonal balance shift without changing the overall signal energy sum – useful for compensating the tonal character of a specific guitar or amplifier without affecting the compression dynamics. The Tone control operates after the compression stage, which means it does not influence the detection threshold or the GR curve shape – it is purely a tonal finalisation of the output signal.

Side-chain HPF, Mix and applications across guitar, bass and keys

The side-chain HPF (120 / 240 Hz / Off) excludes sub-bass from the detection circuit – the compressor stops responding to low frequencies and focuses on the dynamics of the mid and upper frequency range of the instrument. With active-pickup electric guitar or bass where sub-bass is energetically dominant, this prevents pumping and loss of coherence at higher compression depths. The external side-chain jack (3.5 mm TRS) allows a processor to be inserted into the detection path or the compression to be triggered from an external signal. Mix implements parallel compression without a separate splitter: 100% wet is full compression, 30–50% mix is the classic New York compression position on a drum group or mix bus. A Power On Bypassed or Engaged startup option allows configuration of the pedal's default state – useful where the compressor is always active in the chain.

KEY FEATURES

• Fully analog FET compressor, stompbox, Silver Sparkle enclosure
• Ratio: 2:1 / 4:1 / 10:1
• Independent Attack (50 µs – 50 ms) and Release controls
• Mix (Parallel Blend) – parallel compression in the pedal
• Tone: tilt EQ centred at 500 Hz
• Side-chain HPF: 3-position switch (120 Hz / 240 Hz / Off)
• Side-chain Send/Return: 3.5 mm TRS jack
• GR metering: 10-segment LED (–1 to –25 dB)
• Input metering: 5-segment LED (–2 to –14 dB)
• Power On Bypassed / Engaged startup option
• True bypass
• Power: 9–18 V DC, 100 mA

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: fully analog FET compressor, stompbox
• Ratio: 2:1 / 4:1 / 10:1
• Attack time: 50 µs – 50 ms
• Release: adjustable
• Mix: Parallel Blend (dry/wet)
• Tone: tilt EQ, centre 500 Hz
• Side-chain HPF: Off / 120 Hz / 240 Hz (3-position switch)
• Side-chain I/O: 3.5 mm TRS (send + return)
• GR meter: 10-segment LED (–1 to –25 dB)
• Input meter: 5-segment LED (–2 to –14 dB)
• Input impedance: 1 MΩ
• Output impedance: 2.2 kΩ
• Frequency response (–3 dB): 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• THD: below 0.1%
• SNR: –101 dB
• Bypass: true bypass
• Power: 9–18 V DC, centre-negative, 2.1 mm, 100 mA
• Enclosure material: die-cast aluminium (Silver Sparkle finish)
• Dimensions: 122 × 66 × 38 mm (enclosure) / 122 × 66 × 64 mm (including controls)
• Weight: approx. 450 g