Opens in a new window
Empress Effects
Compressor MkII Pedal - Silver
Additional Photos:
Product Videos :
YouTube Video
YouTube Video
2 models to choose from:
The original Empress Effects Compressor was an instant favourite among guitar and bass players, searching for something more than the typical oversimplified controls found on most compressor pedals.
Improving on this success, the new Compressor MkII offers the same features and controls normally only seen in high end studio equipment. Input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert. Empress Effects also added a 'tilt' tone eq control and a selectable sidechain high pass filter built into the Compressor's detection circuit. Now offered in half the size and available in two snazzy colours!
Features
• All Analog Signal Path - no digitals in here!
• Extremely Transparent - Add dynamic control without altering the original tone of your instrument
• 3 Compression Ratios - 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios offer lots of flexibility
• Attack and Release Control - allows for ultimate control over the compression characteristics
• Mix - Blend uncompressed signal in with the compressed signal for parallel compression, New York Style!
• Metering - Meter both gain reduction and input levels on separate meters.
• Tone - New tone knob, a "tilt" style tone knob centered at 500Hz to nail that perfect tone.
• Sidechain Send/Return - 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compression.
• Sidechain High Pass Filter - No need to add a high pass filter to the sidechain, now there is one built in that can be toggled off or set to 120 or 240Hz.
• True Display LEDs - Bright multi-color LEDs always let you know what the compressor is doing.
• Power On Bypassed or Engaged - For musicians that never want to turn their compressor off.
• True Bypass - The Empress Compressor employs true bypass, so you can be sure that it's not affecting the signal when disengaged.
• Small Size - New enclosure approximately half the size of the original compressor, which is delightfully small when considering all the features packed into this unit.
Specifications
Input Impedance: 1M
Output Impedance: 2.2k
Frequency Response (-3dB): 20Hz - 20kHz
Distortion: less than 0.1%
Noise: -101dB
Power Input Voltage: 9 - 18 V DC (Negative tip)
Power Input Connector: 2.1mm barrel connector (Negative tip)
Power Consumption: ~ 100mA
Enclosure Material: Die Cast Aluminum
Input connector: 1/4" Jack
Output connector: 1/4" Jack
Height (Enclosure only): 1.5"
Height (including controls): 2.5"
Length: 4.8"
Width: 2.6"
Weight: 1 lb
Improving on this success, the new Compressor MkII offers the same features and controls normally only seen in high end studio equipment. Input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert. Empress Effects also added a 'tilt' tone eq control and a selectable sidechain high pass filter built into the Compressor's detection circuit. Now offered in half the size and available in two snazzy colours!
Features
• All Analog Signal Path - no digitals in here!
• Extremely Transparent - Add dynamic control without altering the original tone of your instrument
• 3 Compression Ratios - 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios offer lots of flexibility
• Attack and Release Control - allows for ultimate control over the compression characteristics
• Mix - Blend uncompressed signal in with the compressed signal for parallel compression, New York Style!
• Metering - Meter both gain reduction and input levels on separate meters.
• Tone - New tone knob, a "tilt" style tone knob centered at 500Hz to nail that perfect tone.
• Sidechain Send/Return - 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compression.
• Sidechain High Pass Filter - No need to add a high pass filter to the sidechain, now there is one built in that can be toggled off or set to 120 or 240Hz.
• True Display LEDs - Bright multi-color LEDs always let you know what the compressor is doing.
• Power On Bypassed or Engaged - For musicians that never want to turn their compressor off.
• True Bypass - The Empress Compressor employs true bypass, so you can be sure that it's not affecting the signal when disengaged.
• Small Size - New enclosure approximately half the size of the original compressor, which is delightfully small when considering all the features packed into this unit.
Specifications
Input Impedance: 1M
Output Impedance: 2.2k
Frequency Response (-3dB): 20Hz - 20kHz
Distortion: less than 0.1%
Noise: -101dB
Power Input Voltage: 9 - 18 V DC (Negative tip)
Power Input Connector: 2.1mm barrel connector (Negative tip)
Power Consumption: ~ 100mA
Enclosure Material: Die Cast Aluminum
Input connector: 1/4" Jack
Output connector: 1/4" Jack
Height (Enclosure only): 1.5"
Height (including controls): 2.5"
Length: 4.8"
Width: 2.6"
Weight: 1 lb
Media
Youtube video product demo
Youtube video product demo
Q & A
There are currently no questions for this product.
Reviews
3.16.69.143
claudebot
Impressed by the Empress 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Burlington, Ontario
Having decided that I wanted to add a compressor to my bass set up in an attempt to add balance to my bass volume/sound I read all about compressor pedals. I then watched a lot of excellent online reviews about compressor pedals! and the parallel compression offered by the Empress sounded worth checking out.
I visited Long and McQuade who set me up in store to try out the Empress and left me to discover what it could do and I was impressed! The pedal performs as the reviews described and it is excellent.
Posted by tee G on Apr 23, 2023
Amazing sound 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Halifax, Nova Scotia
Has more sounds than you'll know what to do with. Very good build quality. The row of LEDs provide much appreciated visual feedback for how much sustain+compression you're getting as you play. This pedal really invites you to experiment. Super fun.
Posted by Michael Traynor on Feb 3, 2023
Masterpiece 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Calgary Chinook, Alberta
This compressor does everything well. If you understand the fundamentals of compression, you can do anything with this little sweetie. The most versatile and effective compressor I've ever used for electric guitar, and it sounds wonderful on acoustic guitar. The side-chain functions are powerful additions to an already incredible compressor, and the mix knob makes it effortless to dial in parallel compression. If I were forced to list one "con" I would say it's not as "vibey" as some other top-tier compressors, but I generally view that as a positive considering that this pedal does it's job flawlessly without imparting it's own color. If you need a compressor to handle all guitar compression tasks without breaking a sweat than this is your comp!
Posted by Jeremiah Staggs on Nov 22, 2022
Great Compressor Pedal for understanding the signal chain! 1 of 1 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Toronto (Bloor St.), Ontario
I love the Empress Effects Compressor MKII.
As somebody who's putting together my first pedal board, I want to learn about the effect my different pedals have on the signal. This compressor features very precise settings to choose from and even visual feedback.
Adjusting the signal before for example going into a drive pedal can result in a wildly different sound coming from the drive pedal. Therefore I'd like to know what every single pedal does as well as possible.
5 Stars, thank you Empress Effects!
Posted by Till Vill on Nov 2, 2022
Wonderful compressor and tone shaper 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Oshawa, Ontario
This is a very powerful compressor. Adjustable attack, release and mix enable you to dial in whatever compression you need. 3 selectable ratios let you get subtle to very obvious compression. The tone shaper works great to cut bass or add highs. It's a tilt eq centered at 500hz. Two sidechain settings make it even more versatile.Excellent metering.
Great piece of gear!
Posted by anonymous on Oct 4, 2022
Own Your Signal 2 of 2 customers found this review helpful
Features
Quality
Value
Overall
Product Experience I own it
Closest Store Victoria, British Columbia
Controls are simple and well thought out. Instructions are brief and concise. LED display gives good indication of the compression levels occurring as you play. Input/outpur jacks at the top of the pedal allow you to cram this pedal shoulder to shoulder with other top loadiers to conserve precious pedalboard real estate
Posted by Ken Wilson on Sep 24, 2022
Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
- Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
Great Additions
Reserve in Store
| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor MkII Pedal - Silver | 742486 |
