Empress - Compressor mkII

Too flat to fail.

If you're interested in buying yourself a Compressor, this is an affiliate link. I get a small % of the sales if you use it and that would be cool:

And here's the Empress website for more details:

0:06 - Overview
0:40 - Why to compression
1:55 - The tone knob
2:54 - Side-chaining
3:50 - What compression does
5:58 - SABOTAGE
6:29 - Parallel compression
7:45 - "Bass"
8:02 - Compressing other effects

Guitar - Baranik B-1
Amp - Otis
Synth - Teenage Engineering OP-Z
Delay (8:03 - 8:58) - Red Panda Tensor
Mic - Beyerdynamic M160
Recording - RME 802

This video was sponsored by Empress.

Thanks a bunch!
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[ElvisDelvis]

Thank you for this. Compressors, I feel, needed a video like this one. I never truly understood the power of compression until I tried this pedal at NAMM. I think I spent 3 hours at the Empress booth exploring the different ways this compressor is extremely useful. I would occasionally see someone checking out the board I was on and hand them the second pair of headphones to hear what I was doing. All of them just looked at me wide eyed with a big smile. Sincerely enjoying what I was exploring. A couple of them started moving knobs and dials with me. Strangers working together to find what other mysteries this board contained. The compressor stole the show in that whole lineup and was obvious to those who joined me.

[slashmaster]

Now I finally understand how compressors work!! Thanks!!

[whateverman]

Best description of “why to use a compressor” I’ve ever seen. Glad I discovered your channel :)

[morismateljan]

I've always had a love-hate relationship with compressors. Thank you for this video and for reminding me what creativity can do.

[dougtolley]

this is a superb video. Firstly, I just loved your playing, it was a treasure to just to hear YOU (compressed or otherwise) and with wonderful clarity. I also understand compression way more now. Thanks to Pedal Crush and now this, I am in a better place with compression. Thank you knobs.

[MARK-DENNIS]

Great video & delighted to watch the text & listen to the effect - 'not' to listen to someone who just loves the sound of their own voice!

[wilhelmmatthies]

The pedal design for their knobs is so clear and they appear beautifully made. Thanks Knobs for your clear explanations as well.

[sbenson]

This might be the best video on compression in history.

[MichelLamblin]

Not only is this pedal amazing and making me reconsider my first choice for my first ever compressor (it'll have to wait 'till end of November now!), you guys explained compression so well. Like, I always think I understand it, but then reading your cards made things click somehow - more than just a review of what I thought I knew. Thanks!

[pliocenemusic]

Super classy presentation here Knobs! Love the color scheme. Just bought this comp to replace my Diamond Comp which was awesome, but I want to experiment with more in depth compressor settings that this one is capable of. Nice explanation of what a comp does too...super helpful!

[christopherecatalano]

Really comprehensive and brilliant breakdown of one of the most important processes used in music. Lots of interesting parts being played here too. Very inspiring...❤️ “Is this nice? I don’t know...it’s a thing you can do”...😂 Nice isn’t always what is needed.

[rogervann]

Is reason number 8 because we have heard compression on absolutely every record ever? Feels like a comfy, squishy home for our guitar to bloom in.

[cdrchrrs]

This helped me understand a missing piece: sidechaining. Thanks.

[luispereztasso]

As always, awesome video. And the last part is what made me got a OTA compressor long ago. It does so much to my effects that sound like another pedals, love it.

[nahrky]

This is the best lesson in smoosh I've ever consumed! Pancake pedal mmmm

[Leo_nbd]

I keep returning to watch this one, so good. Also 2:53 reminds me a lot of Radiohead's Kid A.

[lilacrain]

You should’ve done some reverb in that last part! Heavy reverb into heavy compression s one of my favorite sounds. The reverb kind of ducks out when you play and then blooms back up when you stop. It lets you play with heavy reverb without it sounding messy

[changui]

The best video on compression I have ever seen. I legitimately fully understand compression. Sick jams, cool layout, cool editing, good humor, and great explanation. Fuck yeah.

Edit: wrote “beat” but meant “best”.

[drkevns]

Great video on compressors in general. I knew nothing of compressors before 2 years ago and now it's one of my favorite utility pedals on the board!

[michael_caz_nyc]

Nice - Sounds so smooth. Like a studio-rack compressor. Great explanation & audio examples too.