Do You REALLY Understand Compressors? | Empress Compressor MkII | Gear Corner
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2021
- #guitarpedals #compressor
I believe I'm not the only guitar player who struggled for years with using and understanding compressors.
Especially ones, that are really powerful and versatile. This time I try to show you all I think is important to know about them with the help of this mind blowing pedal, the Empress Compressor MkII. Enjoy gear corner!
Check out the Empress Comp here (Thomann affiliate link):
bit.ly/3BAubVe
Follow me on instagram: @kris_barocsi
** Why the "Includes paid promotion" message? **
According to german laws everyone has to mark their videos as advertisements as soon as there's a single "subject relevant" product, tag or link in it. Even if you didn't get paid for making that video. Sounds confusing and it really doesn't help the viewer to see which is a paid review and which isn't.
--- The line of truth: Is this actually a paid review? Yes it is. Which doesn't affect the way I make my videos and the things I say in them.
Timestamps:
Introduction
0:39 INTRO SONG
2:11 The basics of compressors
3:18 PLAYING | Subtle comp setting
3:39 "I don't need a compressor, I'm a pro"
5:30 PLAYING | Make every note audible
6:10 PLAYING | More articulation for humbuckers
6:41 What's great about this Empress Comp?
7:48 PLAYING | Country lick with different ratio settings
8:34 The Mix knob for parallel comp AND clean boost!
9:01 PLAYING | Parallel compression - Mix at 3 o'clock
9:46 PLAYING | Clean boost w/ clean amp and in front of drive
10:35 The Tone knob
10:54 PLAYING | Testing the tone knob
11:34 What is the RATIO on compressors?
12:20 PLAYING | Different ratio settings
12:40 My thoughts on the pedal
14:04 I wanted that "Gilmour compression"
Gear used in this video:
(the Bitly links are Thomann affiliate links)
-Fender Telecaster Custom Shop '53 reissue:
bit.ly/2KFVJld
-PJD Guitar St John: pjdguitars.com
-Gibson ES-330: bit.ly/3ADNXhd
-Empress Compressor MkII: bit.ly/3BAubVe
-Kasleder Toxic Twins: bit.ly/2VJRDiO
-UAFX Golden Reverb: bit.ly/3vS36JN
-REVV Dynamis 7/40 head: bit.ly/2IxwoId
-Universal Audio OX BOX bit.ly/2IyOeuj
-Two Notes Captor X: bit.ly/33FPfcW
-One Control Agamidae switcher: bit.ly/2YZgiib
-Ernie Ball cables and strap: bit.ly/2Io0dfg
-Cordial CRI series cables: bit.ly/2XiVLBR
-Evidence Audio patch cables: bit.ly/2Ixylo1
Other gear I use in my videos:
-Harley Benton Fusion-II Roasted SSP bit.ly/31FVawf
-Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop '58 reissue bit.ly/2FxKvek
-Gibson Les Paul CM 2015 - heavily modified (thin nitro refin; Lollar Dog Ear P90; Emerson electronics)
-Barocsi Troublecaster - Custom built T-style guitar with Gretsch Filtertrons
-Barocsi "Frankenstrat"
-Xotic Super Clean: bit.ly/36fsHka
-Kasleder Time Trap delay: bit.ly/3jQkha6
-Honey Bee Double Trouble: bit.ly/33COaU3
-Coppersound Foxcatcher: coppersoundpedals.com
-Walrus Audio D1 Delay: bit.ly/2W4McqU
-Supro Tremolo
-REVV G2: bit.ly/2NbpV9R
-Walrus Audio Lillian phaser: bit.ly/3czfxB8
-Analogman King of Tone analogman.com
-Tate FX Raise the Dead Ge: tatefx.co.uk
-Dunlop Gypsy Fuzz pedal: bit.ly/2VKw4K0
-J Rockett Archer overdrive: bit.ly/2Ges1z8
-Morgan 1x12 cab Twilight: bit.ly/2KFihDq
-NUX SOS Looper bit.ly/31TMxPx
The speech mic:
-SENNHEISER MKH 416: bit.ly/2w1EAMP
Audio Interface:
-Audient iD44: bit.ly/2Jo73zN
Check out the Thomann Music channel for some wicked guitar videos:
/ musikhausthomann
Cheers,
Kris
Best compressor explanation and demos ever! Thanks.
Wow, that’s quite a compliment dude, thank you so much! 🔥🥳
Well explained and played! The Cali 76 compact deluxe just wasn't clean and neutral enough to me, so I sold it. I had the 1st version Empress compressor before. Now the MK II has become even more flexible and better. For me, the MKII is currently the best compressor on the world market.
Just out of curiosity did you try the Cali76 on 18v for more headroom? Ive run mine on 9 and 18v and do notice that it becomes noticeably more transparent and cleaner on 18v.
I use a subtle, blended in always-on compressor pedal. When I turn it off, something is missing!! It just glues all together and make everything sound better. Great video, my friend!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Kris...your video about compressor is the best in youtube right now. You gave so many useful examples and practical usages of what a compressor can do. You used many guitars too to showcase the differences. well done. seriously... you deserve way more subscribers!
Thanks a lot for the fantastic video on this product, I've ordered it and because of the information I have learned from you, I can hardly wait till it arrives!
I've subscribed and look forward to more of your vids, thanks again 👍👍
Kris, your videos hit the sweet spot in terms of clear explanations and their actual RELEVANCE to playing our instruments.
Wow, thanks so much!! I really appreciate it Thom! 🙌
I watched a few Videos about Compressors on YT recently and for me yours is the best so far. Especially for the "do I need this" question 👏
What a beautiful sounding and effective compressor! This has to be one of the best sounding compressors I have ever heard and I've owned a lot of good ones, Keeley, Way Huge, Seymour Duncan.
Thanks for this video, I've been wanting to know what compressors do and why I should have one!
Love the features on this, and that it doesn't roll off top end!
It absolutely doesn’t. It actually brings the best out of the guitar. I really enjoyed the playing parts in this video. Cheers
Very nice intro song :) You're right on being subtle with the settings, as an overused compressor will give you sustain, but in the same time will flatten your dynamics. I used to plug in a Boss CS-2 in front of an OD. I now use a Super-Signa OD/Boost pedal that has got all I need, with 3 levels of clipping, the first one being compressed. The Empress is a very nice pedal, lots of settings... Great tone ! Cheers
Amazing video! In ambient guitar music the compressor is step 1, Amazing explanation
Just bought it for my dearest mark IV. Thanks a lot!
Your video was instrumental, as I told Empress when registering my own MkII in teh comments section, in convincing me to go with this as my only compressor Kris. Just got it today so it wasn't long before making the move. Thanks.
Great stuff very in depth thanks man
Thanks a lot Dave! 🥳
Cool pedal 👍 You are an amazing guitarist Kris!
Ah man, thanks so much!! I really appreciate that Daniel! 🙌🥳
I have been using one of the "natural" compressors (with just one knob besides level and tone) as a limitter after an overdrive to regulate my volume and pretty satisfied with it. Watching and listening to your lecture with nice sound demo, I am now starting to wish I could tweak release and mix knobs that do not exist with my pedal. Thanks for giving me a new cause to save money for :-)
Compressor after the first OD is a great way to control spikes in rhythm playing, and keeping the the clean stuff even enough to be mixed high! Especially in P&W situations.
Love it! Thanks for sharing it Chris!
Not just a very good compressor but also extremely beautiful - vibes of a old school high performance motor bike - cant resist - I will by one! - I have pressed my nose into a music store window salivating since I was 14 and I,m still do now 65 years old.
Thanks Walter! Yeah it really has an awesome design. If you like great quality gear, you’ll love it. I use it since I have it here all the time for subtle compression on guitar and bass recordings. It’s magical.
Kris's playing comes across so much better here than on the store channel. I'm a fan now.
Thanks man! Yeah I can spend more time on coming up with riffs and licks for my channel because I make these videos on the weekends and I’m making them alone. I definitely want to avoid repeating myself and play the same few things over and over. That takes a little longer obviously but it’s equally inspiring. 👍
@@KrisBarocsi That makes sense. I busk in NYC, & I do the same thing simply to avoid getting bored, but it's a little different when you're leaving a recorded effort that will be around until you take the video down. You also seem more relaxed in your videos. That's probably because you're not under the pressure of a live situation. I always knew you were a great player, but it's nice to hear your original pieces; they've got a lot of nuance & depth. I look forward to more videos!
You are one of my favorite guitarists Kris - so genuine - beyond advanced music theory and virtuos skills.
Ah man, thank you!!! 🙌 That means so much, honestly. 💛
@@KrisBarocsi You and Keith Richards, John mcLaughlin (during Mick Taylor/Brian Jones era) and lately I have discovered Rick Graham, Hendrix (the style builders, style builder). I bought a Fryette Power amp after your sugestion because you are the master of good sound. (My English i a little primitive). - I play myself also violin a new way (technically) that allows the fingerboard/left hand stretch viciously but thats another story. Hope you get a genuine singer and bass player(!!!) - Bill Wyman is not skilfull but who could replace him???! Never miss a episode from you!
@@walterschock1270 Walter, I cherish your kind words. 🙏
Great video. I keep a Boss CP-1X first in my chain, always on. It’s a great pedal, but the Empress looks tempting. Might be more than I need, but I want it. 😉
Great playing. I know its meant to be demo of compression but it's your playing, tone and personality that keeps bring me back to your channel. However can you please tell the little figure behind you they can stop waving, I saw him!
helpful, informative and entertaining - thanks
Any time, thanks for the kind words!
3:00 props to the RHCP Under the Bridge reference! I was just playing that last night!
Sounds sooo lovely👌
Thanks buddy! I really enjoyed playing through this pedal. It’s a keeper for me for sure. 😅
That’s a nice compressor
Good video
Really informative
Thanks Kris
It really is. Thanks a lot Paul!!
Bought the Empress tape delay this month, and you just sold me on my second one.
Cool
Good informative video
I do like the way that compressor behaves
I used to play a song called heartbreak road and I was soloing using an old 1984 Morris guitar ( still have it) but I had no compressor so I’d use an overdrive into a distortion with the gains down to
Push the signal a bit
Never completely clean ( know someone guy #pinkstrat that doesn’t use a clean tone?)
I now have a “ budget” compressor and it feels like it’s just squash or not
More money needed... lol
Thanks Kris
Ps Fancy demoing the Empress multidrive
Fascinating looking pedal
Good one. I think the key is really to dial it in. You don't want to lose the ability to convey dynamics through "touch", but you can always use the help to get a good balance.
Exactly, it’s about the balance of being heard and still keeping the natural feel. Thanks for watching Donald! 🙌
Would this pedal work for a 1993plus rickenbacker 12string in getting close to some of the sounds from the 60' Birds Beatles and go to other country music for example will it do all or are there better pedals, oh and quiet im new to all this thanks
I was thinking to get the bass version of this pedal for quite some time now. But the price is quite steep and my MXR one still works...but maybe I put this in front of my drive and the MXR behind to glue it all together.
My experience with compressors is very limited: just to add a bit more sustain to the lower gain settings on an amp or pedal. They seem to help with that.
Love the new intro btw
Thanks for noticing it dude! 🤩 I’m learning simple animation atm and I wanted a super short intro for a long time. Cheers Achraf!
nice demo but been a bedroom player find I don't need one and I have tried a few, but that could just be my taste. ps, what is your watch?
Hey Kris great video and very illustrative!
I have a question, I hope you could give some advice or an opinion about it.
Does you feel sometime that an expensive guitar is not as good as you expect? I mean, I had always liked fender guitars and actually started with an squire, but over the years I was upgrading my guitars with some MIM, Indonesian and Japanese Fender guitars primarily teles and strats, and finally some years ago save for a couple of american standard tele and a stratocaster same range, but a week ago I decided to buy an American Professional II stratocaster and I don't now man this time I dont feel a difference or an increase on quality, actually it looks great but the play feel is in my opinion a downgrade, and closest to a player MIM strat, so I decided to test it using a oscilloscope looking for huge differences in sound range and wave range and surprisingly they are really close to be the same.
So do you think that maybe the idea of the quality should be a little overrated for American fenders , or you think that maybe i got a quality exception on mi American Professional II strat?
Thanks for the comment! That’s a really interesting question, I’d like to talk about this in my next Comment Time video.
@@KrisBarocsi will be great to watch it! Thanks for the response!
How else would you play "Under The Bridge" or "Can't Stop"? My new Keeley Mini Comp finally arrived. What a cool pedal!
That’s awesome dude, enjoy it!!
I bought a Boss CS-3 once cheaply. You can't go wrong with any compressor, simply try one.
Very informative, very simply explained and very well presented. It helps when your playing is so sweet.
Cheeky question on an unrelated topic...........I'm going to buy a Gibson Les Paul, should I but a Tribute or go all in on a Standard? Cost is not really a factor.
Hey Brian, thanks a lot, glad to hear that!
About the Les Paul: there are obvious differences between the Standard and the Tribute. Different pickups, gloss vs satin finish, binding, etc. To me the real difference is the feel of these two. The Tribute feels like a simpler and more modern guitar. Less Les Pauly if you know what I mean. No neck binding and you really feel that. If you like that, you’ll love it. The current Standards are the best Standards they ever built, except for the original 50’s-60’s bursts. They feel look and sound almost like custom shops, which is awesome. I’d go for these, mainly for the neck profile (I love the Standard 50’s neck profile) and for the killer Burstbuckers. But that’s just me. 😅 Try them both if you can.
@@KrisBarocsi thank you so much for taking the time to make a detailed reply. I really appreciate it.
Thanks again.
@@briandevitt6903 sure thing Brian, have fun choosing the right one. 🤘
If you were using an od pedal in front of your amp, would you stick the compressor in front, or behind the overdrive pedal?
Most of the time compressor in front of the od. But feel free to try out both. 👍
very few compressors are good, or at least usable... tried and had several (mxr dyna, wampler ego, keeley etc.) but the newer ones were just not for me, I finally found a good old MIJ Boss CS2 and that is definitely the best one yet... It just gives a lively something good to the tone... the other above mentioned were just somehow sterile and kind of "sucked tone" in a weird dry way...
I actually lost my pedal-board last summer (insert "Yikes" here) and I need to slowly replace them - I do not use a lot of pedals, but what I do use are more on the "boutique" end of things. I had the Cali76, that I loved, but was looking for a Studio Quality Compressor with a lower price-tag. Looks like the Empress MKII fits the bill perfectly at about $100 less than the Cali76 - great demo and great job going over the nuances of a high-end compressor!
First of all that’s a huge yikes. So sorry to hear that Mike. Yeah the Cali 76 is a great comp too!Still, I‘d probably go for the Empress. Lower price and extra features combined with a beautiful tone and low noise. 👍
@@KrisBarocsi Low noise is SO important in a Compressor. BTW - great channel. You got a new subscriber - cheers.
Compressor in electric guitar makes it go along with modern compressed drum mix.
Absolutely! Modern mixes are sooooo over-compressed unfortunately. If you're not careful, all of your tasty quiet, notes get lost in it. Cheers
I can see your point in wanting to tame down the loud parts of your playing and still being able to have enough volume for the subtle, more quiet parts...but the problem for me is the louder parts, as soon as the damn thing kicks in, to my ears, the tone gets damaged, a compressor lower the volume, ok, but it does more than that, it lowers it more or less very fast and then releases it more or less quite fast, and that in my opinion "ruins" the tone (the more compression the worse for the tone).
A little experiment can verify the above, try to play the loud parts at the correct volume for a specific mix, all the wonderful dynamics of the instrument and the amp that everybody works so hard to get with expensive gear, comes out in all its glory, including that nice sensation of being able to control all the power you want at your finger tips (literally). Try to do the same now, but with the compressor active, no matter what amount of compression or dry/wet mix, if you carefully match the volume of the before and after compression, the uncompressed tone will always be better, more alive, open etc. (at least to my ears).
Again, I can see the point of wanting to play quiet and loud parts at the same time and being able to produce a balanced and nice mix with the correct loudness for each instrument, but for me the compressor is a kind of compromise tool, it fixes the problem but it doesn't do it in a great way, and for this reason it should be used only when is absolutely necessary, and as little as possible, which is the opposite of what producers do today. Most people even leave the damn thing on all the time as tone enhancer!
For me it is wiser to control the dynamic and volume with your playing skills and possibly the volume of your guitar, and use the compressor in post production in surgical mode, even better to use a band compressor, that acts only on some offending frequencies and leave any other good dynamic alone. Similar things should be done in live music, with somebody at the mixing console and band musicians that know their job.
The best music recordings are always the ones that preserve all the nice dynamics and use the compressor very wisely. Of course there are other uses for a compressor but they are more intentional and for creating a wanted effect.
I call the compressor the lazy but indispensable tool, and of course a lot of people like it because it makes things louder. A louder sound always sounds nicer to the brain. But if one does the little experiment and compare playing with and without compression and matching the loudness before and after compression correctly, , it's easy to realise that when the sound is compressed the tone and the playing is not that great. Unless you are after that specific effect that compression gives you during the transients, but that's a different story. (by the way the Empress compressor is great for a compressor :) )
That's why the more knobs the better. You can control the time it takes to release, etc. This is one of the most diverse compressor pedals I've seen. You can't possibly be "lazy" this because it takes constant tweaking for different situations until you get to know it, then it becomes easy to soak in the sound. But even with that when you play different rooms, theaters, stages, festivals... Because every situation is different you have to know what to do with it.
This is definitely not just one of those 2, 3, or 4 knob pedals. This thing is a beast.
Compressors don't make the quiet parts of your playing louder. That's what an expander does. You can, however, compress and then add gain which makes the lower amplitude sections of the signal less quiet relative to the parts that have been compressed.
That was some incredibly beautiful phrasing there…
Thanks a lot Norman! You know, if you don’t want to shred and play flashy stuff it’s hard to impress most guitar players. That’s just how it is, and I’m fine with that. Awesome people like you prove, that there are a few, who appreciate music that’s not about competition and show-off. Just about music and mojo. Coz that’s what excites me when I’m listening to bands. Cheers buddy and thanks again!!
@@KrisBarocsi it’s all about how an artist, regardless of medium, can evoke a feeling and communicate that. Notes, or lack thereof, if they don’t build tension and resolve to take the listener on a ride.. then then it’s nothing but gibberish. I feel you totally nailed it!
yeah, i struggled for years in a Reggae/Calypso band. I could never get the balance right.
and felt like i was fighting the guitar the whole time. It could have been much easier and enjoyable with a compressor.
Wow, love it. Would you agree this was a pretty neutral impact on your actual tone?
Yes, absolutely! It's super easy to set this up to just sound a hint more controlled but still very natural. Cheers!
@@KrisBarocsi Some compressors “color” the tone a bit, darker or brighter, sounds like this one is very transparent? Cheers
@@mattflickinger8151 The Tone knob is very powerful on this one. It can color your tone if you want that, but it can also be super transparent.
Love your content and playing, thanks!
Was that beautiful first short song to demo the pedal an original composition? If it is you are starting to give great Pete Thorne a run for his money. 👍
Haha, thanks so much man! 🙌 Pete is amazing, I don’t think he has to worry about anyone. 😅
This or cali76 ??? What's the difference 🤔.
Empress Compressor MKII vs Keeley Compressor Pro?
I thought FOH was "F*** Outta Here" lmao
Is this a paid vid or is it comped?
Clean comp makes ya music stomp 🤘🏽
😆 You tell me. All I can remember is that I loved playing this little blue thing. Cheers
@@KrisBarocsi it’s worth every shilling
I would seriously reconsider that left side hair cut Kris.
I don’t have a lot of hair left, so I had two options. Cut it all short, or this. I tried the super short a year ago and both my wife and my son told I look weird. They both prefer the punk style and that’s all I care about. So it’s like this for now. Thanks for watching the video! 🥳
@@KrisBarocsi Okay, well, son and wife opinions count, I hope they change it though! You are a handsome guy I suggested in all good will.
@@emreemre369 No offense taken. 🙌 Thanks for the conversation dude, I respect your opinion! Cheers
I dont follow your logic: if the FOH guy will always use a compressor, as you say, why do I need one?
NO (;-))
I do not like the sound of compressors, gross
Fair enough, it’s not for everyone. 👍