When Empress Fx released their original Compressor in 2011, it quickly became popular among guitar and bass players seeking advanced control beyond what most compressor pedals offered.

The original Compressor, already a hit with bassists, was designed to set a new standard.

It featured not only the detailed features and controls usually found in high-end studio equipment—such as input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert—but also introduced a fully adjustable sidechain high pass filter and a dual-setting 'tone + colour' circuit. This circuit subtly shapes the tone and adds harmonic distortion, giving your bass a distinctive richness.