The Bass Compressor is the Compressor MKII rebuilt for low end. It keeps the FET compression, independent attack and release, the 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios, the input and gain reduction meters and the Mix knob for parallel compression. The frequency response goes down to 10Hz, so five-string and extended-range players aren't losing the bottom of the instrument.
Two things are different. The sidechain high-pass filter is fully variable from 20Hz to 400Hz, so you decide how much of the low end the compressor reacts to. And a three-position Tone + Colour switch sets it flat, cuts the mids at 500Hz or lifts the upper mids at 2kHz, with optional harmonic distortion for some extra grit and punch. There is a 3.5mm TRS sidechain send and return, true bypass, and an all-analog path, built by Empress in Ottawa.
Blue Sparkle or Silver Sparkle, same circuit in both.
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECS
Compression: FET
Ratio: 2:1, 4:1, 10:1
Sidechain High-Pass Filter: variable, 20Hz - 400Hz
Tone + Colour: flat, 500Hz mid cut, 2kHz upper-mid boost; optional harmonic distortion
Sidechain Insert: 3.5mm TRS send and return
Bypass: True bypass
Input Impedance: 1MΩ
Output Impedance: 2.2kΩ
Frequency Response (-3dB): 10Hz - 20kHz
Distortion: less than 0.1%
Noise: 101dB
Input connector: 1/4" Jack
Output connector: 1/4" Jack
Power Input Voltage: 9V DC Centre-Negative
Power Input Connector: 2.1mm barrel connector
Power Consumption: ~100mA
Enclosure Material: Die Cast Aluminum
Height: 2.5"
Length: 4.8"
Width: 2.6"
Weight: 1lb
