Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ

Demeter Compulator: Everyone says this is one of the best comp pedals available, and for once I have to agree with everyone. This unit is stellar. It has an excellent frequency range and very low noise. The compression action is smooth and natural, with no unwanted artifacts. It also presents a lot more "energy" in the low end than many comps. In fact, that perceived energy or tonal richness in the low end is missing with a lot of comps I've tried, and it is one of the qualities that can really make or break your tone. The Compulator also does a fantastic job of adding sustain without adding too much noise, unlike most other sustainers. If I was to search for something to complain about with the Compulator, it would be the limited controls (only two knobs), so there's not much variety of action from it. It is designed to sound only smooth, not aggressive, and some people complain that it softens their note attack. But it is extremely easy to use, so the two knobs are as much of a plus as a minus, depending on what you like. This pedal is the dream unit for fingerstyle soloists and EUB players. It has better highs than the EBS MultiComp, but is less versatile. Also the Demeter is capable of stronger peak limiting than many other pedals, so it is excellent for players who have an aggressive technique or who use an envelope filter that puts out big spikes. The footswitch is not true bypass, but the bypassed tone is transparent. Another thing to note is that the DC jack takes a tip-positive 1/8" male plug, not the standard Boss type, so you'll need a special adapter in order to use most power supplies; also it seems to operate with much lower noise using a battery instead of an external supply. This is one of my favorite pedals.
 

 
 
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