Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ

Line 6 Constrictor: This is a digital pedal from Line 6's "Tonecore" series. It offers three different modes of compression, each modeling (digitally emulating) a different type of compressor. The sound quality is pretty good- the noise level is not bad at all, there is no loss of highs, and the tone has a nice punchy clarity. The only trouble is in the low end, which is not rolled off exactly but can sound a bit thin sometimes, and the lows distort easily if you have a high-output instrument. I was able to cure the distortion by reducing the signal level going into the pedal. The first two modes have a very punchy, articulate, bright sound to them, and the third is more mushy and "vintage". There is no glitch upon crossing the threshold, however there was sometimes a bit of a "whoosh" sound in the background during the period over the threshold. The three modes are usefully distinct from each other, allowing punchier or smoother action; each mode also has a different ratio, from 3:1 to 37:1. It is capable of adding a great deal of sustain. It is not an ideal peak limiter, but to be honest it's no different or worse in that regard than most other pedal comps. It features a noise gate which is actually pretty decent. It's not "great", but it is much less offensive than most noise gates you typically find in a compressor. The chassis is a heavy chunk of cast metal, very rugged, but the footswitch feels a little flimsy. I think I'll be adding this to the list of "best cheap pedals" because it actually provides a lot of good, useful tones for the money. For someone who wants a dramatically noticeable compression "sound" and plenty of sustain, this pedal delivers that better than many. The footswitch is not true bypass, but the bypass sounds OK.
 

 
 
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