Are you trying to find compressors and gates effects processors among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling compressors and gates effects processors on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 14 hours of research and did 71 compressors and gates effects processors tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best compressors and gates effects processors you can buy today
- Versatile Connectivity - With quality XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs and outputs, the 266xs seamlessly integrates into any audio setup, whether it's a professional studio or a live sound rig.
- Enhanced Vocal Clarity - The dbx 266xs audio compressor is perfect for bringing vocals to the forefront of your mix, ensuring they stand out with greater clarity and presence.
- Professional Performance - The dbx 266xs audio compressor utilizes patented Overeasy compression technology and AutoDynamic attack and release controls, providing smooth, musical performance for both studio and live applications.
- Side chain insert is an option that allows tightening and clarifying of frequencies that have multiple instruments like bass, and kick drum.
- Comprehensive Visual Feedback - The dbx 266xs features separate precision LED displays for gain reduction, compression threshold, and gate threshold, allowing for quick and accurate setup, ensuring optimal performance.
- Versatile Application - Ideal for both studio recording and live performances, the dbx 266xs audio compressor ensures professional-quality sound, enhancing instruments like guitars and drums while providing a polished, cohesive mix.
- 1U Single Rack Space: Height 1.75" x Depth 5.75" x Width 19"
- Inputs: ¼” TRS and female XLR (pin 2 Hot)
- Outputs: ¼” TRS and female XLR (pin 2 Hot)
- Soul food-- high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- Multi effects pedal-- LED indicator shows the working state.
- Distortion-- rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Guitar compressor pedal-- mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- Electric guitar noise gate-- ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Reverb electric guitar-- mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- Guitar effects pedals-- high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- Soul food-- ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Guitar pedal board-- LED indicator shows the working state.
- Effects pedal stompbox-- rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Integrated de-esser with switchable male/female voice recognition removes excessive sibilance from your vocal tracks
- GC (Interactive Gain Control) peak limiting circuitry combines clipper and program limiter for reliable and inaudible protection against signal peaks
- Switchable tube simulation for the extra warmth and transparency of classic tube circuitry
- Automatically or manually adjustable attack and release times
- Stereo couple function with independent output level settings
- Internal AC Supply
- 40watts, 115 or 230 volts, 50 or 60 Hz (Rear Switchable)
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz to 70 kHz
- Fuse Size: 0.5 Amp for 115 VAC, 0.25 Amp for 230 VAC
- Inputs: +4 dB female XLR, Channel 1 & 2 / Outputs: +4 dB male XLR, Channel 1 & 2
- English (Publication Language)
- The world's first DAW with integrated audio separation
- Integrated zynaptiq STEM MAKER audio source separation technology
- Innovative music production for all levels of producers
- NEW! MIDI Playable Chopper performance tool
- NEW! Melodyne essential and 32-bit bridge technology
- 2-channel Compress/Limiter/Gate
- Dual Channel or Linked Stereo Operation
- 1/4-Inch TRS And XLR Balanced Inputs
- Stereo Mode Balance Control
- Selectable Auto/ Manual Attack/Release
- Precise Led Level Meters
- Distortion pedal: high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- Guitar effect pedal: bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Amp: rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Electric guitar processor: LED indicator shows the working state.
- Guitar effects pedals: mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- Professional Audio Stereo Compressor/Limiter Effects Processor. Analog VCA Compression for Portable, Tour, Studio, and Broadcast. Rack Mount: 1 Slot. Dimensions (H x W x D) 5.25” x 1.5” x 6”
- VCA-based compression from the inventors of the technology. Versatile enough for studio and live applications - perfect for everything from subtle vocal smoothing to hard-hitting drum compression.
- Professional audio quality with switch-selectable OverEasy and Hard Knee compression curves for ultimate control and flexibility. Versatile enough to go from subtle compression to "brick wall" peak limiting. Exclusive Infinity+ compression using negative ratios.
- Enhanced audio control with switchable 19 segment LED indicators for precise input, output, and 12 segment LED for gain reduction monitoring.
- Extremely wide-ranging threshold, ratio and output controls and true RMS level detection providing the most natural-sounding dynamics processing available.
- True bypass effect pedal: rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Multi effects pedal: ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Guitar effect pedal: mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- Electric guitar noise gate: LED indicator shows the working state.
- Guitar tuner pedal: high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- ELECTRIC GUITAR EFFECTS BOX-- Ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get control of your pedal.
- EFFECTS PEDAL STOMPBOX-- Based on classic grade
- GUITAR EFFECTS PEDALS-- of aluminum alloy, convenient and durable
- -- Mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy.
- TRUE BYPASS STOMPBOX-- High gain distortion, low consumption.
- Guitar pedalboard: high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- Compressor effect pedal: mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- Tube: rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Guitar tuner pedal: LED indicator shows the working state.
- Amp: ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Switchable dynamic Enhancer for brilliant, lively audio even with heavy compression
- Switchable Low contour filter prevents "pumping" due to low-frequency dominated compression
- Switchable IKA (Interactive Knee Adaptation) program-adaptive compression circuitry combines the advantages of hard-knee and soft-knee characteristics
- IRC (Interactive Ratio Control) expander/gate circuitry for virtually inaudible noise suppression
- Multi effects pedal-- ture bypass design, minimize tone loss and get more control of your pedal.
- Guitar pedalboard-- rubber pads on the backside is anti-skid, which enhances the stability and avoids friction between the effect pedal and the ground.
- Electric guitar noise gate-- high gain distortion, low power consumption.
- Tuner pedal true bypass-- LED indicator shows the working state.
- Effects pedal stompbox-- mini and portable, enclosure is aluminum alloy shell.
- The dbx 286s is a full featured Pre-Amp for Microphones, and Instruments - a Channel Strip Processor with 4 Independent Effects - Compression, De-Esser, Enhancer, Expander/Gate. Plus Loop-Out for adding additional processors.
- Classic dbx Compression - Reduces the dynamic range of signals with loud and quiet elements so that both can be heard clearly. Perfect for bringing vocals to the forefront of your mix, ensuring they stand out with greater clarity and presence.
- The additional 1/4" TRS Line Input can accept balanced/unbalanced signals to process live electronic instruments or pre-recorded tracks at mixdown. Use the Insert jack to interface between the Mic Preamp and the signal processing sections to "loop out"
- Enhancer increases the detail and definition of the high and low frequencies adding punch and shimmer to a mix. De-Essers are specialized compressors that focus on a specific frequency range. They reduce harsh high frequencies and sibilance.
- Full array of status LEDs - Monitor audio levels and processor status at a glance, ensuring optimal performance. Floating balanced XLR Mic Input accepts balanced or unbalanced inputs to connect to microphones.
- Rack mountable 1U Dimensions: 1.75" x 5.75" x 19"
- Input: 1/4" TRS (x2) and XLR (x1); output: 1/4" TRS (x1)
- Operating voltage: 120VAC 60Hz, 100VAC 50/60Hz
- Purchase includes: dbx286s, power cord, operation manual, and rack mount screws and washers (x4)
- 1-channel Solid-state Electro-optical Compressor with Gain Reduction and Gain Makeup Controls
- Switchable Time Constants
- External Power Supply
- Stereo Link Jack
- Highpass Filter
- Single-channel Analog Distress with Harmonic Disttion
- 8 unique curves
- sidechain EQ
How to choose a good compressors and gates effects processors
Does the idea of finding a fantastic compressors and gates effects processors make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in compressors and gates effects processors. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top compressors and gates effects processors products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top compressors and gates effects processors on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top compressors and gates effects processors brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top compressors and gates effects processors based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the compressors and gates effects processors were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good compressors and gates effects processors, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your compressors and gates effects processors.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting compressors and gates effects processors for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our compressors and gates effects processors. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what compressors and gates effects processors should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on compressors and gates effects processors.
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