With the EBS MultiComp Blue Label, EBS gives its highly successful bass compressor a well-deserved fresh cell treatment and adds a sensitivity control to the analog circuitry to adjust the threshold of the effect. Here, the locking middle position of the potentiometer corresponds to the fixed value of the original pedal. As usual, Gain and Comp controls are also available for adjusting the effect. While the EBS MultiComp in the name-giving MultiComp mode separately compresses low and high frequencies for a particularly smooth sound, the Tubesim mode gives the sound the warmth and complex overtone brilliance of a classic tube circuit. Last but not least, the normal mode of the EBS MultiComp Blue Label promises a classic compressor sound.
On the compression side, it's not the compressor of the century.
A TC electronic Spectracomp does better for less.
But EBS is pure analog, and that is important for some.
We are still entitled to 3 different compression styles. A standard single-band compressor, a dual-band (with internal level adjustment for each band), and a single-band with a tube effect simulator. In the end you can do a lot of different things with this compressor.
When you push the compression all the way, the compressor lets the attack pass and then reduces the level, this can be used to play very short notes. If you set the compression at half strength you get the classic effect of reinforced sustain and "thicker" sound.
On the side there is a push button which allows you to activate a pad when you have a bass that comes out too high.
The true bypass switch is "silent", that means it doesn't make the usual "clack" but it still makes noise, don't imagine that it won't be heard in a studio session.
Info: When you turn on the pedal, it always goes into active mode, even if you turned it off while in bypass mode. Of course if there is no power supply the pedal is in bypass. I have other analog true bypass pedals that restart in the exact state they were in at power off, and that seems better to me.
The pedal is small, all metal, it gives a robust appearance.
It is very expensive, this is its main drawback!
There is a nice box with a paper manual in English.
About the power supply, it needs classic central negative 9v 45 mA. It accepts up to 18V. I haven't opened it but the manual says that by unscrewing the bottom you can put a battery in.
Small disappointment: I tried 3 power supplies. An old multivoltage unit, a 10 euro power supply from Musicstore, and the Boss PSA 230S power supply. With the first two power supplies I had intolerable noises. Only the Boss does not create noise. For the price of this pedal I would have hoped for an ability to operate correctly with any power supply. The first two power supplies also caused noise (a little less) with my chorus and my envelope filter but these are pedals that are worth a third of the price.
When the compressor is in bypass it does not generate any noise, even if a low-end power supply is connected to it.
In conclusion, this compressor is a pedal to consider if you are looking for a pure analog compressor.