The Behringer CS400 is a compressor/sustainer effects pedal: a compact stompbox that evens out the volume of your playing and stretches out the tail of each note. Behringer bills it as an "Ultimate Dynamics Effects Pedal" and describes its effect as packaging your sound into one velvety-smooth and consistent volume, with virtually-endless sustain and ultra-stable dynamics1. It sits in the compressor lane alongside other compressor pedals such as the Behringer CS100 and the Behringer Compressor Sustainer.
What it does to your sound
A compressor narrows the gap between your loudest and quietest notes, which is why compressor pedals are also sold as sustainers: the quiet tail of a note gets pushed up instead of fading away. Behringer's own description of the CS400 is that "this little magic box packages your sound into one velvety-smooth and consistent volume"1. RockBoard's PedalPedia classifies it the same way, as a compressor and sustainer2.
Controls
The CS400 keeps things simple, with a small set of dials plus the footswitch and LED.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack | Dedicated dial for dialing in the right amount of compression3 |
| Sustain | Dedicated dial for dialing in the right amount of compression3 |
| Tone | Lets you add exactly the right level of highs1 |
| Level | Sets the output to subtle, or engages a monster volume boost1 |
The Attack and Sustain dials work together to set how hard the pedal compresses and how long it holds a note. The Tone control shapes the top end of the compressed signal, and the Level control sets how loud the pedal's output is, from subtle up to what Behringer calls a monster volume boost1.
A bright LED tells you when the CS400 is on, and Behringer says the top-quality on/off switch maintains outstanding signal integrity in bypass mode1.
Power
The CS400 runs on either a 9 V battery or Behringer's PSU-SB DC power supply, which is not included with the pedal1. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the DC input as 9V DC, center negative2, the same polarity as most standard pedal power supplies.
No power supply comes in the box. If you plan to run the CS400 from a pedalboard supply, you will need a 9V DC, center negative output12.
Videos
Behringer
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Questions
Does the Behringer CS400 run on a battery?
Yes. Behringer says the CS400 can be powered with a 9 V battery, or with the company's PSU-SB DC power supply, which is not included with the pedal. The pedal's DC input runs at 9V DC, center negative, so a standard pedal power supply of that type works.
Does the CS400 come with a power supply?
No. Behringer's product page states that the PSU-SB DC power supply is not included. The pedal can run on a 9 V battery instead, or on a separate 9V DC, center negative supply you provide.
What do the Attack and Sustain dials do on the CS400?
Behringer describes the Attack and Sustain dials as the way to dial in the right amount of compression. Together they shape how the pedal reacts to your picking and how much sustain it adds to notes and chords.
What does the Tone control do on the CS400?
According to Behringer, the Tone control lets you add exactly the right level of highs, so you can brighten the compressed signal to taste.
Is the Behringer CS400 a compressor or a sustainer?
It is both. Behringer lists it as a compressor/sustainer effects pedal, and RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as a compressor and sustainer. Compression evens out volume differences between notes, which is what produces the longer sustain.
Sources (3)
- CS400 | Behringer, Behringer
- CS400 Compressor Sustainer by Behringer, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- CS400 | Behringer, Behringer
