The Behringer CS400 Compressor Sustainer is an analog compressor pedal that does two jobs at once: it evens out the volume differences between quiet and loud playing, and it holds notes longer so single-note lines and solos sustain. Behringer describes it as a pedal that "smoothes out volume peaks and provides endless sustain with ultra-stable dynamics"1. For a player, that means a more even, controlled sound whether you are comping chords or playing lead, and it is a common first stop for anyone exploring compressor pedals.
What It Does
A compressor narrows the gap between your loudest and quietest notes. Played lightly, the CS400 lifts the signal; dig in, and it tames the peaks. Behringer's product page frames the result as ultra-stable dynamics with endless sustain, controlled through three dedicated knobs1:
- Sustain sets how long compressed notes ring out
- Level sets the pedal's output volume
- Attack time shapes how quickly the compressor clamps down on a picked note
The Attack control is the one that changes character most: a slower attack lets the initial pick strike through before compression takes hold, while a faster attack clamps everything evenly. Behringer's page for the pedal lists it as the "COMPRESSOR/SUSTAINER CS400"2.
Power and Practical Details
The CS400 runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 30mA according to RockBoard's PedalPedia listing3. That is a light draw by pedal standards, so it sits comfortably on a board powered by a standard supply. RockBoard's listing also links the maker's manual, which covers the pedal in English, German, French, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other languages3.
The pedal is analog3, so it belongs in the analog part of a signal chain and does not require any digital conversion or sample-rate considerations.
Where It Sits in Behringer's Range
Behringer makes several compressors, and the CS400 is the company's compact take on the compressor/sustainer format. Other Behringer compressor pedals covered on this site include the Behringer Compressor Sustainer, the Behringer Dynamics Compressor, the Behringer CS100, and the Behringer CL9 Compressor/Limiter. The CS400's three-knob layout, Sustain, Level and Attack time, is the simplest of the group, aimed at players who want compression and sustain without a deep control panel1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Behringer CS400 analog or digital?
The CS400 is an analog pedal. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists its circuit type as analog, which matters for players who want a compressor in the analog portion of their signal chain or who are building a board around analog effects.
What power does the Behringer CS400 need?
The CS400 runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug and draws 30mA, according to RockBoard's PedalPedia listing. That is a modest draw, but it is above what a typical 9V battery comfortably handles for long, so most players run it from a standard pedalboard power supply.
What do the controls on the CS400 do?
Behringer describes the pedal as smoothing out volume peaks and providing endless sustain with ultra-stable dynamics through dedicated Sustain, Level and Attack time controls. Sustain sets how long compressed notes hold, Level sets the output volume, and the Attack control shapes how quickly the compressor responds to your picking.
Sources (3)
- CS400 | Behringer, Behringer
- CS400 | Behringer, Behringer
- CS400 Compressor Sustainer by Behringer, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
