The Vertex Effects Nyle Compressor and Preamp is a pedal that packs two separate circuits into one enclosure: a vintage rack-style compressor and a vintage-style mic preamp. Announced in October 2019 as the newest addition to the company's line of effects, it was priced at $249.99 and sold through the Vertex web site1. Vertex describes the combination as emulating the direct-in signal chain used to conjure the classic punchy clean tones of the 1970s1.
What the Nyle does
The compressor side is described by Vertex as an analog studio-grade compressor. It provides well-balanced compressed tones, cleaning up your sound and adding sustain without jeopardizing dynamics, according to the company's press release1. Delicious Audio's René Cobar called it a pedal for musicians looking to replicate the vibrant sounds produced by classic 1970s and 1980s studio compressor racks, including punchy clean funk tones and glassy bass tones2.
The preamp side is a "Vintage Voiced" mic preamp1. Cobar noted that the Mic Pre can be overdriven for a traditional hard rock sound, pointing to the robust-sounding riffs of Zeppelin as the reference2.
"The legendary circuit combination perfectly emulates the direct-in signal chain used to conjure the classic punchy clean tones of the 1970s."
The controls on each side
The two circuits have separate control groups, laid out in rows on the pedal1.
Compressor side (top row of knobs and toggles):
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Traditional volume control for the compressor12 |
| Sustain | Traditional sustain control12 |
| Ratio | Controls the blend of your dry and compressed signal12 |
| Treble toggle | Three-way switch to dial in high frequencies that best suit your rig12 |
Preamp side (bottom three knobs):
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Level control for the mic pre circuit12 |
| EQ | Adjusts the low-mid frequencies of your signal to bring out the warmth of the preamp circuit12 |
| Gain | Gain control for the mic pre circuit12 |
Using both circuits together
The two sides can run in tandem. Premier Guitar's announcement notes that you can create harmonically-rich drive sounds by using both circuits in tandem and cranking the compressor's volume control1. That puts the Nyle in territory adjacent to dedicated overdrive pedals and preamp pedals, though its drive character comes from pushing the two circuits rather than from a dedicated drive voicing.
What reviewers said
Cobar's write-up on Delicious Audio was favorable on the format itself: he described the Nyle as offering compression, EQ shaping, and level control in one enclosure, and suggested it suits players chasing a classic funk clean tone or a glassy bass tone overall2.
Videos
Sweetwater
Vertex Effects
Vertex Effects
Questions
What does the Vertex Nyle do?
The Nyle is a single pedal enclosure holding two circuits: an analog studio-grade compressor and a vintage-style mic preamp. The compressor side cleans up your sound and adds sustain while keeping dynamics, and the preamp side gives you volume, EQ and gain control over a vintage-voiced mic pre circuit. Vertex says the combination emulates the direct-in signal chain behind classic punchy clean tones of the 1970s.
Is the Vertex Nyle true bypass?
Yes. Vertex lists the Nyle as having 100% mechanical true bypass, meaning the pedal's switching connects your guitar straight to your amp when the effect is off, with no electronic circuitry left in the signal path.
What do the attack and treble toggles do on the Nyle?
The Nyle has a three-way treble toggle switch that lets you dial in the high frequencies that best suit your rig. It sits with the compressor's controls on the top row of knobs and toggles, alongside the traditional volume and sustain controls and the ratio knob for blending dry and compressed signal.
Can you use the compressor and preamp together on the Nyle?
Yes. Premier Guitar's press release notes that you can create harmonically-rich drive sounds by using both circuits in tandem and cranking the compressor's volume control. The mic pre can also be overdriven on its own for a traditional hard rock sound.
How much does the Vertex Nyle cost?
At its October 2019 announcement, the Nyle was priced at $249.99 and was available from the Vertex web site.
Does the Vertex Nyle have a warranty?
Yes. Vertex announced the Nyle with a lifetime warranty.
Sources (2)
- Vertex Effects Launches Nyle Compressor Preamp, Premier Guitar, 2019-10-21
- Vertex Effects Nyle Compressor Preamp, Delicious Audio, 2020-06-19
