The Vertex Effects Nyle Compressor and Preamp is a compressor pedal that packs two circuits into one enclosure: an analog studio-grade compressor and a "Vintage Voiced" mic preamp1. Vertex Effects announced it on October 21, 2019, priced at $249.991.
The idea behind the pedal is to bring the sound of classic 1970s and 1980s studio compressor racks to a stompbox. Delicious Audio called it "the perfect stompbox for musicians looking to replicate the vibrant sounds produced by classic '70s and '80s studio compressor racks," including punchy clean funk tones and glassy bass tones2.
What the two circuits do
The compressor side provides what Premier Guitar described as "well-balanced compressed tones, cleaning up your sound and adding sustain without jeopardizing dynamics"1. In other words, it levels out your playing and stretches sustain while keeping the feel of your picking intact, which is the balance most players want from a studio-style compressor rather than a heavy squash.
The mic pre side is where the character comes in. Delicious Audio described the vintage Mic Pre as producing "the unconventional tones associated with '70s funk"2. The EQ knob on this side adjusts the low-mid frequencies of your signal to bring out the warmth of the preamp circuit1.
The controls
The pedal splits its controls between the two circuits. The top row of knobs and toggles runs the compressor, and the bottom three knobs run the mic pre1.
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Compressor | Traditional output level control2 |
| Sustain | Compressor | Traditional sustain control2 |
| Ratio | Compressor | Blends your dry and compressed signal2 |
| Attack toggle | Compressor | Three-way switch controlling compressor sensitivity, from subtle to ultra-squashy1 |
| Volume | Mic pre | Output level for the preamp circuit2 |
| EQ | Mic pre | Adjusts low-mid frequencies to bring out the preamp's warmth2 |
| Gain | Mic pre | Sets the gain of the mic pre circuit2 |
The Ratio knob is worth a note for players used to rack compressors: here it works as a dry/wet blend rather than a fixed compression ratio, so you set the amount of compressed signal mixed with your untouched signal2. The attack toggle is the fast character switch, moving the compressor from light leveling to what both press sources called "ultra-squashy compression"12.
Drive, bass, and running the circuits together
The Nyle is not limited to clean compression. The Mic Pre can be overdriven for a traditional hard rock sound, which Delicious Audio framed in terms of "Zeppelin's robust-sounding riffs"2. Premier Guitar added that "you can create harmonically-rich drive sounds by using both circuits in tandem and cranking the compressor's volume control"1. That makes the pedal a possible entry point into overdrive territory without a dedicated drive pedal on the board.
For bass players, the pedal was pitched with a glassy bass tone in mind alongside the classic funk clean tone, with compression, EQ shaping, and level control in one enclosure1. Players comparing bass pedals for studio-style leveling can treat it as a compressor with a voiced preamp attached.
"If you have been on the hunt for that classic funk clean tone or glassy bass tone, the NYLE Compressor will put an end to your journey, offering compression, EQ shaping, and level control in one humble enclosure."
Where it came from
Vertex Effects announced the Nyle Compressor and Preamp on October 21, 2019 as the newest addition to the company's line of effects, with a list price of $249.99 sold through the Vertex web site1. The design goal, as the announcement framed it, was to fit a vintage rack compressor and a vintage-style mic preamp into a single pedal enclosure1.
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Questions
What does the Ratio knob do on the Nyle?
The Ratio knob controls the blend of your dry and compressed signal. It sits on the compressor side of the pedal, alongside the traditional volume and sustain controls, so you can dial in how much of the compressed sound sits under your untouched signal.
Can the Nyle preamp be overdriven?
Yes. The Mic Pre circuit can be overdriven for a traditional hard rock sound, which Delicious Audio described in terms of Zeppelin-style robust riffs. Premier Guitar also noted you can create harmonically-rich drive sounds by running both circuits in tandem and cranking the compressor's volume control.
Is the Vertex Nyle suitable for bass?
Yes. Coverage of the pedal points to a glassy bass tone as one of its targets, alongside a classic funk clean tone. The compressor side offers compression, EQ shaping, and level control in one enclosure, which is what bass players typically want from a studio-style compressor.
What does the attack toggle do on the Nyle?
The three-way attack toggle switch controls the sensitivity of the compressor, ranging from subtle compression to what both Premier Guitar and Delicious Audio call ultra-squashy compression. It gives you a quick way to move between light leveling and heavy squish.
Can you use the Nyle compressor and preamp separately?
The Nyle contains two circuits in its enclosure, a vintage rack compressor and a vintage-style mic preamp, and each side has its own set of controls. The top row of knobs and toggles handles the compressor, while the bottom three knobs handle the mic pre's volume, EQ, and gain.
Sources (2)
- Vertex Effects Launches Nyle Compressor Preamp, Premier Guitar, 2019-10-21
- Vertex Effects Nyle Compressor Preamp, Delicious Audio, 2020-06-19
