Case Study Effects Re-launches With Their Studio Compressor

Formerly known as Neutron Pedals, Case Study kicks off a new era with a sleek compression pedal.

Compressors are a very underappreciated part of the guitar gear world. They’re often not seen as a “sexy” new purchase, and oftentimes they don’t get the attention that sparkly new overdrives or granular delays get. But much like a good EQ or boost pedal, a compressor can have a massively positive impact on your guitar sound.

In full disclosure, I’ve rarely relied on compression for my guitar tone, especially because a lot of what I play is punk or punk-adjacent music. However, compressors have been a very important part of my bass rig for years, especially when trying to help the low end punch through a loud mix. And furthermore, I’ve usually relied on pretty simple compressors like the Maestro or Summer School pedals reviewed on this site.

So when the Case Study Effects Studio Compressor showed up, I knew I had to take a few days to actually learn how to use it.

One of the biggest takeaways from my time with the Case Study Studio Compressor it is more than just a comp. Similar to the Summer School Half-Day, but with far more tonal control, it can work as a boost, a stand alone distortion pedal, or a sort of EQ control as well. The bright mode is especially useful in that regard, adding a bit of high end for that compressed sparkle.

By adjusting the threshold and release knobs, you can use this Studio Compressor to create that quiet crunch dynamic from many ’90s records. This pedal can do so much, but the ways I dialed it in were mostly for the aforementioned sound, or for cleaning up distorted tones to help them pop through the mix a bit more. I’ve never been a huge fan of compressed guitar tones, as I think they can be overdone leading to “overproduced” sounds.

But because you have a breadth of controls here, including the bright switch that adds some life, you can get a smoother, more subtle compression. Plus, having that gain knob on board lets you breathe a little bit of life back into the compressed signal.

So far I think this Studio Compressor will get a lot of play on my desk. I’m not sure I’m convinced I need one for live gigging, but having it around when it comes time to record is hugely advantageous. This definitely beats out the other compressors I have in terms of power, and I really love the bright, ringing chords that pop out on the demo. In fact, this is one of the few pedals I’ve reviewed that instantly made its way onto a song. Right after shooting this demo, I turned that chord sequence into a song running this compressor in front of my Browne Protein and was stoked with the result.

Overall, Case Study’s inaugural release is an impressive and powerful pedal. It’s made a better impression than most compressors usually do, especially because of the built-in distortion mode. This compressor checks in at $165 USD from Case Study Effects and is a strong studio tool, especially if you like to pair compression with gain like I do.