Kramer PIE Compressor

Models the Pye compressor used at Olympic Studios

Incomparable Bus Compressor
of the Classic Rock Era

Based on pulse-width modulation (PWM) technology, the Pye compressor’s speed, transparency, and low distortion set it apart from other compressor types. Known especially as a bus compressor for drums, backing vocals, and masters, classic studio engineers admired the Pye’s dazzling character.

No one knows the Pye compressor better than legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones). Designed with Eddie himself, Kramer PIE captures what made the Pye truly special.

Models the Pye compressor from London’s famed Olympic Studios
Developed with studio legend Eddie Kramer (Zeppelin, Hendrix)
Outstanding bus compression for drums and backing vocals
Also ideal for transparent compression on lead vocals, bass
Intuitive Threshold, Ratio, Decay controls for easy adjustment
Ideal attack characteristics don’t require an attack control
Add optional analog noise and hum for original analog behavior
Pair with Kramer HLS to replicate the Olympic Studios signal chain

Watch It in Action

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What Top Pros Are Saying

[{"itemID":2197,"itemGUID":"9de9745e-d43a-44bd-a621-633775222dd4","artistName":"Chris Carmouche","artistTitle":"Producer, Mixing Engineer, Composer, Musician","credits":"Big Boi, Major Lazer, Ice Cube","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/chris-carmouche.png","quote":"One plugin I can\u2019t resist using in my vocal chain is the Kramer PIE. It has this unique, vintage sound that reacts so well to almost any style of vocals: hip-hop, R\u0026B, rock, and numerous other genres of music.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":1},{"itemID":75,"itemGUID":"0b091dd1-5be3-4121-ade6-6135c9bb1a1f","artistName":"Gil Norton","artistTitle":"Producer","credits":"Foo Fighters, Pixies, Stornoway","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/gil-norton.png","quote":"I absolutely love the HLS and PIE plugins, as well as the width and openness generated by Kramer Master Tape. Great Job!","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":2},{"itemID":2993,"itemGUID":"4227d3a1-9acd-4a6a-bef4-562cb1189d1f","artistName":"MXXWLL","artistTitle":"Artist, Musician, Producer, Sound Designer, Mix Engineer","credits":"Ty Dolla $ign, J. Cole, Aloe Blacc, CHIKA","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/mxxwll.png","quote":"I \u003Ci\u003Ealways\u003C/i\u003E use Kramer PIE compressor on my drum bus\u2026it smacks!","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":3},{"itemID":2499,"itemGUID":"32eb470f-f3b0-462b-bb3c-f1f0e8f2f4db","artistName":"Mike Avenaim","artistTitle":"Mix Engineer, Producer, Session Drummer, Music Director","credits":"Scott Weiland, NOTD, Disney, Bea Miller","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/mike-avenaim.png","quote":"I absolutely love this plugin on the drum bus. Inserting it in the first slot and tweaking it a little makes everything sound so big. Perfect for big rock type tracks that need pumping room sounds. ","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":4},{"itemID":2228,"itemGUID":"4707fc04-3c17-4e5f-9fd8-2deed043b071","artistName":"Frank Filipetti","artistTitle":"Music Producer, Engineer, Mixer","credits":"Foreigner, James Taylor, Korn, Frank Zappa","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/frank-filipetti.png","quote":"I love Eddie\u2019s PIE compressor on kick, snare, and guitars \u2013 it\u2019s got old time attitude.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":5},{"itemID":1923,"itemGUID":"9fff2e2c-3af9-443a-a500-12e694cad39d","artistName":"Marcel Fernandez","artistTitle":"FOH Engineer, Producer","credits":"ZZ Top, Rx Bandits, Zeta, Molotov","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/marcel-fernandez.png","quote":"Kramer PIE brings life, vibe and mojo to my mixes \u2013 especially when used in a parallel compression or harmonic distortion buss.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":6},{"itemID":1518,"itemGUID":"17ebeaf6-5721-4727-a31b-ea9228a9fadd","artistName":"Jeff Sandstrom","artistTitle":"FOH Engineer","credits":"Chris Tomlin, Passion City Church, Israel Houghton, New Breed","artistImage":"/images/artists/1280/jeff-sandstrom.png","quote":"My go-to for parallel compression on drums. It gives the drums clarity, presence, thickness and width, and keeps the transients even in a busy mix. I like to group the kick, snare and toms, and squeeze them hard with the PIE.","isMainQuote":false,"sortID":7}]

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Transparent Compression—from Gentle to Powerful

A Different Compression Technology
The Pye compressor used pulse-width modulation to control gain, not opto, FET, VCA, or other common gain-control elements. This is the secret to Kramer PIE’s fast, transparent, low-distortion compression.
Simple Controls: Instant Gratification
Kramer PIE is one of those plugins that “just works.” With its simplified control set, choose the compressor ratio or limiting, set the threshold and decay—then enjoy the standout compression character.
More than Bus Compression
Although the Pye compressor was best known for bus compression—whether drums, background vocals, or masters—it’s also a transparent compressor for any audio sources, especially vocals and bass.
Ideal Complement to Kramer HLS
At Olympic Studios, the Pye compressor was part of the signal chain with the Helios console channel strip. The Kramer PIE and HLS work together in the same synergistic fashion, to give that same vintage sound.