Empress Effects Inc. is a guitar and bass effects company based in Ottawa, Ontario. The company was founded by Steve Bragg and their effects are renowned for sophisticated digital control, preset storage and MIDI integration with analog technology. Empress Effects started in 2005, after Bragg had graduated from  Queens University with a degree in electrical engineering. His friend commissioned a tremolo effects unit with a unique set of features. By the time he had made it his friend no-longer needed it but Steve sold it at a local used instruments store. The store liked it so much that they ordered 10 more and Empress Effects was born.

Source: Empress Effects website (13 February 2022)