Any reason to not use a compressor?

StealingYerMail · #1 10-18-2011, 09:10 AM

I've been whoring Guitar Center giftcards for some time now and have $150 worth. I was going to buy some sort of "fun" pedal, but a couple friends of mine kept bugging me to look into compressors. I have about $200 total, so I'm not getting some crazy rack-mounted compressor.

I poked around the ovnilab site, and the Markbass Compressor seems pretty awesome considering it's a pedal and relatively low price.

I won't buy anything without trying it, and if I do pick up a compressor, the MB is the first one on my list, but is there any advantage to NOT using one?

MarTONEbass · #2 10-18-2011, 09:14 AM

I am not necessarily anti-compressor, I just like a simple set up. I have heard that using a compressor too much can result in a reliance on it and thus, not working on your technique with dynamics, etc.

SteveC · #3 10-18-2011, 09:25 AM

This should be interesting....

An inexpensive one that is very simple and not in your face is the BBE Opto Stomp. $100 or so.

bongomania · #4 10-18-2011, 09:36 AM

Do you need a compressor? (I know the article focuses on the positive aspect, but it mentions reasons not to like compression.)

StealingYerMail · #5 10-18-2011, 09:36 AM

What would make a compressor "in your face?"

I've never used one. In fact, never considered one until my friends started mentioning it. I don't know too much about them, but it seems like some personality would be lost through a compressed tone.

EDIT: thanks for that link. Reading now.

After reading that, it seems like it may be right up my alley. I never thought that it could enhance your right hand dynamics. But, it really makes sense that a compressor could. One thing I do like about my bass is that it just sounds good. Regardless of settings, it just sounds balanced and good. I don't want to mess with my sound too much.

SteveC · #6 10-18-2011, 11:57 AM

Well, maybe in your face isn't the right way to say it. Some are more obvious than others.

topo morto · #7 10-18-2011, 12:50 PM

I'll try to put you off as much as possible:

- many pedal compressors don't have all the usual compressor controls (the markbass does, actually)

- most pedal compressors don't have any metering, so you may have no idea what is going on

- compressors make it easy to make your signal chain more noisy

- OD/drive/boost pedals can introduce compression in a more musical way than a compressor

- many compressors cut bass

- simpler is better

- the reliance thing as martonebass said

The one compressor I have tried and liked is a XIX rack compressor. Doubtless I could find other rack ones I like, but I'm doubtful about finding a pedal one...

StealingYerMail · #8 10-18-2011, 01:00 PM

I thought about the compression you would get with an OD pedal. The pedal I was originally going to buy was a Way Huge Pork Loin, but I don't know if I really want an OD pedal. I have a SS amp, but I would eventually like to go tube and that seems like it may make an OD pedal obsolete.

topo morto · #9 10-18-2011, 01:03 PM

What's the rest of your setup?

FaithNoMan · #10 10-18-2011, 01:05 PM

No, a tube amp won't make an overdrive pedal obsolete...unless you plan on playing all the time near full volume.

At that point, I'd probably invest some money in earplugs..

StealingYerMail · #11 10-18-2011, 01:27 PM

True on the OD pedal. But, a lot of people seem to just say to skip them entirely.

Anyway, right now I only have a practice amp, an Acoustic B100 which I really like. Sounds good and is loud enough to play with a drummer in practice spaces.

topo morto · #12 10-18-2011, 01:30 PM

If you're FX-curious, maybe go for a Multi-FX pedal... most of them will have compressors in them anyway, and the presets will be handy for adjusting from song to song....

StealingYerMail · #13 10-18-2011, 01:36 PM

I've tried one of those, took it back three days later. Just too much on it. The only effects I'm interested in OD and fuzz (and compression I guess), and I already have a Big Muff Pi which is I am not too fond of, but don't care enough to pursue a replacement. It serves it's purpose when it isn't lost in my room. To be honest, I don't know how I really feel about pedals as a whole. OD or compression would be nice but anything else... I feel like using my hands would just be better.

Anyway, I was interested in a compressor because my bass is always clipping my amp. My bass has a 9v preamp and active pickups, and if I boost the onboard bass any more than "slightly," it'll start to really clip my amp. I could lower my amp's gain, but then I lose the "sweet spot" of where I think my bass sounds the best. But, with the gain set to what I feel sounds right, I lose out on my onboard bass control. Would a compressor help balance this?

topo morto · #14 10-18-2011, 01:41 PM

Compressors can do funny things to bass... or not. I think the only thing to do is try it! Maybe make sure you can return it....

maxgrant · #15 10-18-2011, 01:42 PM

If you want a compressor do something like a Zoom B2.

I used the compression setting on this for awhile, but finally realized my hands were really bothering me. Turned the compressor off and realized how hard I was beating on my strings because I wanted more volume.

I also noticed how much richer my sound was. I am not a fan of compression. I use it as little as possible now.

gnjpowell · #16 10-18-2011, 01:53 PM

I would suggest testing something like a fully-featured dbx rack compressor so you can mess with all the variables, learn how it all works and have good feedback (LEDs) on what it is doing and how different settings affects your sound. Gives you maximum flexibility. Most pedals don't give you all the options and flexibility. Any compressor setup poorly can give you bad sound.

henryjurstin13 · #17 10-18-2011, 02:01 PM

I like compression from a studio/front of house point of view... but, not in my signal chain/amp. I like to have COMPLETE control of dynamics & have never-ever dug the compression. I don't use one b/c I want my LOUD notes and QUIET notes to be controlled equally by my fingers.

BagelBruin · #18 10-18-2011, 02:03 PM

Sounds like you are so wishy-washy on getting a compressor. I just wouldn't get one then. They are not really fun or exciting things to use, and if you are generally happy with your tone, then you are already set.

I would buy strings, loads and loads of strings.

BagelBruin · #19 10-18-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryjurstin13

I like compression from a studio/front of house point of view... but, not in my signal chain/amp. I like to have COMPLETE control of dynamics & have never-ever dug the compression. I don't use one b/c I want my LOUD notes and QUIET notes to be controlled equally by my fingers.

And AMEN!

boynamedsuse · #20 10-18-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealingYerMail

. . . .
Anyway, I was interested in a compressor because my bass is always clipping my amp. My bass has a 9v preamp and active pickups, and if I boost the onboard bass any more than "slightly," it'll start to really clip my amp. I could lower my amp's gain, but then I lose the "sweet spot" of where I think my bass sounds the best. But, with the gain set to what I feel sounds right, I lose out on my onboard bass control. Would a compressor help balance this?

I suspect you are looking more for a limiter, which is a compressor that has a high ratio or a compressor that has multiple ratio settings, one of which is 20:1 or more.