Compression = Cheating?

[ErikP.Bass]

Not sure this is the right spot for this as I am not sure compression is really an effect, but I suppose.

My question is do you think using compression is cheating in that it will even out and uneven touch? I am coming to find that my touch is fairly inconsistent, and need to work on it but in the short term a little compression helps....and it is built into my Eden Time Traveler.

[rob_thebassman]

it isn't cheating, compression is used to stop clipping and even the notes out

[Zooberwerx]

There's volumes written on the science of compression; I would not summarily dismiss it as "cheating". It's probably one of the most widely used yet misunderstood facets of audio production.

Riis

[ErikP.Bass]

I definitely appreciate what it does for my playing and my amp. I don't know too much about producing, but it is interesting to hear it is very widely used.

[MuzikMan]

It depends on the way or reason it is being used. In the studio it is often necessary or desirable to reduce dynamics. It can also be used to fix uneven playing as you suggested. My recommendation to you would be to practice without it to build your touch and use compression when it is pay day.

[jam.majors]

I second MuzikMan. I love compression and use it all the time, but I know I don't love it as much as bongomania of ovnilabs.com, but I don't think anyone does. If you want more info on what it does and how to use it, go to his website: super useful.

[ErikP.Bass]

Good advice MusikMan. Undesirable Dynamics, could be an album name or something. I definitely intend to use it in professional settings and develop my dynamic control on the side.

[Smurf-o-Deth]

As a quick aside, compression can be like an effect, especially when used in a Tony Levin-esque fashion.

[ErikP.Bass]

I definitely agree Smurf-o-Deth.

It is funny how it can also be a desirable or undesirable effect. Say when listening to music on an iPod (more compressed) vs. listening to vinyl (less compressed).

A fascinating subject I need to learn more about.

[rob_thebassman]

compression is also really helpful for slapping

[Explorer]

How many copies of Cher's "Believe" sold? I think they made a bit of money with that one, and it had some major autotuning going on.

Compression can definitely help smooth out one's playing, and can help someone who hasn't mastered some techniques quite a bit. However, if that person wants to spend some time mastering it, it's up to them.

----

Short version: If you're not using someone else's money to buy the effect, you shouldn't worry about whether that person thinks something is cheating or not.

[Geddyfleaharris]

I have a compressor in my rack. On all the time. I like how it evens things out but you can still be dynamic.

[echoSE7EN]

Originally Posted by rob_thebassman

it isn't cheating, compression is used to stop clipping and even the notes out

+1

[testing1two]

Compression acts more like an effect than you think. Dynamics processing changes the acoustic envelope of your bass signal. In other words, the relationship between each note's attack, decay, sustain, and release are altered under compression and that changes the timbre of the signal. There are lots of ways to describe the effect but most folks use words like "smooth, warm, or punchy."

In terms of cheating, compression may smooth out the volume spikes that come from uneven playing but it doesn't fix the tone. You can still hear if one finger on your plucking hand strikes harder than the other or if your picking upstroke is softer than your downstroke.

[warwick.hoy]

I've found that with compression set right it can actually emphasize your dynamics in such a way that quieter passages are more present in the mix and louder passages don't dominate.

That said it's not a replacement for a solid technique,...the old saying goes,...you can't make chicken soup out of chicken ****. (which is not meant to be a slight at the op). Develop your technique then you won't have to worry about whether or not you are "cheating" with compression.

IMO YMMV yadda yadda yadda.

[depalm]

Compression = Cheating?
So what? If you're having good pleasure…should not feel that guilty. :-)

[andvari7]

I cannot fathom why people consider any particular effect, or even effects in general, cheating. Cheating what? The audience? The song? Yourself? I once had a guitar teacher tell me that effects were cheating, because they cover up bad playing. I remember Ted Nugent making a similar remark once. In all of my fifteen years of using effects, the one thing effects have always done for me was to accentuate my bad playing.

[depalm]

Originally Posted by andvari7

I cannot fathom why people consider any particular effect, or even effects in general, cheating. Cheating what? The audience? The song? Yourself? I once had a guitar teacher tell me that effects were cheating, because they cover up bad playing. I remember Ted Nugent making a similar remark once. In all of my fifteen years of using effects, the one thing effects have always done for me was to accentuate my bad playing.

Yeah, it is a kind of purism that I really don't understand.

[ljazz]

I play a GK 700rbII, which doesn't have a variable input gain. I use an EBS MultiComp to keep my gain as high as possible without clipping. The amount of compression I use is slight, so really, I'm using more for gain staging than anything else.... although I love the tone I get using the tubesim mode.

[bassguitar808]

Originally Posted by depalm

Yeah, it is a kind of purism that I really don't understand.

exactly

if you're going that route

you could say amplification and electricity are cheating too

this two person octobass is awesome though



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