Compression advice!

[jacobrownoly]

Hi, I am looking for some advice about using compression, I am new to using it and I am looking into buying a cheapish rack unit.

I kinda know how compression works I have heard that it can really add to your tone and that it is recommend to use for bass players


I was looking into the DBX 266xl can someone tell me if this will work well with bass.

Any other advice on using compression will be appreciated!

Thanks

[Gopher Bob]

I love compression. Some players do not love compression. I do not feel "it can really add to your tone". It seems a lot of bass players use that DBX rack you mention so thats probably a good sign.

It is not a rack unit but I use a BBE opto stomp compressor.

Once bongo hears wind of 'compressor' he will come and you can click on his link.

[derridiandrift]

I don't have experience with the DBX 266xl, but I can offer some other suggestions. I've not had great experience with cheap rack units like the old Yamaha GC2020, Behringer, Alesis. Those units all sound very sterile and/or grainy to my ears. Compression can smooth over your dynamics and it can also make your sound very punchy if you use it right. I'm absolutely in love with my EBS Comp pedal running in the "tube sim" mode. It's a very subtle effect but it does a decent job of faking the way that tubes naturally compress a bit in comparison to transistors.

Another way to achieve something similar to compression is to use distortion. The Tech 21 VT pedal compresses nicely, even though it's not called a compressor pedal. This is a different kind of compression though... it's compression caused by lopping off the peaks of the signal (ie. distortion) and it also creates harmonics to thicken things up a bit.

There are plenty of people on here who've used that DBX box so I'll leave it to them to offer their advice.

[SoonerMatt]

http://www.ovnilab.com

Everything you need.

[Gopher Bob]

Everything you need and more


Compressor Review Megathread

[SoonerMatt]

Actually, bongo hosts all those reviews and his new ones on ovnilab.

[jacobrownoly]

Thanks for all this great information!!

What does anyone else think of the DBX 266xl unit??

[tigerbass]

Haven't tried that unit, but I have a DBX 166A, there are a few listed in the classifieds now, and I like it very much. Bongo also gave it a favorable review. Check it out.

[Kromwarp]

IMHO, I'm not a huge fan of live compression, it takes away from my overall volume, and when competeting with two full all-tube guitar stacks, I'll sacrifice the compression in order to have more overall volume. It does work wonders when recording however, just not a fan of it live.

[bongomania]

That's actually backwards. Compression (used correctly) increases your overall volume. It may be that what you're missing is the sound/feel of transient spikes, or it may be that the compressor you used wasn't good, or wasn't set up well for your instrument and playing style.

[fyziqs]

I started off with the dbx 266xl. It was a relatively cheap intro into compression for bass. It worked fine for me - until I tried another compressor! The expander/gate section is all but useless in my situation, as it was too noisy. The compression works, but it added (or removed) too much tone for my liking. Once I got the 'ear' for how the compressor was working, it was easier to compare other compressors to the 266xl (plus, Bongomania's reviews were very helpful).

I 'upgraded' to the dbx 166xl, and it was well worth the extra $100. I find the 166xl does not interfere with the tone of my bass nearly as much, and the compression sounds more natural. How the compressor sounds is going to depend on your setup, playing style, compression levels, etc. But with nearly identical settings, I definitely feel the 166xl was worth the extra cash.

I played through the 266xl for a year or two, and to be honest it was a fine first compressor. It would not be a bad first step - it is a good product for the price, and the next step up in rack-mount compression may double the price. If you are new to compression, and want to see if you like how it affects your sound, this wouldn't be a bad investment.

If you do get this (or another) 2-channel compressor, have some fun with it! If you have one instrument, you can still use both channels: try running the output signal from the first channel into the input of the second channel and really customize your compression!

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by fyziqs

I started off with the dbx 266xl. It was a relatively cheap intro into compression for bass. It worked fine for me - until I tried another compressor! The expander/gate section is all but useless in my situation, as it was too noisy. The compression works, but it added (or removed) too much tone for my liking. Once I got the 'ear' for how the compressor was working, it was easier to compare other compressors to the 266xl (plus, Bongomania's reviews were very helpful).

I 'upgraded' to the dbx 166xl, and it was well worth the extra $100. I find the 166xl does not interfere with the tone of my bass nearly as much, and the compression sounds more natural. How the compressor sounds is going to depend on your setup, playing style, compression levels, etc. But with nearly identical settings, I definitely feel the 166xl was worth the extra cash.

I played through the 266xl for a year or two, and to be honest it was a fine first compressor. It would not be a bad first step - it is a good product for the price, and the next step up in rack-mount compression may double the price. If you are new to compression, and want to see if you like how it affects your sound, this wouldn't be a bad investment.

If you do get this (or another) 2-channel compressor, have some fun with it! If you have one instrument, you can still use both channels: try running the output signal from the first channel into the input of the second channel and really customize your compression!

+1 to most of the above thoughts. I actually did things backwards to the above. I bought a used 1066 dbx and then when I was setting up a second rig I bought a new 266xl - price being the main reason. i think the 266 series is sort of dbx's budget line but it still works well and is quiet IMO. I like dbx products but have not honestly tried anything else since I got into compression.

I think the 266xl is a good place to start and who knows maybe you will never feel the need to upgrade. If after awhile you don't feel compression is for you then you won't have a ton of cash invested either. Personally I wouldn't run either of my rigs without a compressor.

[Alper Yilmaz]

I had one of these units almost ten years ago and after using it for a few months I sold it. I remember it being very nasal and I, somehow, could not dial in a decent compression out of it (it might be me, though, as using a compression is an art). It was a very silent unit at the same time, but I remember it taking away the liveliness of the low frequencies a bit.

Later on, I had upgraded to 160A, which is a much nicer unit than the 266XL, but I recently sold it as well and switched to stomp boxes, namely, EBS MultiComp and Markbass Compressore.

Despite the $50-100 price difference, I would take any of these units over the 266XL, actually even the 160A, which is a much more expensive unit. Markbass is amazing for the price; I bought it a few days ago upon reading Bongo's reviews and it is one amazing compressor for the price.

Cheers,

Alper

Originally Posted by jacobrownoly

Thanks for all this great information!!

What does anyone else think of the DBX 266xl unit??

[jacobrownoly]

Just got my DBX 266xl, I know this is a another noob question but what is the best way to connect this to my rig??? (I have a GK 1001 RB-II head)


Thanks again!

[walker rosewood]

connect FX Send (on amp) to input of DBX. Connect Output of DBX to FX Return (on amp). Use the +4db setting.

alternatively, you could plug your bass into input of DBX, connect output of DBX to your amps input. Use the -10db setting.