Compression: Do you use it and if so, what effect are you hoping that it has?

[jfh2424]

Hi guys, I did a one off gig last night with a pro guitarist. I was asking him about my tone. He mentioned that most of the bassists he works with use compression.

I have used different effects, but I really don't know a whole lot about compression. Can you guys school me on it? What can I expect if I use a compression stomp box?

Thanks!

John

[Bassmike62]

Here's pre-school, grammar school, high school and all degrees of college / university: fellow TBer Bongomania's web page on compression. I go back to it everytime I switch compressors, which is about twice a year.



Compressor Reviews

[powmetalbassist]

I looked at his review of the DBX 266 compressor and he says it's crap, but I am quite happy with what it can do. I only need it for mild compression of any "pop's" that come from me plucking too hard in a live situation so it works for my needs. guess it totally depends on what your trying to get out of the compressor.

[JonnyAngle]

Originally Posted by powmetalbassist

I looked at his review of the DBX 266 compressor and he says it's crap, but I am quite happy with what it can do. I only need it for mild compression of any "pop's" that come from me plucking too hard in a live situation so it works for my needs. guess it totally depends on what your trying to get out of the compressor.

Bongo's site is very helpful and informational. But just because Bongo says a compressor is crap does not mean you can't use it.

[scottfeldstein]

I use it to level out the spikes in my volume. It's automatic volume control so that this note isn't way louder than that note. That's all it is.

When I switch from slap to finger style to pick...I want to know that there's some level of continuity. Between me and the kick drum, we're driving the beat of the song. You don't want it go fade in and out. You mostly want things at the same volume. Soemtimes even adjacent notes are radically different volumes, such as when you thumb-whack a low G and pluck the octave-up G on the D string. That higher G note is going to be louder. You'd be surprised how much nicer things can be when it isn't.

I've been telling this story lately: how I had to forgo the use of my MXR M87 one day and felt like I sounded totally wrong, like I woke up in the morning and put all my clothes on backward or something. I just didn't sound right to myself. The compressor doesn't change my tone, but it's a conditioning factor I have grown to really like.

[darius8]

For the percussive attack and limiting the clipping in the input signal is what I use it for.

[Savage_Dreams]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I use it to level out the spikes in my volume. It's automatic volume control so that this note isn't way louder than that note. That's all it is.

i wouldnt say thats all it is. as someone who uses some extreme comp settings i would say its part of my tone. im definitely on the billy sheehan side of compression, which i know isnt for everybody, but without it my rig sounds completely different.

[icecycle66]

I have two comps in my line. Actually they are limiters, but don't have to be used as such.

Behringer BLE100 Bass Limiter Enhancer- This is the first of my two limiter/enhancer pedals. The enhancer knob might as well be re-titled as, high pitch hiss mix. Other than having flimsy feeling controls it works just as good as the Boss Limiter later on in my line. This Hi-C carton helps keep things even when I switch from deep low end to clangier highs, since both my basses have pretty strong onboard EQ. I can change my tone with my on bass controls but don't have any overpowering volume increase from the EQ change.

Boss LMB-3 Bass Limiter Enhancer- My second limiter in the series. With all my gain stages (EQ, Delta Fuzz, Metal Muff, ODB-3, Morley Wah) this guy helps me even everything out. It is especially important when I use the Delta Fuzz, as it doesn’t have a volume output control and bumps up the signal volume a little. The Delta Fuzz isn’t too bad when it’s by itself, but when combined with either other dirt pedal it can get pretty bad. This pedal takes care of these problems for me.

[DeadPoet]

I play bass for a living and haven't had a compressor in my rig for 15 years. Last year I got me an aguilar TLC for some minor use (slapping - does anyone actually still use that in a band - and evening out longer notes).

I *hate* hearing compression when playing. I want to know if notes are too loud, too quiet or if my playing is off, I don't need a box for that.

Now I also know that 95,35% of sound engineers (including myself as a studio engineer) instinctively kill all bass dynamics in a mix, but still, if I don't hear the flaws in my playing, how can I improve then?



I'd say: learn to play without any and if you *really* feel the need to get one, then do it. Not because you think you need a compressor or because someone tells you it's the way things should be.



Herwig

[Bassmike62]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I use it to level out the spikes in my volume. It's automatic volume control so that this note isn't way louder than that note. That's all it is.

When I switch from slap to finger style to pick...I want to know that there's some level of continuity. Between me and the kick drum, we're driving the beat of the song. You don't want it go fade in and out. You mostly want things at the same volume. Soemtimes even adjacent notes are radically different volumes, such as when you thumb-whack a low G and pluck the octave-up G on the D string. That higher G note is going to be louder. You'd be surprised how much nicer things can be when it isn't.

I've been telling this story lately: how I had to forgo the use of my MXR M87 one day and felt like I sounded totally wrong, like I woke up in the morning and put all my clothes on backward or something. I just didn't sound right to myself. The compressor doesn't change my tone, but it's a conditioning factor I have grown to really like.

Amen to that

[BassMonstrum]

Percussive attack.

[blackba]

I use my diamond bass compressor to add punch and sustain with my Jazz bass. Its one of those pedals that when you click it off you miss it, but when its on you don't notice it that much. I can still hear when my plucking with my right hand is uneven and so have continued to work on that, the compressor doesn't prevent me from doing that at all.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

just because Bongo says a compressor is crap does not mean you can't use it.

Blasphemy!!! Actually I'll be the first to agree, my opinions are just opinions, not laws.


As to the OP's question, this is the specific page of my site to check out: Do you need a compressor?

[MSUsousaphone]

I don't use it and have never really seen the need....maybe...MAYBE in a studio setting where we're time pressed...but if we're not pressed for time I can just sit back and iron it out.

I do use an sfx Micro Thumpinator....does that count?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I use it to level out the spikes in my volume. It's automatic volume control so that this note isn't way louder than that note. That's all it is.

When I switch from slap to finger style to pick...I want to know that there's some level of continuity. Between me and the kick drum, we're driving the beat of the song. You don't want it go fade in and out. You mostly want things at the same volume. Soemtimes even adjacent notes are radically different volumes, such as when you thumb-whack a low G and pluck the octave-up G on the D string. That higher G note is going to be louder. You'd be surprised how much nicer things can be when it isn't.

Spot-on. I've also found that when properly adjusted, a compressor not only evens out the attack but also moderates the rate of decay so the note "sings" or sustains longer. This is particularly helpful in several genres / applications. I play a ton of country music, including ballads, where my primary role is that of accompaniast.

Riis

[shrimpflea]

I used to use compression all the time.....for the past 2 years or so I stopped. I don't know why really.....I sold my compressor pedal and just started playing without it and liked the sound.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by MSUsousaphone

I do use an sfx Micro Thumpinator....does that count?

Errr... it's not in any way a compressor...

[fenderhutz]

It keeps me in check when playing live and not hitting the clip on the amp when I dig in. Just smooth roundness at all times. I run it in front of my overdrive box and it really makes the overdrive as smooth as overdrive can be.

Yes. I picked my DOD MilkBox from bongomanias reviews.

[DigitalMan]

I find a compressor useful for a few things. One is it lets you really dig in when you want an aggressive tone but don't want the accompanying volume that it would normally bring. Second is that I use different preamps, one clean and one with mild overdrive, and as I adjust the tone on either the relative volumes can change dramatically. Compressing each one independently allows me to maintain the same approximate mix between the two without having to adjust volume levels whenever I adjust tone.

If you are always playing at the right dynamic volume relative to the mix without a compressor, you may be missing out on opportunities for different tones or attacks. If you have a simple meat and potatoes tone then it might not be an issue at all. If you want to play with nuance, and yet have the nuance be audible, then a compressor might serve you well. It also helps sort out the flaw of hearing with your fingers. Sometimes there is a subliminal effect whereby if it feels good with your hands then it must sound good to a listener. I'm guilty of this fallacy from time to time.

[Epidrake]

I've bought and tried three compressors so far and I haven't loved them. Right now I'm using a bass boost which is giving me the attack I'm looking for but without the smoothing out of volume.
I definitely want to keep searching for my perfect compressor, boost percussive attack AND smoothing out the volume.