Is compression an effect casual and light gigging players can enjoy?

[tastybasslines]

I play out occasionally. I don't have a ton of effects, if any. Usually just play. I play at a house party now and again and just jamming with the fellas.

Do I need compression? Would I enjoy it without a band?

I know what it does, but not sure how it might translate to sound or enjoyment.

Thx.

[jg919]

Hi Tastybasslines,
Good question! If I were in your situation, I'd head to a music store, try a compressor and hear/feel for yourself if you need it - only YOU can decide that. I know many bassists, and my count is 50-50 for who uses compression, and who doesn't!
That said, I'm a huge compression endorser haha. I find that compression evens out my playing levels (which has MANY benefits - no clipping, even feel, etc etc etc), and allows me to play in a band setting so much easier - not getting buried in any mix, ALWAYS being nicely audible (to me, 'audible' and 'loud' are two TOTALLY different things).
If you were to purchase a compressor and use it at a gig - use it SPARINGLY at first - just to bring in some more level, or even your sound out a bit. Get a feel for what Ratio/Threshold/Attack/Release levels you like (or any controls on the compressor) - as the most subtle change in setting can drastically change the feel/sound of your playing and sway you for/against compression.
It took me the better part of 18 months of solid gigging to get properly aquainted with my taste in compression, so try not to think compressors are an 'instant gratification' effect - as it's an art form in itself to find the right compression setting for you.
Anyway, good luck! Definitely give compression a go - at the very least, you'll find out if it's right for you or not!

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by jg919

Hi Tastybasslines,
Good question! If I were in your situation, I'd head to a music store, try a compressor and hear/feel for yourself if you need it - only YOU can decide that. I know many bassists, and my count is 50-50 for who uses compression, and who doesn't!
That said, I'm a huge compression endorser haha. I find that compression evens out my playing levels (which has MANY benefits - no clipping, even feel, etc etc etc), and allows me to play in a band setting so much easier - not getting buried in any mix, ALWAYS being nicely audible (to me, 'audible' and 'loud' are two TOTALLY different things).
If you were to purchase a compressor and use it at a gig - use it SPARINGLY at first - just to bring in some more level, or even your sound out a bit. Get a feel for what Ratio/Threshold/Attack/Release levels you like (or any controls on the compressor) - as the most subtle change in setting can drastically change the feel/sound of your playing and sway you for/against compression.
It took me the better part of 18 months of solid gigging to get properly aquainted with my taste in compression, so try not to think compressors are an 'instant gratification' effect - as it's an art form in itself to find the right compression setting for you.
Anyway, good luck! Definitely give compression a go - at the very least, you'll find out if it's right for you or not!

Thank you man!

[Buxtehude]

Pretty subtle really. Not essential to the occasional player but more important to a giging professional. When it works well, you don't notice it. Would not translate to an audible enjoyment especially once again if used right.

[Floyd Eye]

Check out Bongomania's compressor tutorial/review site. It's awesome. He explains it very well.

[Joe Nerve]

Compression can be used in different ways. For me, it enables me to get the punch and attack you hear in bass parts like this YouTube - ‪Chic - Le Freak (Freak Out) - edited.‬‏ . And that has nothing to do with whether I'm going for that sound live or in my house.

[bigchiefbc]

Originally Posted by Buxtehude

Pretty subtle really. Not essential to the occasional player but more important to a giging professional. When it works well, you don't notice it. Would not translate to an audible enjoyment especially once again if used right.

I disagree with this. You're discounting the fact that compression can be used as an effect on it's own. There is no right and wrong. A good compressor at extreme settings can sound pretty radical and be fun to play with

[EscapeNote]

jp919 gives great advice on this! If you can demo a decent compressor it'd be good to start with lower settings, as jp suggested, and get a feel for the nuances of how it affects your sound. It takes surprisingly little to make a big impact and very often you won't realize just how much of a difference you're hearing until you're playing with a band.

I use compression always on but at very, VERY low levels so that it only kicks in when I dig in and then, ideally, it reacts in a similar way to the old analog tape machines, (that's how I like to think of it anyway) - I find it can help to soften the 'hi-fi bite' that is voiced into most modern bass gear, rounding out the rough edges.

Of course not everyone wants that - many different ways to make great music. But if you can spend some quality time with a decent compressor I'm sure you'll find what works best for your style - good luck!

Oh, and as others have suggested, Bongo's reviews are very helpful....

[blastjv]

I'd say that yes, compression can give you a more polished sound that you might in some ways notice more when you're playing alone. Sometimes that extra nice 'Pro' sound will inspire you to play better, or more creatively. Who knows?

-JV

[Swift713]

Originally Posted by blastjv

I'd say that yes, compression can give you a more polished sound that you might in some ways notice more when you're playing alone. Sometimes that extra nice 'Pro' sound will inspire you to play better, or more creatively. Who knows?

+1, I use my comp for that polished sound, some funky punchiness, and to tame my envelope filter. I also really like my "natural" tone sometimes. I haven't gigged or really played with a band in a couple years but I still enjoy my compressor.

[TomB]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I play out occasionally. I don't have a ton of effects, if any. Usually just play. I play at a house party now and again and just jamming with the fellas.

Do I need compression? Would I enjoy it without a band?

I know what it does, but not sure how it might translate to sound or enjoyment.

Thx.

In general I don't think of it as necessary for live work, but having it makes life one dimension simpler in getting an even tone on stage. I find that it does help "train" you towards an even attack... once you've worked w/it a lot, your hands seek to achieve that effect even when the compressor's not there.

It means a lot more in studio recording applications, but then generally it's the producer/engineer's responsibility and often they have very sophisticated tools compared to your rackmount or pedal unit. There again, your experience with using the compressor in live settings may help you to attain a nice even signal going into the mix, at least I like to think so. Most good mix engineers I work with do NOT compress on the way in... they want the raw product, and have lots of options for compression later, either of the bass by itself or of the whole mix. ...but they ALL like an evenly-played product free of unexpected or unplanned percussive artifacts. I found over the years that using a compressor helped train me in achieving that product.

In short, I agree with the notion of trying it live to see what you think, but don't expect a dramatic effect in a live application unless you use extreme settings. Someone already mentioned TB member Bongomania's site and I too highly recommend it for further learning about compression.