Compressor Review Megathread

[MADChuudoku]

so i like some squash on my attack, the limiter on my pearce bc1 preamp can get some of this but then it brings down the volume jumps i have on my OD pedals,

any recommendations for a squashy compressor i can stick BEFORE my gain pedals (so the volume jump doesnt get brought down)???

or is this stupid?

[sears]

Originally Posted by bongomania

It's more about "different" than "better", really. Different flavors of action and subtleties of tone.

In case you haven't seen it --and also for anyone just finding this older thread for the first time-- my reviews are now on my own website, www.ovnilab.com . So look there for any models not covered here, as well as for updates, because my opinions do change, and I regularly learn new factual information that I may not have known when posting previously in this thread.

I just wanted to say that your Consumer Reports-style grid comparing feature vs model with colored bubbles is extremely useful.

[SurferJoe46]

Can you somehow go through and put an asterisk on the rack units?

I'm intentionally going backwards here, but I'm building a rack to hold all my effects and want a nice rack-style compressor too. Currently using the LMB-3 so I'd like something that's kinda the same sound-wise but off the floor. .

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by sears

I just wanted to say that your Consumer Reports-style grid comparing feature vs model with colored bubbles is extremely useful.

Ah yeah... I took that page down last year, sorry about that. It was incredibly cumbersome and heinous to update with new products, as I wrote it with primitive HTML tables. I want to bring it back, but with more usable modern functionality for both me and the reader. Problem is, I haven't undertaken to learn php or the like, and I can't afford a pro. Sometime soon I hope.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Can you somehow go through and put an asterisk on the rack units?

That's a good suggestion. I'm not sure if I'll use asterisks, but I will try to come up with a way to indicate rack units.

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I'm building a rack to hold all my effects and want a nice rack-style compressor too. Currently using the LMB-3 so I'd like something that's kinda the same sound-wise but off the floor. .

You'd probably like most of the dbx models in the 166/160/1066 line, or (my preference) an Ashly. The Ashly units are spendy new, but go for surprisingly cheap used (about the same as a dbx goes for).

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by bongomania

That's a good suggestion. I'm not sure if I'll use asterisks, but I will try to come up with a way to indicate rack units.

You'd probably like most of the dbx models in the 166/160/1066 line, or (my preference) an Ashly. The Ashly units are spendy new, but go for surprisingly cheap used (about the same as a dbx goes for).

Good info - I'll be watching and set up a Google sniffer to find any action on that name too.

You'll never guess what I'm using for a rack - consider my age before you guess.

[Eublet]

If you want a good rack-mount compressor, I say get a dbx 160x and call it a day. IMHO, if you can't make a dbx160x sound good on bass guitar, then you shouldn't be using any compressor at all. There are other compressors that can do some really cool things above the 160x, but the 160x can always get the job done IMHO, and it's the easiest to use by far I think.

[dlenaghan]

I'm giving the EBS Multicomp a try because of your review. Hopefully it'll be basic, effective and give just a bit of squish. It was a toss-up between that and the MXR 5-knob because I'm basically leading the Comp strait into an MXR Octaver and an Infanem 2nd Voice, so I'm looking to clean up the tracking a bit and, well.. we'll see!

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by Eublet

If you want a good rack-mount compressor, I say get a dbx 160x and call it a day. IMHO, if you can't make a dbx160x sound good on bass guitar, then you shouldn't be using any compressor at all. There are other compressors that can do some really cool things above the 160x, but the 160x can always get the job done IMHO, and it's the easiest to use by far I think.

I'm used to the LMB-3, and hopefully when/if I find one of these it will be as easy to use.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

You'll never guess what I'm using for a rack - consider my age before you guess.

Is it a fruit crate?

[SurferJoe46]

Milk crate.



It also holds my mics, cables and some wind guards. It's open-design allows the cooling air discharge to exit through the top of the amp.
It's light.
It has built-in handles.
It's indestructible.
It's free.

I'm working on a diamond plate cover for the face.

[billoetjen]

Repurposed milk crate:
So simple!

Diabolical!

[trbbass]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Since people are always asking for compressor recommendations, I figured there should be a thread with all the answers.

First, here is an introductory article explaining what compression is and how it works. Please read! And here is a very thorough article on compression for people wanting to learn professional tweaks and techniques. And here's another really good article on compression, from Mix magazine.

Here is a list of the comp pedals that have the most positive reviews on Harmony Central:

Analog Man (all four models)
Barber Tone Press
Carl Martin
Demeter Compulator
EBS MultiComp
HomeBrew Arizona CPR
Keeley
T-Rex Compnova
Toadworks Mr. Squishy

...and in the rackmount category, the Presonus Bluemax and dbx 160A are well liked. Now, obviously there is a huge limitation to this list- there are several awesome units that just happen to not have numbers of raving fans on HC. Some of the nicer boutique units in particular had only one or two reviews. But at least this gives you an idea of which ones have made many people happy! Note that while the Keeley has the largest number of raving fans, bassists say it may not be so hot for bass. Links to reviews of all of these pedals are in posts below.

Here on TalkBass I've seen users raving about a few specific units for bass: Demeter Compulator, Aphex Punch Factory, Toadworks Mr. Squishy, EBS MultiComp, and ART Levelar are the TB favorites. Honorable mention goes to the Trace Elliot Dual-Band, although it is out of production. No, the Ashdown is not the same pedal. The FMR RNC, Rane DC-24, and BBE MaxCom seem to be the favorite rackmount comps here.

Here is a link to a bunch of reviews I wrote of the various compressors I've owned. (updated 9/22/06)

And here is the first batch of Harmony Central reviews, in alphabetical order:
Akai Hexacomp
Alesis NanoComp
Alesis 3630
Analog Man Bi-Comprossor
Analog Man Comprossor
Analog Man Juicer
Analog Man Mini Bi-Comprossor
Aphex Compellor 300
Aphex Punch Factory
ART Levelar
Ashly CLX-51
Atomic Classic Grey
Barber Tone Press
BBE MaxCom
BBE Opto-Stomp
Bellari RP-503
Blackbox Oxygen
Boss CS3
Boss LMB3
Carl Martin
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
Danelectro Surf & Turf
various dbx models
Demeter Compulator
Diamond Pedals
Digitech Bass Squeeze
DOD 280
DOD FX80-B

...I only got through the letter "d" so far. And I didn't include reviews of Behringer units, because IMO they're not worth the trouble. I'll try to add more of the HC links over the next few days.

Everyone, please pitch in with your reviews! Please be specific, don't just say "it rocks" or "it sucks". Squish squish!

Hi , What do you think of demeter hxc-1 optical compressor ? have you got any experience of it? I would like to buy a rack compressor for stage?

[trbbass]

Hi guys , What do you think of demeter hxc-1 optical compressor, for the gigs, stage ? anyone have a experience of it?

[jcburn]

Subbed

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Armin Saffar

Hi guys , What do you think of demeter hxc-1 optical compressor, for the gigs, stage ? anyone have a experience of it?

There is a reason nobody has answered your many requests for input about the Demeter HCX-1: it is very very expensive, about $1150 USD. Most bassists will never buy a comp that costs so much. And among studio owners who are likely to spend that money, there are other more "in demand" compressors they are much more likely to invest in, by brands like Universal, Manley, Fairchild, Neve, SSL, etc. So the market for the Demeter is quite small--it's not in a price range for most musicians, and it's not a studio standard--so few people will own it. The Empirical Distressor is an odd exception in the same price range; it managed to become very popular because it imitates the effects of many of the more famous units.

If you happen to already know that you love the sound of an optical compressor with a tube gain stage (which is what the Demeter is), then there are other options to consider such as the Summit TLA-50, Effectrode PC-2A, or Retrospec Squeezebox.

If you are not already sure about either the optical part or the tube part, then I strongly recommend you start by experimenting with much less expensive compressors. The "top picks" page of my website is a good start.

[Shegmaface]

Originally Posted by bongomania

There is a reason nobody has answered your many requests for input about the Demeter HCX-1: it is very very expensive, about $1150 USD. Most bassists will never buy a comp that costs so much. And among studio owners who are likely to spend that money, there are other more "in demand" compressors they are much more likely to invest in, by brands like Universal, Manley, Fairchild, Neve, SSL, etc. So the market for the Demeter is quite small--it's not in a price range for most musicians, and it's not a studio standard--so few people will own it. The Empirical Distressor is an odd exception in the same price range; it managed to become very popular because it imitates the effects of many of the more famous units.

If you happen to already know that you love the sound of an optical compressor with a tube gain stage (which is what the Demeter is), then there are other options to consider such as the Summit TLA-50, Effectrode PC-2A, or Retrospec Squeezebox.

If you are not already sure about either the optical part or the tube part, then I strongly recommend you start by experimenting with much less expensive compressors. The "top picks" page of my website is a good start.

Personally, I would not recommend the PC-2A for a high output bass. I couldn't get rid of the extreme DIP effect even after tweaking the internal attack control. I'm thinking of getting a Markbass comp but I'm concerned about it doing the same DIP effect as the PC-2A.

[bongomania]

The Markbass has an input level control. The PC-2A does not.

[tuBass]

I picked up the new version of the Aphex punch Factory this week. MF had a deal for $99. I used it for the first time this morning and I have to say I was very impressed. It's nothing like the old punch factory at all (they should have come up with a new name)

Despite the name, I didn't think it added any "punch" at all. It just helped level out the output between high and low strings, and just brought some nice consistency to the board. The sound guy loved it, and so did it.

Bongo, check it out when you get a chance. I'm interested in what you think.

[Stephent28]

I just posted up a FEA comp (a current favorite of bongomania) in the For Sale section.