cutting out peaks in my sound?

[HalfDayClosing]

I want to stop my amp from clipping when i play clean because it doesnt clip when i have my big muff on and i dont want to damage my speakers. Is there any sort of compressor that will help me do this? I'd like to keep it under $100. Thanks for any advice!


PS. I cant turn down because my drummer is nuts and we rehearse in a HUGE concrete warehouse loft so my bass dies while his cymbals and snare are insane.

[agreatheight]

Compressor.

Try a half rack dbx - I think the model is 163x.

[irvinz]

wouldnt most compressors work..or a limiter

[dbcandle]

Perhaps a limiter, rather than a compressor. Unless you've got a nice rack-mount unit where everything is adjustable, compressors tend to squeeze everything to a constant volume: soft is made louder and loud is made softer.

A limiter (Boss has a pretty popular one: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productde...?ProductId=154) serves more like a ceiling for volume levels. There is no affect on your sound unless the ceiling is reached. I found the Boss limiter a bit tricky to setup, though; any change to the volume on my bass required a corresponding change to the Boss limiter (2 knobs to twiddle instead of 1).

[HalfDayClosing]

See i thought that i would be able to use any compressor. The thing is over the past few days i've read reviews saying that the user wanted the same thing i want, and found the compressor to no do that etc.

Edit: didnt see dbcandles post, thanks...sounds like what i might need.

I also have a BSW and various other pedals that would like to tame since some dont have a level knob.

[JanusZarate]

I'd highly suggest checking out Bongomania's compressor reviews - he also touches upon limiting and peak management in those reviews, which would be something to keep an eye out for, in your case.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=63647

[agreatheight]

Compressors and limiters essentially do the same thing - reduce peaks. They both set thresholds (where the compression kicks in) and ratios (the mathematical amount the signal will be reduced, or compressed, once over the threshold). Light compression will use a closer (or smaller) ratio: 2:1, 4:1. heavier compression uses farther (or larger) ratio: 6:1, 8:1. Compression is generally considered limiting when it uses a ratio in excess of 10:1.

Thats how I understand it, at least.

[HalfDayClosing]

alot of helpful responses really quick, thanks alot guys.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by agreatheight

Thats how I understand it, at least.

You are correct sir!

[Ryan Mohr]

So the higher the ratio the more squash.

[agreatheight]

Well, higher the ratio, the more squash, but ONLY on the portion of your signal that goes past the threshold. Make sense?

[Ryan Mohr]

so a limiter would have high ratio high threshold, a squash compressor would have high ratio low threshold.