DBX 160A Compressor Settings

[jar546]

I just picked up a used DBX 160A for a great price and have hooked it up into my setup.

I mostly use my active EB SR5HH through a MarkBass LMII that drives an Eden D410xlt. Very "clean" sounding.

I have been messing around with the settings and it is very responsive. It will probably take me a little while to dial in exactly what I want.

What types of setting do the other DBX 160A players use? Is there a base setting to start with?

In addition I run my bass directly to the compressor and run that into the LMII input. I did try placing the compressor in the effects loop but it did not have as much impact.

Thoughts?

[jesus_tequila]

My settings are as follows:

Threshold -20
Overeasy mode ON
Ratio 2:1 to 6:1
Output gain - 8[I live in a flat, dude...]

I play mostly on Stingrays, and the DBX 160A is a real Stingray-friendly compressor. My Jazz Basses and Precision Basses also work very well with it. I wired the DBX in the effect loop of my Gallien Krueger 800RB head.

[Krispy]

I ran one for six years with my Eden WT800B. SR5 w/rounds and Pbass w/flats through it.

Settings changed depending on the room:

Threshold: 15-20
Ratio usually 4:1
Hard-knee limiting.

Everyone has a preference depending on the sound you're going after. I liked hard-knee because it wouldn't kill my dynamics when I chose to dig-in.

YMMV.

[jar546]

Excellent feedback, keep them coming!

[jar546]

Any more takers?

Bump

[dece]

Threshold: 20
Ratio usually 4:1
Output gain: 6

[Aaron_D]

I enjoy many sounds out of mine! Im fond of squashing the shiz out of my signal, so -40, 6:1, gain to taste, hard knee. Super punchy, but if there is any hiss or anything in your signal it might be too much when you arent playing.

Suprisingly, it still sounds really good even with these more extreme settings.