M87 compressor help

Tony Flow MMMM · #1 02-10-2013, 11:49 AM

Ok I just don't get it. I have never been a big fan of compressors as I find most of them do nothing. Until I tried the red
Witch grace compressor. I loved it, it added punch and eliminated ANY volume spikes from pedals infront of it. However, it only had to knobs compressor and volume. So while I don't know what I was adjusting or the preset settings were but I loved it.

Until the day I got my stingray back with a OMG ridiculously hot EMG pickup. It overdrove the compressor too much. So I decided to get something with a input level. And got the m82. So far I can't find any added tightness or punch and I find it does not effect the volume of any effects volume spikes infront of it.

For the most part I'm finding it does NOTHING except add slight coloration. Which I prefer the sound of my bass without. So I have no use for this pedal.

I have read the manual and tried quite a few settings

Swift713 · #2 02-10-2013, 11:58 AM

Have you read ovnilab.com?

Dredmahawkus · #3 02-10-2013, 12:08 PM

Try this it smooths things out....first I cant get the LEDs to light unless I put the input like almost all the way up...I use the release at 2 oclock and the attack at like 10oclock then adjust the output for volume I only put it at like 9 oclock. now I use mostly finger style...but it seems to smooth things out there. other then that it does not do much and really does not add color or anything. I am still trying to figure out if this pedal is needed as well.

Tony Flow MMMM · #4 02-10-2013, 12:14 PM

I'm gonna look into those. Sorry if I came off as hating. Im just not sure if there's different types of compressors out there as in what they do., if this really is all that I can get out of it. J have no idea why any ody would pay 1$ for it

Tony Flow MMMM · #5 02-10-2013, 12:17 PM

As a matter if fact what I call a compressor, makes all inputs the same volume wether it be lower or higher than the actual input.

VeganThump · #6 02-10-2013, 12:22 PM

That compressor is one of the best IMHO, I've found it's good for about anything you wanna do compression wise, be it subtle, to really squished, to just a peak limiter. I've also found that the attack knob on it does little to nothing and the input/threshold is VERY sensitive. It's a great compressor, perfect for a noob, just a bit of a learning curve. I would definitely read bongos FAQ ASAP, very helpful.

Tony Flow MMMM · #7 02-11-2013, 01:05 PM

Ok ok it's defiantly getting better I found I have to keep the input very high.

cybersnyder · #8 02-11-2013, 01:58 PM

Yeah, I usually have to keep the input higher than I would expect too. But when that's set well, it works nicely.

**MostlyBass** · #9 02-11-2013, 02:03 PM

Here's my recent experience with the M87 - from the thread - My Compressor Experience (M87)

I just wanted to relate my experience with a compressor pedal. Compression use is always a hot topic here on TalkBass and it's taken me a while to warm up to it. I read Bongo's page at OvniLabs and he's always been (brutally) truthful about compression or effects here in the forums. His knowledge is appreciated!!

The sound of compression always appealed to me and I liked the demos of the MXR M87. Last year I bought one and tried to like it. I'm classically trained so I like having control over my dynamics but I could never find settings that appealed to me. So I sold it.... 6 months later I revisited compression with another M87 and a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone. I like the Pigtronix for its 'effect' but the switch was too loud for live use. So that was returned. I messed with the M87 again to get a similar sound but my touch and dynamics were squashed - yeah, I know, go figure it's a compressor. Sold it.

A few weeks ago my minimalist pedal board (Thumpinator -> VT bass (tone preamp) -> MXR Octave -> VT for fuzz) was feeling lonely... So I bought another M87.... Having all those knobs / lights /. control appealed to me....

This time I found something that worked...I turned the attack to the slowest setting so the initial nuances could be heard... I set the release to about 12:00... and Output / Inputs to roughly 12:00 depending on what I wanted... A-Ha! Success! I had to have MY attack, not a squashed one... But having some mid-note compression added a little punch and gain I wanted... And combined with the Micro-Thumpinator the sound is great. (I put it right after the Thumpinator.) Punchy but still having my touch and dynamics there. I'm stilling experimenting with the ratio but at least this time I don't want to sell it....

cybersnyder · #10 02-11-2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MostlyBass

Here's my recent experience with the M87 - from the thread - My Compressor Experience (M87)

I just wanted to relate my experience with a compressor pedal. Compression use is always a hot topic here on TalkBass and it's taken me a while to warm up to it. I read Bongo's page at OvniLabs and he's always been (brutally) truthful about compression or effects here in the forums. His knowledge is appreciated!!

The sound of compression always appealed to me and I liked the demos of the MXR M87. Last year I bought one and tried to like it. I'm classically trained so I like having control over my dynamics but I could never find settings that appealed to me. So I sold it.... 6 months later I revisited compression with another M87 and a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone. I like the Pigtronix for its 'effect' but the switch was too loud for live use. So that was returned. I messed with the M87 again to get a similar sound but my touch and dynamics were squashed - yeah, I know, go figure it's a compressor. Sold it.

A few weeks ago my minimalist pedal board (Thumpinator -> VT bass (tone preamp) -> MXR Octave -> VT for fuzz) was feeling lonely... So I bought another M87.... Having all those knobs / lights /. control appealed to me....

This time I found something that worked...I turned the attack to the slowest setting so the initial nuances could be heard... I set the release to about 12:00... and Output / Inputs to roughly 12:00 depending on what I wanted... A-Ha! Success! I had to have MY attack, not a squashed one... But having some mid-note compression added a little punch and gain I wanted... And combined with the Micro-Thumpinator the sound is great. (I put it right after the Thumpinator.) Punchy but still having my touch and dynamics there. I'm stilling experimenting with the ratio but at least this time I don't want to sell it....

Very similar experiences here. I'm on my second M87 too.

VeganThump · #11 02-11-2013, 02:24 PM

I may actually be getting rid of mine, Not because I don't like it because I just bought an Ampeg SVT 7Pro and I rather like the compressor on there. I like the simplicity of one knob and I like the way it sounds, definitely works well for my needs.

gottliver · #12 02-11-2013, 02:29 PM

i'll buy it from you....i'm in north jersey..fort lee..

M Sterling · #13 02-11-2013, 02:33 PM

Getting a compressor to sound punchy has a lot to do with having the attack set slow enough to let your initial transient through. The other side to that is that it might not tame as many volume peaks as you would like, if it's set too slow. I find myself playing this balancing act often.

**MostlyBass** · #14 02-11-2013, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Sterling

Getting a compressor to sound punchy has a lot to do with having the attack set slow enough to let your initial transient through. The other side to that is that it might not tame as many volume peaks as you would like, if it's set too slow. I find myself playing this balancing act often.

I wish I had known that months ago! Learned it the hard way but now like my compressor.

VeganThump · #15 02-11-2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottliver

i'll buy it from you....i'm in north jersey..fort lee..

Ok, I'll PM you when I make make mind up for certain.