Sounds Clips of Compression?

[EricTheEZ1]

I'm not looking for specific effects pedals (although EBS, Demeter, or Aphex would be appreciated), but does anybody have some clips of them playing without and then with compression?

I've heard only heard like 3 sound clips that actually demo compression and even then they are of it just being ON. I'd like to hear an A/B of compression off then on (sound/video). Doesn't have to be perfect.

Anybody?

[bongomania]

The problem is that converting audio files to MP3 or WMV or Youtube or Myspace etc. involves so much compression in that process, that any of the subtle qualities of a compression pedal are completely lost.

Those sites that have audio clips of the compressor "on" are wasting your time, or at best maybe they are demonstrating an extreme compression setting for exaggerated sustain. Notice how none of them allow any time between or after notes? That's so you don't hear how noisy the pedal is at such extreme settings.

[EricTheEZ1]

Hmm, not exactly the response I was looking for. I do trust you, though. The problem is that choosing the right compression pedal is hard if you don't know what you'll personally benefit from, if at all.

I've been looking seriously at the EBS line, but it's very expensive in comparison even to the well known Punch Factory and a bunch of others I can't remember.

[KarateKid25]

You could always buy my Punch Factory and just be done with it

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by bongomania

The problem is that converting audio files to MP3 or WMV or Youtube or Myspace etc. involves so much compression in that process, that any of the subtle qualities of a compression pedal are completely lost.

bongo, I value your opinion on this subject more than anybody's, but are you sure that you're not confusing "data compression" with "signal compression"? Converting a WAV recording to an MP3 certainly involves a lot of data compression, but I didn't think it changed the signal levels significantly.

And to the OP, I bought a Demeter Compulator a few months ago and love it. Two knobs, too simple.

[KarateKid25]

Originally Posted by Vandelay

And to the OP, I bought a Demeter Multicomp a few months ago and love it. Two knobs, too simple.

Its a Demeter Compulator or EBS Multicomp

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Vandelay

...are you sure that you're not confusing "data compression" with "signal compression"? Converting a WAV recording to an MP3 certainly involves a lot of data compression, but I didn't think it changed the signal levels significantly.

You're absolutely right that the two types of compression are different in principle, but the dynamic levels do typically get compressed as part of the data compression, especially when the signal is as strongly data-compressed as an MP3 or worse yet a Myspace file. It's a side-effect.

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

Its a Demeter Compulator or EBS Multicomp

Oops, my bad, I meant the Compulator. I corrected my post above.

[myhot4]

The Boss and Digitech websites have decent sound clips.
However, what you do not know is, if it sounds good live.

[EricTheEZ1]

Yeah, I've been using a trial version of IK Multimedia's Ampeg SVX. It includes some PC-based, realtime effects such as distortion, amped amp modeling, and compression. I like it a bit and I think a compression pedal could do some good for my tone.

I have it narrowed down to the Demeter Compulator and the EBS Multicomp based on reviews on Talkbass. I'm not going any more expensive than that, but I'm not sure if anything cheaper would be better.

Either way, I'm still looking for some sound clips of people running through a compression pedal.

I've recorded plenty of dry signal sound clips with my bass (no compression) and even though it may be slightly digitally compressed, you can tell it's not really compressed in the way a pedal does.

FWIW, if you encode an MP3 in 192/24, you're really not compressing much of anything. It's when you start using crappy MP3 quality that it starts to get bad.

[tumpinjahosafat]

Originally Posted by KarateKid25

You could always buy my Punch Factory and just be done with it

i tried that at guitar center once, because i heard such great reviews and was turned on to the fact that it was way cheaper than the ebs, but i felt it did nothin. I thought it was really bad and robbed the bass of any personality.

[Thunderwood]

Originally Posted by tumpinjahosafat

I thought it was really bad and robbed the bass of any personality.

One would say it did something then.

[Swift713]

I liked the Maxon CP101 ($145) the best so far out of what I've been able to try in person. It's apparently optical and it's not "is this thing on?" subtle.