Compression & (clean/dirty-)blending

[fasto]

Very soon my next pedal purchase will be the MXR M87 Bass Compressor and now my question:

how to integrate the compressor in my blended signal chain?

Bass > PolyTune > Xotic X-Blender (input) > X-Blender (output) > Tech21 VT Bass > amp

X-Blender (send) > Boss OC-2 > Catalinbread SFT > green Muff > Envelope Filter > X-Blender (return)

a) compressor before X-Blender (input), so both "channels" (clean/dirty) get compressed?

b) compression only in the effects loop signal chain?

c) compression only in the clean section?

Follow up question: does it make sense to mix a clean uncompressed signal with a clean compressed signal?

 

[BassBrass]

I'd try it after or before the VT certainly after the blender. Some would put it before, but I like my natural attack to react with pedals and compression to tame them later. I don't think you can put anything in that clean loop of an xotic, isn't it internal? or do you use it as an a/b switch?... I've used a compressor in a blender, it's fine, but you'd miss out on compressing your clean signal (I think compression is part of the overall sound) If it's in the loop, it's just a matter of adjusting the 2 signals because compression can raise the level or lower it if it's dynamics are super squished.

Question: I've read that the SFT is reverse polarity. I know Pickle is positive and OC2 & envelope probably are too. Do you lean over and change the polarity when you use the SFT or do you like it's out-of-phase sound?

 

[fasto]

Question: I've read that the SFT is reverse polarity. I know Pickle is positive and OC2 & envelope probably are too. Do you lean over and change the polarity when you use the SFT or do you like it's out-of-phase sound?

correct, sadly the SFT is reverse polarity ... while blending with clean signal i have to set the phase-switch to "invert" ... when using my wahwah (G-Lab WoWee Bass Wah) with the SFT the phase (re-)inverts again ... this really sucks, it´s like a roulette ...

 

[bongomania]

Parallel (blended) compression
Arranging your effects

 

[BassBrass]

That reminds me of the Devi Ever Dark Boost being reverse, but 2 of them together in one circuit makes the Ruiner, which is positive!
Doesn't the SFT sound ok stand alone?
There Are alternatives to the SFT..not the least of which is the VT. The Xotic BB pre comes close too and it likes to be in an Xotic loop. Green Rhino? TRex Bass Juice has a blend and sounds wonderful at low level drive. I tried a Flipster but it was too scooped for me.