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best CHEAP compressor..

quadrogong

quadrogong

Jul 6, 2006
2,388
12
NYC
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#1
I want a fairly inexpensive compressor
to even out my level on my live rig, something inexpensive and fairly quiet..
considering the aphex punch factory for $99
but the ol standard for guitar players,the dyna comp, costs under seventy dollars,
...there's a guyatone in that price range..
should I go for the aphex?
is this the cheapest decent unit around? if I spend less will it be hiss city?
 
#3
Basshole said:
Just say NO to Punch Factory. Worthless.
Click to expand...

:eyebrow:

The Aphex Punch Factory is my compressor of choice! Smooth, "transparent", very quiet, and effective for studio-level compression!

The Dyna Comp has a greater effect on your tone, but is a decent compressor according to some on TB. I disagree, however. My experience with the Super Comp (a more flexible version of the Dyna Comp) was bad - it killed the low end, and distorted on higher settings. Definitely more of an "effect" compressor.

I haven't tried the Guyatone.
 
#6
some mixed opinions..
mr squishy usesrs out there?
I'm actually waiting for someone else's review who just ordered the toadworks unit,
funny, on their website,where it sez,"Dealers near you" or whatever..there's a link for every continent,including Antarctica.where according to the link,you can buy a
Mr. Squishy at a place called..
"The Ice House"
Latitude 70° 45' 01.65" South
Longitude 11° 43' 01.45" East.
Antarctica

anyone down for a little road trip?..:confused:

this was useful..http://www.muzique.com/comp.htm
 
#7
Basshole said:
It's apparently so transparent that although I tried it with 10 different basses for nearly 3 weeks and couldn't find any substantial effect, other than distortion when cranked fully.
Click to expand...

Thats... really weird. I can hear its effects unless the Drive is set very low. And I don't think I've ever heard it distort (unlike my old Super Comp). There IS a pad button to prevent that, should the input be that high (i.e., for active-pickup-loaded basses).

Are you running a solid-state or tube amp? I'm using an SS amp.

The PF has worked fine with all of my basses (a total of 3).
 
#8
MysticBoo said:
Thats... really weird. I can hear its effect unless its set very low. And I don't think I've ever heard it distort (unlike my old Super Comp). There IS a pad button to prevent that, should the input be that high (i.e., for active-pickup-loaded basses).

Are you running a solid-state or tube amp? I'm using an SS amp.

The PF has worked fine with all of my basses (a total of 3).
Click to expand...

Actually. I'm an idiot. I'm 11 years old, I haven't been playing bass for 35 years, I don't own some 25 basses (active and passive), I was not a touring professional for 15 years, and am not a recording engineer who even knows how a proper compressor is supposed to work...please disregard my commentary.

What's a pad button? What's a solid state amp?

Please enlighten me..

:rolleyes:

Sorry, I'm just a little tired of having to explain myself.

Buy whatever you want, make sure it has a return policy, so if it SUCKS, you can send it back.

Best of luck...
 
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#10
I tried a DynaComp and it is not transparent. It is very obvious. If you want that it's great.

I have always liked the PreSonus BlueMax. The Demeter Compulator is good, but expensive. The EBS is good, but expensive. Yes there is a theme here. I think you need to spend a little more than $75 to get a nice compressor.
 
#11
Basshole said:
- rant -
:rolleyes:

Sorry, I'm just a little tired of having to explain myself.
Click to expand...

My sincerest apologies - your detailed profile told me everything I needed to know about you. I should've known better... your user name was fair warning about your nature :eyebrow:

...nothing like letting a little steam off :D

Anyhow... quadrogong, be aware that compressors, whether rackmount or pedal, are some of the most frequently returned, traded, and sold pedals out there, mainly because there are plenty that are just plain terrible on bass. Like overdrive and distortion, it might be a while before you find the perfect one for your needs and tastes.
 
#12
MysticBoo said:
My sincerest apologies - your detailed profile told me everything I needed to know about you. I should've known better... your user name was fair warning about your nature :eyebrow:

...nothing like letting a little steam off :D
Click to expand...

I apologize. Bad day, cranky. Please forgive me. I know my profile is blank. Long story...

There is, BTW, a marked difference between "tranparent" and "ineffective". A really GOOD compressor, can squash the piss out of your unruly signal, without being obvious (if set properly). The problem for me with the PF is that it is SUPER SUBTLE to the point of being USELESS (IMHO).
 
#13
sigh,:hmm: yeah, I know..
Now I'm right back where I started..
Presonus
squishy

the 2 units I'm looking at..
anyone using one of these really successfully?

are those trace elliot units still in production?
I heard they make a unit that's essentially the effect they use in their amps..in a pedal form. Has controls for hi's & lo's
anybody selling those anymore?
 
#14
MysticBoo said:
:eyebrow:

The Aphex Punch Factory is my compressor of choice! Smooth, "transparent"...
Click to expand...
Smooth and transparent?

What? Like a jellyfish? Eeeewwww!

~~~~~~~~~~
I think this issue is what Quad has to consider! "Do you want 'transparent' or 'squishy'?". There's a huge difference!

I go for (very) squishy, myself (uhh.. yeah - squishy like a jellyfish). I have worked with the Punch Factory, though, and it's amazingly transparent! Very nice compressor - if you like that studio/transparent kind of thing...

Joe
 
#15
quadrogong said:
Presonus
squishy... the 2 units I'm looking at..
anyone using one of these really successfully?

are those trace elliot units still in production?
I heard they make a unit that's essentially the effect they use in their amps..in a pedal form. Has controls for hi's & lo's
anybody selling those anymore?
Click to expand...

I was pretty happy with the Squishy, as you can read in my review. I literally just bought a Bluemax off Ebay a day ago, so I'll be able to review it soon.

The Trace units are not still in production. Ashdown makes one that is similar, but it is not the identical circuit.
 
#16
quadrogong said:
...Are those trace elliot units still in production?
I heard they make a unit that's essentially the effect they use in their amps..in a pedal form. Has controls for hi's & lo's
anybody selling those anymore?
Click to expand...
I know that Uncle Bob's Music in Milwaukee had two of them behind the counter as-of last Friday. I think they're both used - one looked beat-up, and had corrosion on the battery door (NOT due to leaky battery, though - probably from standing on a basement floor); the other was in its original box.

I'd like to try one, but it seemed to irk the clerk that I asked him to find me an 18V power supply or a couple batteries...

Uncle Bob's Music: 414.453.2700

Joe
 
#18
I guess Quad likes transparent over too squishy,
I use only a touch of effect,
those subtle dynamics are what makes a bassists' job the most fun,building it up, taking it down,a touch more sustain..

I find that too much compression and it takes a certain 'human" element out of the music..
maybe for hip hop or metal,I'd go for the total even-ness,that music usually doesn't require a very dynamic style,
especially in hip hop,these artists usually want an almost "looped"or sampled sounding tone,like an 808 or Nord or Moog sound.,artificial.
..and in hardcore or metal, I find an aggressive approach sounds best,compression can smooth out the noise and clankiness of an overly aggressive track.
but for more typical, "musical" style playing, I'll use just a touch of effect,
I bring it to the point where it sounds barely noticable,just where it gets in the way of some softer,dynamic parts,then I'll edge it back a notch, so that it's really only kicking in when I really dig in.

On long,repetative parts..my fingers tend to get tired and my consistancy,or even-ness of notes,break up a bit..when I'm locked into a riff that repeats and repeats..I sometimes wish I had one.I'm still a new fingerstyle player,I used to use a pick all the time, now it's only for quicker stuff.

Plus, my guitar player is unbelievable loud at times,:crying: I think it will thicken up my tone,help fill out my sound without turning up any louder.
I think it's going to be an important tool for me, and I need to buy something reliable,quiet..as far as squishy or not, It won't be turned up too high, I just want something under $200 and super reliable.;) I thought I'd have a decision by today,my day off..I'm trying to avoid spending $200 on the EBS or Carl Martin.. I spend WAY too much on gear.
 
#19
Quad, I don't mean to dissuade you from trying everything at your disposal, but believe me...subtle doesn't begin to cover it.

I too tend to hate much of anything screwing with my sound, and have ALWAYS echewed compressors, but like you was hoping to find something that would just fatten things up a tad. No dice. I tested that turd on about 10 different basses, and 3 amps, and the only one that showed any significant change (other than distortion when over-cranked) was my kid's Squire Bronco (Badtz Maru) which it actually thinned out a bit(!!!).

I was terribly dissapointed, because I actually have a couple of rackmount Aphex compressors in the studio, and they work quite fine (although, they are not "universal" by any means, as no compressor is, IMHO - I use different units for different instruments, where they tend to shine more).

I just found it to be remarkably ineffective, to the point that I had to wonder if I had it even plugged in backwards or something. It did ZIP...never have I paid close to a rock for something that did NOTHING like that thing.

Thank goodness for MF's return policy. That puppy went back. As always, YMMV, but I was profoundly shocked at what a peice of crap that thing was. Really.
 

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