This setting works well for me on the Omnicomp.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Yep! A month or so ago, a young bass player friend told me her passive J sounded lifeless, so I suggested she put a BBA at the beginning of her signal chain--as above. She was _very_ pleased with the improvement in tone.
IANA tech, but my understanding is that passive basses are vulnerable to having their pickups loaded down by whatever the bass is plugged into--pedals, or even a just long guitar cord with high capacitance. Putting a buffer first in line prevents that tone suck problem.
So if I was about to buy, say, the always on HPF or the switchable version I'd "get by" with the BBA too? All my basses are passive.
The BBA has a fixed HPF, right?
The BBA has a fixed HPF, right?
With the disclaimer that IANA tech...
The intended purpose of those two boxes is different. The HPF filters out extreme low freqs in the signal that could overtax the amp, overtax the speakers, and/or make the room sound muddy. The BBA keeps the downstream electronics from degrading the signal from the bass (a/k/a, tone suck), and Josh's version throws in some clean boost if you want it.
Two different products to solve two different problems, as I understand it.
The intended purpose of those two boxes is different. The HPF filters out extreme low freqs in the signal that could overtax the amp, overtax the speakers, and/or make the room sound muddy. The BBA keeps the downstream electronics from degrading the signal from the bass (a/k/a, tone suck), and Josh's version throws in some clean boost if you want it.
Two different products to solve two different problems, as I understand it.
Yes, i get it. I just read the product description and it said it has the HPF and LPF in it too.
EDIT: Actually it doesn't say that, mentions only the filtering from either end of the spectrum.
https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/bba
EDIT: Actually it doesn't say that, mentions only the filtering from either end of the spectrum.
https://www.broughtonaudio.com/product-page/bba
Last edited:
For the best results, the adjustable freq LPF and HPF versions are WAY more flexible and useful for tone improvement.
Fixed 20hz and 20khz is helpful for a speaker efficiency perspective, but won't be the tool to use for removing string buzz or taming fuzz high freq, or tightening up the low end or removing "room boom".
I asked this question when the BBA first came out. Josh's answer is above.
The BBA is covering Hz you normally don't even hear, but even so, less Hz for your gear to focus on is better. H/LPF, like mentioned above is made to mold your tone, to what you need, you will most definitely tell when twisting the knobs on those pedals equipped with H/L filters. I have a BBA, RFE and H/L filters via S1 running all at the same time, and adjusted properly they work great together.
Thanks. As I already use a cab sim when I need to go direct I think I could live without the LPF. But the HPF is a very intriquing device at the moment. I should stop reading this thread.
The BBA does have filtering built in, but it's pretty unobtrusive and I can't really hear any audible change through my headphone practice rig. 20Hz-20kHz is basically the extreme range of human hearing, so filtering out everything above and below these points makes sense, but you're probably not actually going to be able to hear the difference. A dedicated and adjustable HPF will give you much more control over your low end than what the BBA does alone. And I agree that if you're already using a cab sim, you probably don't need a separate LPF.
I have the BBA at the very front end of my signal chain, and at the very least I like having the boost available.
Last edited:
Thanks! Exactly what I wanted to read, did save me some money. At least for now...
Thanks to everyone else too for thorough answers.
What you really should do is buy both the BBA and HPF.
What you really should do is buy both the BBA and HPF.
Don't push it.
I'm so glad I found the SVP-Pre before I found this thread. Gassing for something makes them usually unavailable very fast.
BBA and HPF are both in stock right now!
(and stock on these items is pretty well kept up in general).
Last edited:
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
BBA and HPF are both in stock right now!
(and stock on these items is pretty well kept up in general).
View attachment 4647616
Sorry, I'm a musician, I'm broke at the moment.
Did I just wrote "at the moment"?
Sorry, I'm a musician, I'm broke at the moment.
Did I just wrote "at the moment"?
If you can only afford one or the other, here's a way to prioritize. Please note I only mean this as a helpful suggestion! I don't in any way mean to come off as a bigfoot personality.
Is your biggest tone challenge that your effects board seems to suck the presence/liveliness out of your sound, and you're running a passive bass? If so, bass into the BBA first will fix that.
If the biggest tone challenge is that at stage volume your speakers fart out, your room sound tends to get boomy, or that you see the speaker cones pumping, the HPF can address that. Could go at any point in your signal path.
Thanks man, very appreciated!
I don't have either of those problems and I'm pretty pleased with my amplified sound (plus thanks to the SV-Pre and the cab sim technology getting quite pleased with the DI into house/IEM/DAW sound too) but as I read more of especially the HPF I'm getting the itch to try one as it seems that every who has one say they pretty much won't do without it anymore.
I'm sure with the BBA it would be the same thing.
So if, then the HPF first. It's a big if. Well, at least 'til the 15th of this month...
