Cali 76, best, most effective, favorite settings?

[Killens84]

It also helps to know that the ratio knob only goes down to 4:1 at its lowest setting, which is a popular ratio for bass. It doesn’t go down to 1:1 like some other comps do.

 

[Grinderman]

How relatively high the IN-put is set presumably stems from the amount of output from the strings and pickups I happen to use; low output. Plus, what is in front of the Cali76 in the chain.

I set that, judging by the metering jewel, just past the cusp of active compression. The jewel flickers between red (no compression) and orange (active compression).

I keep my HPF between noon/medium and about 1 o'clock. "A medium HPF setting results in honest translation of lower string dynamics."

dusty

 

[kmon]

Interesting that some of your examples have a slow attack and fast release. One intention on using a compressor is to try to remove the clack I get from when I’m digging in and the string is striking the frets hard. I’m mostly a finger player and I can come down pretty hard when I’m into it. Seems like a fast attack is what would be what’s called for in that example. The other reason I have thought of for using a compressor on bass might be to get a little more volume out of the thinner strings, but I’m not sure if that’s actually possible or if a compressor is the right application for that?

Yes, I probably am not an expert on using a compressor, that why I asked here. I thought that’s what these forums were for…

my understanding is that it’s not so much more volume on the thinner as the ability to raise the overall level since the fatter strings tend to get squashed a bit more. Levels are equalized across things so you’re not dropping bombs on the fat strings. The levels across strings are equalized.

it’s called make up gain I think.

I like getting some more volume from the thin strings so I do roll the HPF back a bit…it makes the fatter strings a bit quieter but then I do roll the overall output up a bit to make up for that.

Of course you can do this with your fingers too but the compressor seems to accomplish this in a more precise and predictable way than my current abilities allow.

 

[odarellmc]

Absolutely. You have to understand what threshold, attack and release are, then set it up according to your playing style. You can't just copy someone's settings.



Based on your reply (You're setting your compression high, because you see other users settings.) you clearly don't understand the compressor.

I do like a lot more squish but it's good to see others because I just don't play one way, I vary my styles and technique. Plus I run my compressors (yes multiple boards) with the compressor last. So yes I know how to use compressors, I also know I'm not the end all be all of how everyone uses or should use compressors...

 

[Ringhammer]

It also helps to know that the ratio knob only goes down to 4:1 at its lowest setting, which is a popular ratio for bass. It doesn’t go down to 1:1 like some other comps do.
View attachment 5126935

This is a very useful piece of information.

Another thing I can’t find in the manual is what the current draw of this pedal is. It says 9-18v, but noting about draw. I hope 100mA is sufficient.

 

[Ringhammer]

I do like a lot more squish but it's good to see others because I just don't play one way, I vary my styles and technique. Plus I run my compressors (yes multiple boards) with the compressor last. So yes I know how to use compressors, I also know I'm not the end all be all of how everyone uses or should use compressors...

Last? Hmm, I always thought it should be first, that way and effects afterwards are dealing with an ideal signal.

 

[Grinderman]

This is a very useful piece of information.

Another thing I can’t find in the manual is what the current draw of this pedal is. It says 9-18v, but noting about draw. I hope 100mA is sufficient.

The manual says (minimum 100mA).

 

[Grinderman]

Last? Hmm, I always thought it should be first, that way and effects afterwards are dealing with an ideal signal.

It could go first, after the tuner, or last, or one at the front and a second at the end. I've tried first and last with my other pedals; I prefer last.

 

[arepa_funk]

Here is my current setting. Everything at 11 o'clock except for ATT/REL and OUT.

 

[Ringhammer]

The manual says (minimum 100mA).

Thanks for this, I guess I wasn’t looking close enough, I found the spect at the beginning 78mA @ 9v or 103mA @ 18v

My PS provides 100mA at 18v, so that will have to do.

 

[odarellmc]

Last? Hmm, I always thought it should be first, that way and effects afterwards are dealing with an ideal signal.

Yeah I sometimes use it as an effect but mostly last, for utilizing the full dynamic range of the pedals before it and the glue everything together. Very light ratio although I admit to using a much higher ratio than I previously thought I did.

 

[odarellmc]

It also helps to know that the ratio knob only goes down to 4:1 at its lowest setting, which is a popular ratio for bass. It doesn’t go down to 1:1 like some other comps do.
View attachment 5126935

Wow I didn't know this. This solves the noise issue I was having. My ratio was around 2p! Brought the ratio down to 4:1 like the compressor so much better now.

 

[Solude]

As has been said/shown set the Attack to Slow (0.8ms) Release to Fast (50ms) and ratio at 0 (4:1) and then the input to get some compression and output level set to unity when on or off. On other pedals 10ms attack and 100ms release can also work for moderately paced music.

 

[odarellmc]

I guess this may be a stupid question but what's happening when say you set the ratio to 4:1 and increase input? Are you raising the threshold limit? Or are you increasing the level of the compressed signal?

 

[Ringhammer]

my understanding is that it’s not so much more volume on the thinner as the ability to raise the overall level since the fatter strings tend to get squashed a bit more. Levels are equalized across things so you’re not dropping bombs on the fat strings. The levels across strings are equalized.

it’s called make up gain I think.

I like getting some more volume from the thin strings so I do roll the HPF back a bit…it makes the fatter strings a bit quieter but then I do roll the overall output up a bit to make up for that.

Of course you can do this with your fingers too but the compressor seems to accomplish this in a more precise and predictable way than my current abilities allow.

@kmon
How do you have yours set to achieve this, getting more volume out of the thinner strings? I understand the concept of knocking down the bigger lows of the bigger strings to balance volume with thinner strings, and then bring up the overall volume, but the HPF on this pedal throws a curve ball into my understanding of a compressor, since most don’t have this option. I also want to avoid losing too much high end “ring” like you get from roundwound SS strings.

 

[PWolverine]

Here's the settings I currently use, hope it helps. It is good to see what other people have their Cali76 set to. Many of them are very similar.

I did use @IvanBassist's YouTube Video to help me out:

 

[smeet]

Interesting what almost all of these settings have in common:
- Long attack time to preserve or enhance the attack
- Low ratio to preserve dynamics
- Dry and out are about equal, set to around 10:30, for parallel compression at unity gain

Makes sense, what I like about it is that it doesn’t squish the attack or turn it into an unnatural “pop”, and it can make the sound more in-your-face without really sounding processed.

 

[Ringhammer]

Here's the settings I currently use, hope it helps. It is good to see what other people have their Cali76 set to. Many of them are very similar.

View attachment 5133009

I did use @IvanBassist's YouTube Video to help me out:

I like that you also have the “Bassrig” blue pedal. I plan to have both the Cali and my blue pedal on my board. I like the blue Bassrig pedal with my Orange AD200 head to give it a bit of Ampeg tone that I’m moe accustomed to. Mines set almost exactly the same as yours.

 

[odarellmc]

I guess my next question would be in what situations would you raised ratio past 12 o clock? I can't think of any...

 

[Stubb]

I think @Matt Dean runs his past noon. End of chain as a limiter would be my guess.