Hey all. Just had a conversation with a friend of mine about compression and it got me wondering about my own pedalboard. I use a lot of effects personally and I find that the biggest problem I have is getting an even volume out of everything. I typically have a pure clean tone a majority of the time but when I use any type of overdrive it's usually for just a little hair, like a 5 o'clock shadow as compared to a mustache or a full beard if that makes sense. Then there's my other effects like my fuzz (very occasionally) and my boss rotary emulator as well as a flanger, phaser that sort of thing. I also tend to use more guitar pedals than I do bass pedals. My playing itself tends to be very dynamic when it's called for within the song and when I'm not just totally losing myself in the song. Is compression worth getting as a way of keeping my levels, well, level? Or am I running a bigger risk losing the dynamics in my playing? Any help y'all can provide would be awesome. Thanks everyone!
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Compression. Should I consider it?
- Thread starter dudemanvic
- Start date
a lot can be achieved by unity gain/volume matching your pedals.
If I understand you, my feeling is that you would be better off adjusting the levels of your various pedals to get the right balance. Compression is great for taming dynamics in your playing. A little bit goes a long way. But if you are using it to even out the differences in output from different pedals, I think you'll wind up getting pretty heavy compression when your louder effects are kicked in. If you like that highly compressed sound, that's fine. But it's going to kill the dynamics of your playing. Just my $0.02.
while it can open up a whole new world of sound, it's not guaranteed.
I use a compressor behind my OD and distortion pedal. It is set with a low threshold and hard compression so it kicks in as soon as it gets a signal. On rare occations i have the comp running solo, that's when my fingers hurt and i go to a lighter touch on the strings without sacrificing volume. It's main usage is to get loads of sustain from the distortion (also the only way to create feedback) and to get unity when both pedals are used. The distortion boosts the mids while the OD has a big, boomy sound. When both are active, the sound gets mean, but a lot louder than clean. Both units running alone are fine, but when activated together, the compression comes in handy.
I use a compressor behind my OD and distortion pedal. It is set with a low threshold and hard compression so it kicks in as soon as it gets a signal. On rare occations i have the comp running solo, that's when my fingers hurt and i go to a lighter touch on the strings without sacrificing volume. It's main usage is to get loads of sustain from the distortion (also the only way to create feedback) and to get unity when both pedals are used. The distortion boosts the mids while the OD has a big, boomy sound. When both are active, the sound gets mean, but a lot louder than clean. Both units running alone are fine, but when activated together, the compression comes in handy.
I use a lot of effects and I've tried some of the more well-regarded comps out there (Diamond, Whirlwind, OvniFX, Aguilar, Maxon, Boss, etc.) and ultimately decided that a properly set-up bass (and pedal levels) and good technique do more for me than any comp pedal.
That being said I DO use a limiter to tame frequency peaks when using a lot of pedals at once without affecting my clean tone. I've tried to get that effect with a lot of comps/limiters but only the Daring Audio Phat Beam pulls it off.
That being said I DO use a limiter to tame frequency peaks when using a lot of pedals at once without affecting my clean tone. I've tried to get that effect with a lot of comps/limiters but only the Daring Audio Phat Beam pulls it off.
I figured compression really wouldn't be the solution for me. I really don't care for that overly compressed sound. Just doesn't sound good to me. I guess just figuring out unity gain is the way for me to go. Thanks for the help everyone!
I freaking love compression. And I mean love it.
There are lots of times on my big rig (SVT/barefaced) that the only effect I have on is a compressor. I find it brings punch and definition to my tone - my dynamics still feel effective but it's all just more "there" and level and even. It was TalkBass that got me into compression for live bass (I had used it pretty extensively in recording and mastering before then) and now it is an always on effect.
And with any decent compressor you can dial in exactly what you want it to do - how much effect you want to hear, when it kicks in, how it squashes it, etc. it doesn't need to sound compressed and squishy at all.
Another way to describe what I love from a good compressor is that it seems to unlock the magic in my tone at a lower level than I would need to be at without it. I can hit that presence and punch without having to crank my volume.
Compressors in my arsenal include the FEA Opti-Fet, the Diamond BCP-1, the Markbass Compressore and the Analogman juicer. I run an Analogman Mini-Bicomp on my guitar board and love that as well.
There are lots of times on my big rig (SVT/barefaced) that the only effect I have on is a compressor. I find it brings punch and definition to my tone - my dynamics still feel effective but it's all just more "there" and level and even. It was TalkBass that got me into compression for live bass (I had used it pretty extensively in recording and mastering before then) and now it is an always on effect.
And with any decent compressor you can dial in exactly what you want it to do - how much effect you want to hear, when it kicks in, how it squashes it, etc. it doesn't need to sound compressed and squishy at all.
Another way to describe what I love from a good compressor is that it seems to unlock the magic in my tone at a lower level than I would need to be at without it. I can hit that presence and punch without having to crank my volume.
Compressors in my arsenal include the FEA Opti-Fet, the Diamond BCP-1, the Markbass Compressore and the Analogman juicer. I run an Analogman Mini-Bicomp on my guitar board and love that as well.
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I was anti compression for a long time, but it turns out I just hadn't found any compressors I liked. I ended up trying a T Rex Squeezer a little while back on a whim and fell madly in love. It adds a little warmth and punch and I use it right at the front of my pedal chain so that it's the base tone that goes through all my other pedals. Now it's one of my "always on" pedals.
I was an anticompression guy too for almost 8 years until I learned a lot about it and noted than with a good technique and a proper use, it can help and level my sound a lot and give me a lot of rest to my fingers. For me compressor was a bit 'tricky" at the beginning to learn how to use it property but now I a very happy bass player.
I use a little bit of a Beringer Limiter and a little of the compression on mY Eden preamp. Not too much of either. Just makes the sound a little fatter.
Alan Ace Cooper
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- Jan 6, 2004
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My favorite compressor is on my 1994 Trace Elliot AHSMX amp - It's dual band, with a cross over, that allows me to compress the Lower frequencies and let the Upper frequencies remain uncompressed or very lightly so. For other non amp situations, I have an EBS Multi-Comp on my pedal board. It keeps everything in check without it sounding like a blanket is over my tone.
Least favorite Compressors EVER IN LIFE - the old MXR Dyna Comp and the one on the old Hartke 3500 Amp heads. YUCK!
Least favorite Compressors EVER IN LIFE - the old MXR Dyna Comp and the one on the old Hartke 3500 Amp heads. YUCK!
