Double Bass Compression

[Chaddycakes]

Does anybody use compression when they play live? I mean like this:

Double bass -> mag or piezo pickup -> compression pedal -> amp

Or

Double bass -> mic -> preamp -> compressor -> amp


Anybody just use it for solo boosting in a jazz setting?

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I use just a little bit of compresion provided by my Fishman Pro-Plat Bass EQ. My teach turned me onto doing that just to even things up just a little bit. I don't use it as a boost one bit. Set it and forget it.

 

[Kaspar Vadsholt]

I currently use a bit for my musical gig. A markbass compressore. It adds a bit of punch and firmness. But I could easily live without it.

 

[drurb]

While I suppose there are some circumstances in which compression is desirable, I've yet to encounter one. Compression is the antithesis of the very desirable goal of reproducing the attack/decay profile of the DB in all its glory. That characteristic is fundamental (no pun intended) to the sound of the DB. It is reproduced well by a quality microphone and by the Ehrlund pickup, in particular. Start here and follow the discussions re the temporal attack/decay profile. If someone asked me how he/she could effectively make an amplified DB sound more like a BG, my answer would be to use a compressor.

 

[Thumpie]

I use just a little bit of compresion provided by my Fishman Pro-Plat Bass EQ. My teach [sic] turned me onto doing that just to even things up just a little bit. I don't use it as a boost one bit. Set it and forget it.

I do the same thing. Just a touch with my Fishman pre. It's very easy to see that using a lot destroys the double bass characteristic of the sound.

While I suppose there are some circumstances in which compression is desirable, I've yet to encounter one. Compression is the antithesis of the very desirable goal of reproducing the attack/decay profile of the DB in all its glory. That characteristic is fundamental (no pun intended) to the sound of the DB. It is reproduced well by a quality microphone and by the Ehrlund pickup, in particular. Start here and follow the discussions re the temporal attack/decay profile. If someone asked me how he/she could effectively make an amplified DB sound more like a BG, my answer would be to use a compressor.

Yes. Exactly.

 

[Marc Piane]

While I suppose there are some circumstances in which compression is desirable, I've yet to encounter one. Compression is the antithesis of the very desirable goal of reproducing the attack/decay profile of the DB in all its glory. That characteristic is fundamental (no pun intended) to the sound of the DB. It is reproduced well by a quality microphone and by the Ehrlund pickup, in particular. Start here and follow the discussions re the temporal attack/decay profile. If someone asked me how he/she could effectively make an amplified DB sound more like a BG, my answer would be to use a compressor.

The problem is trying to compete in an ensemble setting in a noisy room full of drunks. I NEVER use compression in the studio but live, when using an amp, I run a Sansamp in line which I think has built in compression. I find it livens and beefs up the sound.

 

[Lo-E]

Not live. Sometimes when recording, but even there I use it very sparingly.
Compressors are a little like black pepper: it doesn't take much, and too much will completely ruin the soup.

 

[Chaddycakes]

Thanks for the good advice. I was thinking of bringing my BG rig's small pedalboard which has an EQ, a Markbass compressore, and a tuner, but I guess I'll just keep my spare tuner in the bag until I get a nice preamp.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Compressors are a little like black pepper: it doesn't take much, and too much will completely ruin the soup.

Very true, and not just on bass. The old studio rule is, if you can hear it, you're using too much.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Have a read about Multi-band compression for a more transparent sound.

Also, search Upward Compression -
blending a direct signal with a compressed signal. Result: more perceived loudness but without the undesirable 'squashing'.