I know this thread has been done, but asking specifically for what I feel my needs/wants are now. I know Ovnilab and Scuba's thread and have looked at them, but don't really know exactly if what I am looking at is right for me. Maybe you all can help.
I am fairly recent to using compression, last year or so. I have used fairly recently the Niche Humboldt and Lusithand Alma. These are both top notch devices and sound great, but not what I was looking for as far as compression.
I have figured out that I don't want a compressor that colors my sound. I like my tone as is and always felt better about my tone when I turned them off. Not that they sounded bad, I just liked my tone better without any extra coloring. I also learned I don't want an always on compressor. I'm sure I am getting a little light compression via my Sushibox Finally tube DI. I am fine without one on a majority of the songs our band does, but there are a few songs where it could come in handy, like funky songs where I am not really slapping, but hitting those strings really hard and it is harder to control my dynamics, or songs where I try to use a pick, which I tend to really have issues with dynamics because I am not a great pick player. As far as the pick goes, I am trying to get better with right hand muting while using the pick, but it is a learning process as I have never muted that way, I am unconventional and use my left hand while playing.
So, I am now thinking I need a compressor that is transparent and can do some light peak limiting and light evening. If it adds some good punch to the sound without coloring, I am down for that. Really don't want something complicated. Looking at the something like the Rothwell Love Squeeze is appealing.
I am looking at this from a live perspective. That is the bulk of my playing. I don't record and if I am playing at home it is for practice.
I am first trying out all my compressors in the HX One and ideally would like to find one in there that is useful so I don't have to make a space on my board and get a new pedal. Tired of trading pedals and everything on my board right now is great. I have so far tried out the Ampeg Optocomp model and did not like it at all. There are about 8 or 9 more in there, so fingers crossed, but I do hear a lot of folks say they don't like the compressors in the HX.
I will say, probably the compression that worked the best for me was the one knob compressor on the EHX Battalion. I would dial it in about 9-10 o'clock and it really made everything a lot more even, enhanced the sound, and didn't hinder my dynamics much at all. Sadly, it was the EQ on the Battalion that forced me to move on from it, it is a really nice pedal. If the EQ was better, that thing would be one of the best preamps around. I have heard the compression in the Battalion is based on the EHX Bass Preacher, but can't be for sure.
TIA for any and all suggestions.
I am fairly recent to using compression, last year or so. I have used fairly recently the Niche Humboldt and Lusithand Alma. These are both top notch devices and sound great, but not what I was looking for as far as compression.
I have figured out that I don't want a compressor that colors my sound. I like my tone as is and always felt better about my tone when I turned them off. Not that they sounded bad, I just liked my tone better without any extra coloring. I also learned I don't want an always on compressor. I'm sure I am getting a little light compression via my Sushibox Finally tube DI. I am fine without one on a majority of the songs our band does, but there are a few songs where it could come in handy, like funky songs where I am not really slapping, but hitting those strings really hard and it is harder to control my dynamics, or songs where I try to use a pick, which I tend to really have issues with dynamics because I am not a great pick player. As far as the pick goes, I am trying to get better with right hand muting while using the pick, but it is a learning process as I have never muted that way, I am unconventional and use my left hand while playing.
So, I am now thinking I need a compressor that is transparent and can do some light peak limiting and light evening. If it adds some good punch to the sound without coloring, I am down for that. Really don't want something complicated. Looking at the something like the Rothwell Love Squeeze is appealing.
I am looking at this from a live perspective. That is the bulk of my playing. I don't record and if I am playing at home it is for practice.
I am first trying out all my compressors in the HX One and ideally would like to find one in there that is useful so I don't have to make a space on my board and get a new pedal. Tired of trading pedals and everything on my board right now is great. I have so far tried out the Ampeg Optocomp model and did not like it at all. There are about 8 or 9 more in there, so fingers crossed, but I do hear a lot of folks say they don't like the compressors in the HX.
I will say, probably the compression that worked the best for me was the one knob compressor on the EHX Battalion. I would dial it in about 9-10 o'clock and it really made everything a lot more even, enhanced the sound, and didn't hinder my dynamics much at all. Sadly, it was the EQ on the Battalion that forced me to move on from it, it is a really nice pedal. If the EQ was better, that thing would be one of the best preamps around. I have heard the compression in the Battalion is based on the EHX Bass Preacher, but can't be for sure.
TIA for any and all suggestions.
