• 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.

Compressor after monitors

R

ROGI

Apr 25, 2005
770
304
Croatia, Europe
#1
Hi folks,
I've been doing some thinking about live setup. Thing is that i want to hear flat bass sound (bypass) in monitors (IEM) and get the sound that goes to PA trimmed with compresor. that way i should be more aware of my playing (not digging in too hard) and force myself to play with lighter touch without hearing the compressed/limited sound. That should imho force me to improve my playing but clear any peaks that i make.

Am i right with this approach? Will this help me in any way get better sound, and not dig in too hard?

thnx
 
#2
ROGI said:
Hi folks,
I've been doing some thinking about live setup. Thing is that i want to hear flat bass sound (bypass) in monitors (IEM) and get the sound that goes to PA trimmed with compresor. that way i should be more aware of my playing (not digging in too hard) and force myself to play with lighter touch without hearing the compressed/limited sound. That should imho force me to improve my playing but clear any peaks that i make.

Am i right with this approach? Will this help me in any way get better sound, and not dig in too hard?

thnx
Click to expand...
Technically this can be done. I am assuming that you are getting an IEM feed from the desk. One way to do it would be to use something like the Rolls personal monitor Amp, plug the output from your amp/pedal board into the Rolls and then send the bass signal to the desk. Then have the desk send you a mix without any bass back to the rolls IEM amp and adjust bass volume to taste from the Rolls.

As to whether this is desirable or not, frankly I am not sure.
 
#3
You don't [generally] want to monitor a compressed sound as it kills dynamics. On the flip side, the entire mix needs to have a limiter between the source and your ears... to prevent damage.
What console are you using?
Yes, you could do it they way @Wadge suggested.
 
#4
Do you have a full time sound guy ? If so then he can monitor the comp on your channel and adjust it if you are driving it too hard.. If you don't have that guy then I would think you'd want to monitor the compressed signal so that at least you can hear what the compressor is doing...

You might also think in terms of limiting as opposed to compression. Do you really need make up gain ? Or do you just want to control the peaks, in which case a limiter might be a better choice.
 
#5
IMO, if you're not using compression as part of "your sound", let the FOH engineer apply it in the mix as he sees fit. Most digital AND analog mixers, by default, provide a monitor mix that is pre-everything (taken right after the preamp on the console) so you're not hearing the comp if they are using one. If you use a pedal/rack compressor as part of your tone, I'd think you'd want to hear it in your ears so you know what you're feeding FOH. You might be trying to solve a problem that isn't even there, but unless we know what your typical FOH/PA arrangement is we can't be sure.
 
#6
i'd rather have my in-ear sound be closer to what i sound like out front, so that my pickup selection/FX/playing touch choices have a better chance of sounding like they should for the song.

i always go on about not having vocal compression in monitor mixes, but that's a different thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: s0c9

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back