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Compressor Pedal Use (New Bass Player)

Memphis Soul

Memphis Soul

Jun 25, 2023
197
821
#1
Please forgive my ignorance but I am just learning bass after thirty years of playing guitar. I use one pedal for guitar. A Boss Blues Driver straight into my 65 Twin Reverb reissue. Most of the time I only use it to get a small amount of overdrive. So what does a compressor do, besides the obvious of compressing the sound I guess. What is it used for and do I need one eventually. I say eventually because I don’t even have a bass amp yet. I am playing through Amplitube with headphones. There are compressor pedal sims on there but I don’t know how to use them or why. I have played around with it but prefer the sound of just the bass going into the amp over using the pedal. I do use them sometimes when I’m using the presets. There are 25 bass amp/pedal presets on there that I like playing around with but so far the best sound I have found is the bass going directly into an Ampeg tube amp sim.
 
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#2
Memphis Soul said:
Please forgive my ignorance but I am just learning bass after thirty years of playing guitar. I use one pedal for guitar. A Boss Blues Driver straight into my 65 Twin Reverb reissue. Most of the time I only use it to get a small amount of overdrive. So what does a compressor do, besides the obvious of compressing the sound I guess. What is it used for and do I need one eventually. I say eventually because I don’t even have a bass amp yet. I am playing through Amplitube with headphones. There are compressor pedal sims on there but I don’t know how to use them or why. I have played around with it but prefer the sound of just the bass going into the amp over using the pedal. I do use them sometimes when I’m using the presets. There are 25 bass amp/pedal presets on there that I like playing around with but so far the best sound I have found is the bass going directly into an Ampeg tube amp sim.
Click to expand...
It all depends on your playing style, and what kind of sound you’re after or what you may want to emulate. While some players want to go from softer, quiet nuances to digging in and roaring, and skip it altogether, if you want to level out your dynamics, and electronically keep a consistent volume output, a compressor may be for you.
What settings the controls are at will determine how the compression activates and the nature of the compressed sound. You could set it where it kicks in to smooth things out only if you’re hitting the strings hard for example, it’s whatever works for you. You just need to understand the functions of each control. Also, tube amps will often compress the sound if driven hard, but that’s a different thing altogether.
Keep in mind, you’ve always heard compressed bass on recordings, subtle as it might have been. And a stompbox version can be set to be subtle and transparent live.

Here’s a couple of old school(British) examples of studio squeezed bass sounds…

 
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#4
You can use the Blues Driver on your bass - set the drive low, and adjust the tone and volume to where you don't lose bottom end and volume, respectively. The clipping will compress the sound, making the softer parts louder and the louder parts softer. The added drive will also add some grit to your tone.

If you want a cleaner sound though, I recommend the TC Electronic Spectra comp (one knob!) on the cheaper end, or the Keeley Bassist limiter ( a bit more complex) on the higher $$$ end range.
 
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#7
This should help:
www.studybass.com

Bass Compressor Settings | StudyBass

What compression parameters mean and how to adjust your compression settings.
www.studybass.com www.studybass.com

I wouldn't worry about compression if you're using headphones. But definitely use Amplitube to give you something of an idea of which effects you like and don't. You can always revisit it after you get an amp.
 
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#8
Anyone who thinks compression does just one thing is wrong, and the claim that it only "removes dynamics" is flat out ignorance.

Since you're a beginner, start here:

Keep in mind that there's a learning curve to proper use of compression, and some pedals are more forgiving than others.

I do agree that you should leave the compressor off most of the time when practicing your technique at home, but it's also worthwhile to spend some time learning how to operate the compressor.
 
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#11
I’ve never felt the need to use one for practice or live playing in 50 years. I have an ART muli fx pedal that has comp/limiter settings, and always have it set to the limiter on a very low amount. But I only use that at home for solo practice. The compression seems to remove too much, whereas the limiter just keeps things from going too far, without lopping off the lows and highs.
I agree with the posters who said learn to control your playing technique first, then you could try seeing if compression helps that.
I always seem to have to fight with recording engineers/producer types who take my lively sound and squash the crap out of it.
Example:

 
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#12
A good use of a compressor will not destroy your dynamics. On very good compressors (Empress Bass MKII, Cali76 v2, Becos Stella MKII) you have blend or dry (for parallel/New York Style compression: blend your hardly compressed signal with uncompressed one to keep your dynamics and add sustain or punch). And a SC HPF will help because the lows will not triger as hard the compressor squizing your sound.

A compressor has the role of compressing, emphasizing the less prominent sounds and cutting the too strong ones, in other words it more or less, it depends on your settings, levels the signal. But with Blend or Dry you can bring back the uncompressed sound while keeping the dynamics of your playing style (if you have a good technique).
Blend and Dry are not the same thing: for example, on Empress I have Blend, and from there I can negotiate how much compressed and uncompressed signal to send. But on Cali76 I have Dry, which is a separate volume of the uncompressed sound, and I have Out, which is the volume of the compressed signal. Both Blend and Dry do the same thing in principle, but differently.

With the threshold and with the Ratio you set how hard the compressor intervenes and how much compression is applied, from subtle compression to limiter. When you have a fixed threshold (as the 1176 type compressors have, therefore also the Empress and Cali76), the Imput potentiometer will set how hard you want the signal to hit the threshold.

With Attack and Release you set what character you want from the compressor, do you want sustain or kick. I prefer to use Slow Attack and Fast Release, I don't want the compressor to intervene immediately, so I emphasize the percussive character of my sound, very useful in slap and fast funk playing.
But if you want a warmer sound and more sustain, go for Fast Attack and Slow Release.
 
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#13
😄 Before starting 1-3 new threads a day, check out the search function. I lurked on here for years. If you don't understand compression---maybe read threads?

Start with finding the right strings for the right bass. Alone, that took me close to two years, 10+ basses bought and sold and probably 15 brands/gauges of strings. Throw a compressor in, amongst your string testing.

Take your time. 🍻
 
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#14
Pyrrho Epoche said:
😄 Before starting 1-3 new threads a day, check out the search function. I lurked on here for years. If you don't understand compression---maybe read threads?

Start with finding the right strings for the right bass. Alone, that took me close to two years, 10+ basses bought and sold and probably 15 brands/gauges of strings. Throw a compressor in, amongst your string testing.

Take your time. 🍻
Click to expand...
Two years to find the right bass and string combo? Lurking for years? If I took that long to find my sound I’d just give up or find a new instrument. Maybe if you’d asked questions it wouldn’t have took you so long. You learn your way and I’ll learn mine.
 
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#15
Classic question: "What does a compressor do and why do you 'need' one?"

A compressor does 1 thing: Reduces dynamic range.

Depending on how and when you apply that dynamic range reduction can do many different things, many of those opposites (but not at the same time): Add punch OR add sustain; thicken the sound; flatten the sound; even out level differences; tame loud transients; emphasize weak transients; hide sloppy playing; emphasize sloppy playing; it could be transparent; it could 'sound compressed'; etc. etc.

And it's a non-linear processing effect. It's not a 1-to-1 relation. With distortion, it's 1-to-1. Regardless of what signal you put in, if you turn up the distortion knob, it distorts more. With EQ, if you turn up the 600Hz band, you get more of that band. Compressors are reactive and do different things not only with different settings, but depending on what the sound is like coming into the box.

So the best way i answer the question is, you don't 'need' one unless there's a specific character lacking in your uncompressed signal that a compressor will address.

I use compression all the time when producing/engineering. I also spent 1992 through 2023 without a compressor for my bass rig, other than, some of my amps had built-in compressors that were basically on/off/no other settings. If i was recording, i didn't want baked-in compression. I wanted to address that as needed when editing and mixing.

You don't NEED-need a compressor. Is it a handy tool to have in your arsenal if you know how and when to use it? Yes. But it's often misunderstood, misused, and abused. Especially because a well set-up compressor you don't "hear" until you turn it off. And there's at least as much bad information on the internet about compressors as good info.

Check out this post.
And this post.
And also this post.
 
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#16
Memphis Soul said:
Two years to find the right bass and string combo? Lurking for years? If I took that long to find my sound I’d just give up or find a new instrument. Maybe if you’d asked questions it wouldn’t have took you so long. You learn your way and I’ll learn mine.
Click to expand...
Guitar players use compressors too-- just saying.

Yea, I am just very particular and introspective. Not hyperdriven.
 
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#18
Joe Meek oversimplified it but provided the best concise definition: "A compressor makes the loud bits quieter and the quiet bits louder". It's just a tool. It's not "necessary" but if used well can enhance the sound of bass. Like any other tool, if misused it can be detrimental. If you want to hear an example of heavy handed compression used on purpose to produce a signature tone, check out Joe Dart. It's not my sound, but it suits him and the music he plays.
 
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#20
Memphis Soul said:
The reason I ask the question was I was thinking of buying a Fender Downtown Express pedal and it has a compressor along with an EQ and distortion. I just didn’t understand what a compressor does but I’m getting a handle on with all these great responses. Thanks to everyone who commented.
Click to expand...

I've never tried the Fender Downtown Express pedal, but it looks like a versatile tool. Its compressor has three knobs, meaning it'll be simpler to operate than full-featured comps that include controls for attack, release, and ratio. And I like that it isn't a one-knob variety that's common to many bass amps and preamps... those one-knobbers rarely work well.

I also like the switch that allows you to choose whether compression comes before or after overdrive. Summary: if you compress first, then your level of overdrive will be more consistent; whereas if you run overdrive before compressor then your overdrive should become more touch sensitive: that is, more dirt when you play harder, less when you lighten your touch. There's no right or wrong, go with whichever you prefer.

FWIW, I like the overdrive circuit on my Fender Rumble amps (I have a head and a combo). I don't know if the one in the pedal is the same, but it has a tone control in addition to level and drive, and that should be useful.
 
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