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Compressor Question
- Thread starter Mark Munden
- Start date
The simple explanation is that it evens out your volume. Quiet parts become louder, and loud parts become quiter. If you slap it takes that initial attack and keeps it from peaking extremely high. If you're playing a soft melodic line it can bring out some of the nuance that may get lost in a mix.
Ba55Man1ac
Gold Supporting Member
Yes to the above replies and to add,
Some people swear by it for bass others are indifferent and some are sceptical
It also depends on your playing style and circumstances or situations where you might use it
In recording for example: I would prefer to leave compression to the sound engineer
The main thing being that I would try to control the attack and release of notes as much as I could through technique
I am not a slap player so I can't speak for that style
But for pick and fingers I would be mindful to not substitute a compressor for shortcomings in technique
Playing live is obviously different from recording in a studio but even with reasonable technique certain things controlled through a compressor can be also controlled to a certain degree through playing technique
But it also depends on equipment as well
Some amps have built in limiters that perform in different ways
Having said all this I am not pro or anti compressors
I have tried them on and off here and there and I find it simpler to go without it and concentrate on playing technique
That's my take on it... as an amateur
If you check out billy Sheehan he explains the reasons and the detail of how compression works for him. He is clearly a master of compression and has years of experience in trial and error working with it
It's an interesting aspect of playing bass and there is a lot of complex science behind it
Some people swear by it for bass others are indifferent and some are sceptical
It also depends on your playing style and circumstances or situations where you might use it
In recording for example: I would prefer to leave compression to the sound engineer
The main thing being that I would try to control the attack and release of notes as much as I could through technique
I am not a slap player so I can't speak for that style
But for pick and fingers I would be mindful to not substitute a compressor for shortcomings in technique
Playing live is obviously different from recording in a studio but even with reasonable technique certain things controlled through a compressor can be also controlled to a certain degree through playing technique
But it also depends on equipment as well
Some amps have built in limiters that perform in different ways
Having said all this I am not pro or anti compressors
I have tried them on and off here and there and I find it simpler to go without it and concentrate on playing technique
That's my take on it... as an amateur
If you check out billy Sheehan he explains the reasons and the detail of how compression works for him. He is clearly a master of compression and has years of experience in trial and error working with it
It's an interesting aspect of playing bass and there is a lot of complex science behind it
Compressor is a very specific device.
It's not an effect in the sense that you usually do not hear it if it is used correctly.
For live performance, some players like to use it, some don't. But in studio, compressor will be applied to 99% of bass tracks, IME.
Quality compressor in the hands of experienced bassist/sound tech is a value added.
BUT:
No compressor is better than low quality compressor.
No compression is better than too much compression.
IME, IMHO.
It's not an effect in the sense that you usually do not hear it if it is used correctly.
For live performance, some players like to use it, some don't. But in studio, compressor will be applied to 99% of bass tracks, IME.
Quality compressor in the hands of experienced bassist/sound tech is a value added.
BUT:
No compressor is better than low quality compressor.
No compression is better than too much compression.
IME, IMHO.
