Double Bass Compressors?

[Deleted member 132197]

Who is using a compressor with their EUB? If so, which one?

I'm currently using a NS WAV4 w/ Radial Bassbone v2 with some effects in the effects loop and looking at compressors. But because the EUB is a different beast than the normal BG, i though to ask for some input here instead of the massive compressor threat on the BG Effects side.

 

[equill]

Not me. I keep thinking I "should", but keep failing to find an actual need.
I've been eyeing up the Keeley Bassist because it looks like the best fit in theory, FWIW.

 

[Jared Houseman]

Who is using a compressor with their EUB? If so, which one?

I'm currently using a NS WAV4 w/ Radial Bassbone v2 with some effects in the effects loop and looking at compressors. But because the EUB is a different beast than the normal BG, i though to ask for some input here instead of the massive compressor threat on the BG Effects side.

I've heard you don't really want much compression on db because the bloom of the note is really important. I'm planning on getting a compressor in the future for bg and I'll definitely try it out on my eub. It's a multiband compressor so I'll try just compressing the highs or mids and stuff like that.

 

[equill]

I've heard you don't really want much compression on db because the bloom of the note is really important. I'm planning on getting a compressor in the future for bg and I'll definitely try it out on my eub. It's a multiband compressor so I'll try just compressing the highs or mids and stuff like that.

The bloom is more about the tonality than the volume dynamics, though, so I don't see it being a problem there unless you go overboard with the compressor.

Where I have hobbled myself with compression is by putting it in front of overdrive, and of filters that respond to dynamics. This is with bass guitar, but the same principle applies to EUB.
The problem I was solving was that my amp simulator was clipping on output. The correct solution was to put the compression after everything that I wanted reacting to the dynamics.


And that brings us back to the important question: HCF, what problem are you hoping to solve by adding a compressor?

 

[Deleted member 132197]

Thanks for the response!

And that brings us back to the important question: HCF, what problem are you hoping to solve by adding a compressor?

No real problem, mostly GAS. But there's some difference in attack when I play that I wanna even out (practicing more helps, but is less fun than buying new gear) and I was just curious what and if other EUB players where using something

 

[equill]

Thanks for the response!

No real problem, mostly GAS. But there's some difference in attack when I play that I wanna even out (practicing more helps, but is less fun than buying new gear) and I was just curious what and if other EUB players where using something

Ah, gotcha.
Well, there's nothing quite like buying 2 or 3 and comparing them to figure out just what you do and don't like

I haven't played out with EUB yet, but when I finally do, that's when I'll probably start using compression. I like the approach that others have taken, which is to practice without it, but rehearse and perform with it.

 

[DrGDP]

I do not use a compressor but am of the opinion control of dynamic range is an important part of music, and wouldn't the use of a compressor put a damper, so to speak, on the ability of the bass player to control the dynamic range of the instrument?

 

[M baggs]

I do not use a compressor but am of the opinion control of dynamic range is an important part of music, and wouldn't the use of a compressor put a damper, so to speak, on the ability of the bass player to control the dynamic range of the instrument?

There's some parts of the range you don't need in a particular song or project, with a compressor you can zero in on the section of the range you want, and you can still control where you are within that range, while not having to work as hard to stay in that range.

 

[BassFalcon]

There's some parts of the range you don't need in a particular song or project, with a compressor you can zero in on the section of the range you want, and you can still control where you are within that range, while not having to work as hard to stay in that range.

A high pass or low pass filter is a better tool for the job you describe.
As far as compressors on double bass, that’s a no for me Dawg. Compressors can do several things, alter dynamics, increase sustain, thicken/tone magic. None of which I want on my DB sound. I can alter dynamics with my hands, if I need more sustain I could use different strings or just grab my bow, and thickening/tone magic is nothing I want on DB. That’s just my opinion, I have a very nice compressor pedal, but wouldn’t ever use it on my DB. High pass filters, para and semi-parametric EQ all day long. Reverb, chorus, flanger, envelope filters, synth effects, if I’m feelin’ froggy, but not a compressor.

 

[M baggs]

A high pass or low pass filter is a better tool for the job you describe.

I'm really not even sure what to say to this. How would a filter affect dynamics? That's so wonky. It's also super weird that you're admitting to never even trying your comp on your DB while saying it's bad. Huh? Guess you're unfamiliar with the folk wisdom of "don't knock it till you try it" It's so odd to me to see someone being so confident in their ignorance. The difference between theory and practice is, that in theory there is no difference.

 

[BassFalcon]

I'm really not even sure what to say to this. How would a filter affect dynamics? That's so wonky. It's also super weird that you're admitting to never even trying your comp on your DB while saying it's bad. Huh? Guess you're unfamiliar with the folk wisdom of "don't knock it till you try it" It's so odd to me to see someone being so confident in their ignorance. The difference between theory and practice is, that in theory there is no difference.

Someone’s feelin’ a little sassy today, huh? In your post you mention the word “range” 5x and discuss “controlling the range” if we are discussing controlling the range of your bass then yes, an HPF is the correct tool for the job. Perhaps I misunderstood your post, perhaps it was due to lack of clarity, perhaps you worded your post poorly which could cause confusion and make someone think you were referring to the range of the instrument…since you mention that word so often. Also, what about my post tells you I’ve never even tried my comp on double bass. Maybe I have. Maybe I found it useless because none of the things a compressor can do for you are things that I find useful on DB, perhaps I should’ve added a sentence indicating that I have indeed tried and disliked it. Maybe next time you get yourself all worked up you’ll take a second and proof read your own post to see if perhaps your intended message could have been misconstrued. Maybe you’ll extend that person a little grace before launching into accusations of ignorance and idiocy. Or not. Do what makes you happy and feel good. I sincerely do hope you have a good rest of your day though and someone can turn your frown upside down.

 

[DDDan]

Coming from the studio world and being an upright player as well, I tend to agree with bass falcon. While mixing a double bass a compressor can be a very useful tool to have it ‘sit in the mix’ but for life playing I dont like to play with a compressor.. thing is, a compressor has a threshold, below the threshold the sound remains as it is, above it start doing attenuation of some sort. This means that when playing life and you feel you need to play a note louder, the compressor will work against you, once your level is above the threshold. Feels very unnatural..
Having said that it also depends on how you set the compressor… most pedals do not have a lot of options, and behave as described above, but if you find an fx processor with individual settings for attack, decay, rate then, especially with an EUB, there are some nice options…
What I used for a while was a slow attack setting of around 50ms, and then a ratio of 3:1, and a short release. With this settings you emphasize the attack, and get a more percussive sound.
But controlling dynamics, when you play life, that is the job of the player…

 

[DDDan]

Range is both used for dynamic range and frequency range….

Apart from that, the advice for a high pass filter is a good one, you’d be surprised how much it can clean up your sound and make it more clear…. And especially when you want to use a compressor…
A compressor has the tendency to respond more to low frequencies, making a compressor kick in more on the low notes than the higher ones. This is why some compressors have a HP filter on their side chain.
With pedals you never know, so sending a clean signal without any very low freq that you wont hear anyway, will make the compressor behave better…

 

[BassFalcon]

Coming from the studio world and being an upright player as well, I tend to agree with bass falcon. While mixing a double bass a compressor can be a very useful tool to have it ‘sit in the mix’ but for life playing I dont like to play with a compressor.. thing is, a compressor has a threshold, below the threshold the sound remains as it is, above it start doing attenuation of some sort. This means that when playing life and you feel you need to play a note louder, the compressor will work against you, once your level is above the threshold. Feels very unnatural..
Having said that it also depends on how you set the compressor… most pedals do not have a lot of options, and behave as described above, but if you find an fx processor with individual settings for attack, decay, rate then, especially with an EUB, there are some nice options…
What I used for a while was a slow attack setting of around 50ms, and then a ratio of 3:1, and a short release. With this settings you emphasize the attack, and get a more percussive sound.
But controlling dynamics, when you play life, that is the job of the player…

Yep yep. My specific compressor has a wet/dry mix knob which is magic for electric bass, because you can keep the attack but just thicken the sound, which sounds like what you would want, but thickening up a DB in practice often just leads to a muddy mess, and as you mention also alters the bloom, which for me throws my timing off too.

 

[DDDan]

Well, parallel compression (wet/dry mix) is actually a very good suggestion… at least your attack is not so easily ruined…. So, to answer the original question, if you want to experiment with a compressor, then get one where you can control all important settings, and study compression. It is more easy to kill your live sound than to improve it with a compressor…

 

[BassFalcon]

For reference my comp pedal is the API tranzformer CMP.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

As someone mentioned before it is easy to ruin a sound with a compressor and hard to make it better.
I agree that individual settings and knowledge of their behavior is needed.

The biggest mistake is to overcompress the sound. My use of a compressor (but not with DB) was using a ratio between 1 and 2.5 (in very seldom cases up to 3 and mostly below 2).

If you can hear that it is compressed it is either too much or a sound altering effect that you want.

 

[BassFalcon]

As someone mentioned before it is easy to ruin a sound with a compressor and hard to make it better.
I agree that individual settings and knowledge of their behavior is needed.

The biggest mistake is to overcompress the sound. My use of a compressor (but not with DB) was using a ratio between 1 and 2.5 (in very seldom cases up to 3 and mostly below 2).

If you can hear that it is compressed it is either too much or a sound altering effect that you want.

I always think of Tony Levin in Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I always think of Tony Levin in Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer

As far as I can remember almost everything is drastically compressed there. No chance to get through with an uncompressed instrument.

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO, if you want more of an traditional upright sound, the compressor is pretty much the opposite of what you want. If on the other hand you want more of fretless BG sound, or perhaps something a bit more esoteric, then a compressor may be helpful.

However, the NS Design US series 6-string I used to play had almost no thump and the front end of the note, and it also had way more sustain than most bass guitars. The biggest difference in the tone is it had way more fundamental that a bass guitar due to the ~42" scale. As a player, the only reason I could see to use compression for that instrument is for peak limiting if your rig has limited headroom

The audio tech using compression in the mix is a different matter. IMHO your signal needs to be processed separately for difference uses and audiences. This means the EQ and dynamic processing you use to get a sound on stage is different than what the audio tech uses to get your instrument to sit in the mix.

All IMHO so YMMV.