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Do you REALLY need a compressor?

Avezzano

Avezzano

Feb 8, 2000
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Avezzano AQ (Italy)
#1
Plain and simple: I stopped using a compressor several years ago and have no regrets since then. I realised pretty soon that the natural contact of the fingers with the strings allows you to better tailor the dynamics of the notes and gives you more freedom of expression.

Not for everybody, obviously; surely for studio applications a compressor is very useful to avoid excessive signal dynamic with too low signal during the execution of a given track; but live there's nothing like "pure power" from your fingers. Anyone?
 
#4
I believe that misuse or overuse of a compressor can leave a bad taste in people's mouths. I use compression to the point of evening out my dynamics (soft playing and digging in close to the same levels, with it squashing the hell out of it), especially for live playing. For recording, I use a bit less.
 
#6
I used to use a compressor to bring closer together the differences between my playing volume playing tapping parts vs heavier slap parts. When I switched from MFX units to stomp boxes (my compression was part of my MFX chain) I stopped using compressors. It has only been a few months since that switch but I am working on it. Basically it has forced me to doe two things which I think that will be better to my overall playing in the long run. Force me to develop more strength for tapping volume and better control when slapping.

Ken
 
#8
I use one with my band cuz I need to have a very even playing for the fast passage cuz some notes jump out too loud : I play in a kind of death metal band (please don't ask me which compressor is best for metal... lol)

In other hand I know my control of dynamics and feeling have suffered over the year because of the compressor always on: when I went to the studio last time my playing was less even cause we tracked without one and it happened to be harder to get a good even sound and feeling...

I'm think I'll remove it of my rig...
 
#10
I kinda like mine. It's "in" the preamp section of my amp. I just use it like a limiter so I can lay into the strings as hard as I want and it stops me short from "farting out" the speaker. It's a safety device.
 
#11
THEORETICALLY - you should be able to tailor your playing to be so smooth you don't need one. In reality, only the best working pros get there, and even then, a chain of compression and limiting is usually used in the studio for the best sound. Plus, sometimes you want the "fattening" effect that can only be gotten with a good compressor.

I have found that the problem is that there aren't any good compressors for the working musician who doesn't have a rack of processors. They all suck (literally), pump, breathe and generally dull the sound, and by the time you get it set for one song, it isn't right for the next one.
 
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#12
bmc said:
I've used them in the studio, when an engineer or producer called for it. Live, I never have in 40 years of playing.

Compressors, graphic equalizers and power conditioners are in the same category.
Click to expand...

What you said. It's been 39 years for me. Never used compressor, always bypass graphic eq, and have never used a power conditioner. As far as studio work, who knows what they'll do after your gone.
 
#13
I spent around 25 years playing without one and I've still got faith in my ability to control dynamics just using my fingers. Then around 15 years ago I got a Trace Elliot 350SMX which had quite a nice compressor that split the signal into high and low frquencies and gave you control over both. This allowed me to learn how to use subtle compression.

These days I use the compression on my bass pod with the degree of compression programmed into the presets. Playing in a covers band I have some generic presets set up for each bass I use, but for some songs I have presets set up to get me into the ballpark sound on the original song, so if the original song used a heavily compressed sound, so do I, if the song is wide open with no discernible compression, so am 1.
 
#14
You don't need one, certainly. I have a BBE OptoStomp that I generally use as my only "effect", but it is a very mild compressor and I usually have it set quite low, and for certain applications I leave it out of my signal path. For me, it's useful to balance out the different characteristics of my 3 basses: Fender J (low output), Fender P (higher output), and MusicMan (highest). I usually *don't* use it with the MusicMan, more so with the Fenders, especially the Precision - I find P pickups most suitable to compression, IME.
 
#17
Most of my recording have had varying degrees of compression added (usually light), but that was up to the engineer. I tried using one for a while live years ago, but never warmed up to it. I am so used to controlling dynamics with my fingers, that having an effect working behind the scene just frustrated me.
 
#19
Never use them live, I know sound guys like to throw a limiter of some sort so you have to play with discipline if you want to avoid them squashing your sound.
Never track with one in the studio, it takes all the feel out. Certainly use one during mixdown for all the obvious benefits.
 
#20
When I play quite dinner-style atmosphere and cafe-type music I like to use my limiter/compressor to keep from booming a note.

We all make mistakes and when I'm trying to play ambient music, it would not be good to rattle the silverware on the tables - so I have mine running but I try to not color the music too much.

Other than that - it's hell bent for leather anywhere else so the limiter/compressor is OFF, although still in my signal train.
 

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