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Do you REALLY need a compressor?

#24
I control my dynamics with my hands as well, which is my reason for using a compressor (I know, sounds backwards). That overdriven sound you get when really digging in can suddenly be tamed to an appreciable sound level while maintaining the tone. Slaps and pops aren't ear piercing. If I want to change the tone, I play lighter, adjust position, and the volume hasn't been altered a bit. I don't use a compressor as a "dynamic limiter" but rather a "tone preserver" at a volume level of choice.
 
#27
I use it at church for 2 reasons, my SVT knob is touchy so you can't turn it up just a little, it winds up being alot louder so I can use the gain on my compressor to get it the right volume.

Then you can achieve some massive sustain on those slow songs where you need it, but for me it was either on or off, never liked it all the time unless it was light enough to mimic the "tube compression character" of a tube amp, my Eden navigator did a good job with it's on-board compression, in this sort of way...
 
#28
Whether or not you need a compressor really your style, technique, instrument, pickups, strings, etc. It's highly-variable, and you really can't make broad statements that bassists don't need compressors. Some do, some don't. Still others SHOULD use them.

Having said that, bass is a peaky instrument that often requires a bit of taming. If you can do it with your fingers only, that's great. I don't like graphic EQ's on bass or really anything else because they usually wreck tone and make it "peakier", but I DO like a bit of compression. You just need to find the right one, and most of the amps that have them built-in do NOT have the right compressor. They are usually overactive and "pump" too much.
 
#30
I've been using a Markbass Compressore for about 6 months now... I tried playing without it, and found I couldn't (or more accurately, prefer not to). It's not that it makes up for poor technique, it just fattens up the sound and levels things off ever so slightly. I can still get plenty of dynamics with it on (which it always is), which kinda suprised me. I can play lightly, aggressively, whatever, and everything sounds really good.
 
#31
I have a long time love/hate thing with compressors and compression in general, but there are certain sounds that a compressor is essential for. I did use an OptoStomp for a year but got to where it was off most of the time so it got sold when I went to a smaller board, have not missed it yet. I have Rane and DBX comps for the studio and a Durham Sex Drive for a pedal if I decide one is needed. I tend to use it more for recording and mixing than on bass.
 
#32
NicJimBass said:
I've been using a Markbass Compressore for about 6 months now... I tried playing without it, and found I couldn't (or more accurately, prefer not to). It's not that it makes up for poor technique, it just fattens up the sound and levels things off ever so slightly. I can still get plenty of dynamics with it on (which it always is), which kinda suprised me. I can play lightly, aggressively, whatever, and everything sounds really good.
Click to expand...

+1
I use the same one and it is on all the time.:bassist:
 
#33
I've been playing for 25 years and never use compression. I feel like it robs me of my sound, my boom. If I'm playing a note lightly, I want it to sound like that. If I'm beating the hell out of my bass, I want it to sound like I'm beating the hell out of my bass.
 
#35
deeptubes said:
I've been playing for 25 years and never use compression. I feel like it robs me of my sound, my boom. If I'm playing a note lightly, I want it to sound like that. If I'm beating the hell out of my bass, I want it to sound like I'm beating the hell out of my bass.
Click to expand...

See, with the Compressore, I keep all that, but things sound rounder and fatter, and a little more consistent all across the board.
 
#38
On light settings a comp simply prevents overly hot transient peaks that can clip the amps inpout causing nonmusical distortion. Or to allow for hotter signal without clipping since the worst of the occassional high transient peaks are stopped.

Used moderately depending on settings a compressor/sustaner can be used mainly for sustain add, better and longer note fade out when such is wanted.

Overly used it just squashes the sound and can remove attack dynamics. In ref to attack dynamics a compressor can also be used for better overall cut or mix with the rest of band. By either taming hard fast attack or increasing it a bit.

Myself the signal out of processor to amp or monitor or rrecorder or Pa, is the ready for recording tone. So useing one more like one would in a studio is my norm. I allways use a comp, but at low to moderate rather then heavy settings.

A comp is one of those tools which really isnt going to be noticed much at all except a little when its turned off, when its being put to best use ussually imo. There may be occassions when a peice of music calls for more drastic settings for a unique sound effect though.
 
#39
I really like to use my BBE Optostomp with slight compression, it's always on. I like to be able to dig the string more to get a different tone, without having a too big spike in volume.

Also it help on the tracking of my octaver and one of my fuzz.
 

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