The coffee analogy is apt. I occasionally like a little cream or a dash of sweetner, not even a whole packet, just a dash. Likewise with compression. Both of my bass amps have good onboard compressors that when the need arises, a touch is good. They're very clean, no noise or "pumping" of the amp, and the compression helps the mix stay slotted.
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Do you REALLY need a compressor?
- Thread starter Avezzano
- Start date
My Hartke head has a built-in compressor and I never really touch it. I've tried messing with it and all it ever does is hurt my sound. Just leaving it flat works fine for me.
bongomania
Commercial User
So, no offense, but the comps built into amp heads tend to be among the WORST. Someone whose experience with compressors is limited to those sorry doodads, saying they don't have much use for a compressor, is like someone who has only dated ugly and stupid girls saying they don't have much use for women.
I do use the compression that is built in to my amp. As others have stated it doesn't hurt your dynamics if used sensibly.(i was gonna say if used correctly, but To be honest i dont really know if i do, just what sounds best to me)
And everyone has different tastes.
As to do you really need it,
does anyone know what the top pros do? IMO if you want to sound like them and they use compression, i reckon you should too!
And everyone has different tastes.
As to do you really need it,
does anyone know what the top pros do? IMO if you want to sound like them and they use compression, i reckon you should too!
Ahh...beat me to it! Some comp's are just whack to start with. I can even make the good ones sound bad given half-a-chance.
Riis
-because I'm still very much learning proper technique i think compressors are magic...that being said... i don't have one.
-So can you get by without it yes.
-Are there a few songs that my cover band plays that I think a compressor would be a nice fit as an effect ... yes.
Would I use it as a crutch for my bad technique... probably
after i get a decent bass and amp ... a compressor is first on the list to get!
-So can you get by without it yes.
-Are there a few songs that my cover band plays that I think a compressor would be a nice fit as an effect ... yes.
Would I use it as a crutch for my bad technique... probably
after i get a decent bass and amp ... a compressor is first on the list to get!
After playing for years I have only recently started using one. I haven't decided how much I really like it at this point. We'll see.
I happen to adore compression. I cannot state just how many times a tone i had was improved by adding compression to taste. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, but what I have found is that 9 times out of 10, a tone I like uncompressed, can be made into a tone I LOVE with the right compression. But then again, I'm not really all about "hyper-modern" tones. I DO enjoy the more elderly tones of rock past, many of which were made on tube amps. And as we all know (and love), tube amps tend to compress an instrument's signal. I'm sure there are exceptions, but such is the generality I have observed. So, in short: I <3 my compression.
Ill join the minority here-I use one and love mine.Do I NEED it-no.Do I like it better with it on-yes.Ive tried several that I didnt care for.But I now use an EBS Multi Comp and love it.Set low it doesnt squish my tone and makes any rig I play through sound better and more even to me.We travel alot and I sometimes never know what rig Ill be playing on-I always take it with me!
If you don't really care how you sound in a mix (be it live mix or studio), then it really doesn't much matter.
And if a live or studio mix is really important to you, then you should leave the compression up to a capable sound engineer.
In either case, don't worry about it.
However, if you fall somewhere in between, where you are concerned with your band's live "mix," but you're not at the point where you're rolling with sound guys ... then good, tastefully and skillfully used compression can be absolutely imperative to a good mix. Having dynamics control, in general, over the low end (kick and bass) can be an absolutely indispensable thing for a great live mix. And damn near essential in a studio setting.
As an audio engineer, I wouldn't dream of not compressing the bass. You might think that you have perfect fingers and perfect dynamic control ... but you don't.
Trust me on that one. But I wouldn't trust most bassists to do it themselves, because compression is like a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands, and it can totally ruin an otherwise good sound if you're not using it properly. In the right hands, it's pure sonic gold. Every record that you know and love and have had religious experiences with ... compression is a huge part of it's sound, and there's no getting around that undeniable fact.
And if a live or studio mix is really important to you, then you should leave the compression up to a capable sound engineer.
In either case, don't worry about it.
However, if you fall somewhere in between, where you are concerned with your band's live "mix," but you're not at the point where you're rolling with sound guys ... then good, tastefully and skillfully used compression can be absolutely imperative to a good mix. Having dynamics control, in general, over the low end (kick and bass) can be an absolutely indispensable thing for a great live mix. And damn near essential in a studio setting.
As an audio engineer, I wouldn't dream of not compressing the bass. You might think that you have perfect fingers and perfect dynamic control ... but you don't.
Trust me on that one. But I wouldn't trust most bassists to do it themselves, because compression is like a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands, and it can totally ruin an otherwise good sound if you're not using it properly. In the right hands, it's pure sonic gold. Every record that you know and love and have had religious experiences with ... compression is a huge part of it's sound, and there's no getting around that undeniable fact.:scowl:
first of all,it always depends on equipment/style and/or the size of the venue/club/or else where you are playing...
using a compressor on bass is of GREATEST importance for a good quality live sound.
+ your settings on comp. should be SUBTLE,and this is something many of bass players disregard,because then you have dynamic range in your fingers(without the bass going squashy),and you also have a nice sustain,that keeps you going
+your sound eng. will be a very,VERY,happy guy,cause his work is minimum
sorry about my bad english...
never ever met a sound techician that didn t find a bass guitar the most difficult element
for placing in the mix .....and as you inform him that you wont be using a comp.
and that you HATE compression.....i can only imagine his face...hehe
the trick is to use your compression SUBTLY.and thats it.just use it for sustain,and avoid going into a squashy zone,naturally...if you are a strong punch player(like myself),you will wanna keep the treshold up.otherwise,if you barely hit strings(or play with a pick),you can turn treshold a bit down,again watching out for the squish zone.
best way to go with bass comp, is >
fast attack
moderate realese
2>1 ratio (or whichever suits you better)
and treshold depending on your finger strenght.if you play hard,treshold UP,if you are a wimp treshold DOWN
________________________________________
WOODGUERILLA fretless
markbass compressore
korg dt10 tuner
morley pba2 dual bass wah
ehx octave multiplexer
mxr phase 90
little angel clone
boss rv5 reverb
mxr m80 bass di+
AMPEG b100r
for placing in the mix .....and as you inform him that you wont be using a comp.
and that you HATE compression.....i can only imagine his face...hehe
the trick is to use your compression SUBTLY.and thats it.just use it for sustain,and avoid going into a squashy zone,naturally...if you are a strong punch player(like myself),you will wanna keep the treshold up.otherwise,if you barely hit strings(or play with a pick),you can turn treshold a bit down,again watching out for the squish zone.
best way to go with bass comp, is >
fast attack
moderate realese
2>1 ratio (or whichever suits you better)
and treshold depending on your finger strenght.if you play hard,treshold UP,if you are a wimp treshold DOWN
________________________________________
WOODGUERILLA fretless
markbass compressore
korg dt10 tuner
morley pba2 dual bass wah
ehx octave multiplexer
mxr phase 90
little angel clone
boss rv5 reverb
mxr m80 bass di+
AMPEG b100r
FYI no one can play two hours straight without his sound and/or attack going down.no one.period.you are not a machine,you are only human.
so,if you want your tones to be constantly the same volume,NATURRALY,you will use a compression.
if you want your high strings to be audible as well as your low thunder,NATYRALLY,you will use a compression.
very powerful tool,indeed.trust me,just go subtle on it.a little movement of the pot goes a long way.
and,OFC,find a decent compressor...markbass,t rex ,tc electronics..etc. none of that boss,digitech,behringer and other CRAP....useless
so,if you want your tones to be constantly the same volume,NATURRALY,you will use a compression.
if you want your high strings to be audible as well as your low thunder,NATYRALLY,you will use a compression.
very powerful tool,indeed.trust me,just go subtle on it.a little movement of the pot goes a long way.
and,OFC,find a decent compressor...markbass,t rex ,tc electronics..etc. none of that boss,digitech,behringer and other CRAP....useless
If you don't really care how you sound in a mix (be it live mix or studio), then it really doesn't much matter.
And if a live or studio mix is really important to you, then you should leave the compression up to a capable sound engineer.
In either case, don't worry about it.
However, if you fall somewhere in between, where you are concerned with your band's live "mix," but you're not at the point where you're rolling with sound guys ... then good, tastefully and skillfully used compression can be absolutely imperative to a good mix. Having dynamics control, in general, over the low end (kick and bass) can be an absolutely indispensable thing for a great live mix. And damn near essential in a studio setting.
As an audio engineer, I wouldn't dream of not compressing the bass. You might think that you have perfect fingers and perfect dynamic control ... but you don't.
+1
till now I couldn´t find a good stompbox comp. That´s why I use an Universal Audio LA-610 mainly for recording, but I´m thinking to use it live too.
I use light compression acting 2-4db of gain reduction and it sounds gorgeous.
I checked a lot of comps and the only ones good on bass was studio quility ones,
just my 2 cents
