Do you user a compressor with an active bass?

[T-34]

you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

No it doesn't

 

[BaltBass5]

I ALWAYS use a compressor with my Active Spector Euros. I actually use it first in my chain. Given, it is used with subtle settings but it helps me to control the super hot signal I'm getting from the Spectors.

 

[HolmeBass]

Active electronics are just a preamp in the bass. It changes the output impedance of your signal and gives onboard EQ that can boost frequencies. But that’s not compression! Whoever told you that probably also believes all kinds of malarkey, perhaps like “10’s are for highs and 15’s are for lows”.

There is a lot of bunk “conventional wisdom” in the bass world.

I play actives and use a compressor. I will say it was harder to find a comp that *I liked* with my actives as much as with my passive basses, but that’s not because my active basses have some sort of onboard compression.

 

[smtp4me]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

But a tube amplifier also compresses the sound, yet it's not the same thing. Is that also the case for active basses?

Do you use a compressor with your active basses?

The idea that active electronics automatically compress the signal, is false. The difference between passive and active relate to the ability to cut or boost frequencies before the signal leaves the instrument:

• You can only cut frequencies with passive. You can only boost with EQ after the signal has left the instrument
• You can boost frequencies with active (boost before the signal leaves)

An active bass might have a built-in compressor if it was specifically installed, but active electronics do not, by nature, compress the signal. So the question is more a matter of preference.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

But a tube amplifier also compresses the sound, yet it's not the same thing. Is that also the case for active basses?

Do you use a compressor with your active basses?

That’s Just Wrong. Who said that? Doesn’t even make any sense

 

[Al T.]

I play my active basses through an Ovni FX Smoothie and it sweetens the tone just so.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Do you use a compressor with your active basses?

I don’t play active basses 100% of the time, but when I do, I definitely use compression as needed. I don’t use “always on” compression on passive or active. I use compression for specific passages in some songs mostly for keeping slap/pop under control.

I don’t notice any natural compression with my active basses. On one of them (Peavey GBass) it’s much the opposite; if you slap or pop it without some compression / limiting, it will slap & pop you up ‘side the head.

 

[TheArchitect]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

But a tube amplifier also compresses the sound, yet it's not the same thing. Is that also the case for active basses?

Do you use a compressor with your active basses?

Active electronics do not compress the audio. If you want a comp, you will need to add one

 

[Killing Floor]

Of course.

 

[SunByrne]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

Wherever you keep hearing that is a place you should listen to less.

 

[BoogieZK]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass because it already compresses the sound.

But a tube amplifier also compresses the sound, yet it's not the same thing. Is that also the case for active basses?

Do you use a compressor with your active basses?

General non-sense Myth in the audio/instrument game.

No, preamp don't compress the sound of your bass.
So use a compressor or not, it has no relation with active or passive bass.

 

[lomo]

Active basses compress = another bit of musicians’ fake news/partial & misleading truth.

 

[Rib 13]

I use a compressor with my active and passive basses....I use it minimally on either.....use of compression has nothing to do with a bass being active or passive

 

[40Hz]

I ALWAYS use a compressor with my Active Spector Euros. I actually use it first in my chain. Given, it is used with subtle settings but it helps me to control the super hot signal I'm getting from the Spectors.

^This.

 

[Cleezmo]

I use just a bit of compression on active and passive basses. My amp has a built-in compressor, but prior to that I had an old DBX half-rack compressor that I really liked. I've never gone down the compressor pedal rabbit hole, I only use a bit and am not too fussy about it.

 

[J Wilson]

It's amazing the BS that floats around. Yes, you can use Compression with active instruments, even though active electronics are causing Global Warming.

 

[40Hz]

I keep hearing you don't need a compressor with an active bass

One minor hassle with an active bass is that it can be too hot an input signal for some compressors that don’t have enough headroom to handle it. It’s a problem that affects a few of the more popular compressors out there. This has led to a mistaken impression on the part of some bass players that compressors don’t work at all with active basses when the truth is that most of them will. Fortunately, virtually all of the newer compressor pedals can easily handle an active bass.

 

[Matt Morgan]

Keeley Bassist. Always.
All my basses are active.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

I use one of the Zoom B6 compressors with my active bass.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I use a Markbass Compressore. It is always on. It fattens up my bass and adds a little tubey goodness to my active bass.